Nauvoo means Beautiful Place

Nauvoo is where the early Saints/Pioneers had a settlement during the 1840s until persecution caused them to move further west. This is a very special place to me. I came here twice when I was a teenager and loved seeing all the sites, where they teach about how they lived back then. Besides all the historic sites this is a very small and strange town so it's hard to explain what makes this place worth visiting because it is not really on the way to anywhere. It just has the feeling of tranquility and joy there. Maybe that is because I was so excited to see fireflies again but I really think it is a reflection of how the people lived here and how their lives a continually honored today.  You feel connected to the past here as you learn about the saints and even your own ancestors. We did some family history while we were here at the center (they have missionaries specifically trained to help you with it) and found lots of information on our ancestors and our family lines. If you have never been in to family history just try it and you will be surprised how exciting and addicting it can be!

Infront of the Nauvoo temple

The temple here is the focus for spiritual reasons but also historic too. The early Saints first built this temple back in the 1840s. It was destroyed by arson after the saints left and then a tornado. It was rebuilt just like the Saints had it in 2002. To read more about why we build temples check out this link

Love this temple and it has bells!

This statue is of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum as they were leaving to go to Carthage for a trial. It was there that a mob attacked and killed both of them. 

Downtown nauvoo at sunset

Our horses Nephi and Lehi

So did I mention all the historic sites here are free! And not the thank goodness I didn't spend any money on this kind of free, more like I can't believe all this is free. It is run entirely by volunteers, who are all dressed in time appropriate outfits. They give tours and informational tidbits about all the sites there. They also have free shows there too. They are mostly musicals and one was just dancing but all of them were top notch quality.

They give wagon rides around the sites

Mississippi 

Each building is restored to what it would have been at the time the Saints were living there

Pioner past times. This is as much as Matt would dress up good thing his shirt already fit the part.

Feeling like Laura Ingalls Wilder

These things were hard to get the hang of

This brass band went around the streets playing. A lot of the volunteers come from BYU's band or dance teams so they are very talented

At the gun shop

Carthage Jail where Joseph Smith was martyred.  

 On our way out of Nauvoo we made our way to Springfield, Ill (no need to check this place out, not that great) We stayed at the original Holiday Inn, which is now a route 66 themed hotel aka lots of memorabilia. We did discover the Cozy Dog drive in, where the corn dog was first created! It was the best corn dog I've ever had. Everything else you order here is fried too. I think the Cozy Cone Inn from the movie Cars is suppose to be correlated to this route 66 spot.

Nom nom nom