Nauvoo Historic District facts for kids

Nauvoo Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Joseph Smith Homestead
Location in Illinois Show map of Illinois Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Nauvoo, Illinois
Area	3,850 acres (1,560 ha)
Built	1839 (1839)
NRHP reference No.	66000321
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966
Designated NHLD	January 20, 1961

The Nauvoo Historic District is a special area in the city of Nauvoo, Illinois. It's like a big outdoor museum that helps us understand the past. This district is almost the same size as the city of Nauvoo was when it was first officially formed in 1840.

It also includes the Pioneer Saints Cemetery. This is the oldest cemetery for the early members of the Latter Day Saint movement in the area. Even though it's just outside the city limits, it's an important part of the historic district.

What is Nauvoo Historic District?

The Nauvoo Historic District was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. This means it's a very important place in American history. It was the main home for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1839 to 1846.

The district is also important because it shows how early communities were planned. Even today, you can still see the original layout of the city. Many old sites are still there, including where the original Nauvoo Temple once stood.

Important Buildings and Places

Many old buildings and sites are part of the Nauvoo Historic District. These are called "contributing structures" because they help tell the story of the past. Some of these include:

There are also some newer buildings in the district that are not part of the original historic collection.

A City with a Special History

Nauvoo grew very quickly in the 1840s. For a short time, it was the largest city in Illinois! Even with so many people, the city didn't have a big central shopping area. It was mostly homes built on wide, straight streets.

The original Nauvoo Temple was a very important building. It was burned in 1848 and later destroyed by a tornado in 1865. Today, a new temple stands in its place.

A carving at the site of the LDS Temple Quarry

Later Changes and Restoration

Most members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints left Nauvoo by 1848. However, some people, like Emma Smith and Lucy Mack Smith, stayed.

Later, in the mid-1950s, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began to buy and fix up many of the old properties. They wanted to share the history of Nauvoo from the 1840s. In 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bought the Joseph Smith Historic Site. The Smith Family Cemetery is still owned by the Community of Christ church.

See also

• History of Nauvoo, Illinois
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Illinois