Nauvoo Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
city and historic district in Hancock County, Illinois, United States
About Nauvoo
Nauvoo is most famous for having been founded in 1840 by Joseph Smith, Jr., as one of the first centers of The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints, following their exodus fromMissouriin the wake of the Mormon War. In 1844, owing to hostility between the Mormons and their neighbors, as well as worries over a perceived theocracy in Nauvoo, the Illinois Legislature stripped the town of its legal status, leaving Nauvoo as a large (~12,000 residents) unincorporated community de facto ruled by the LDS Church. By 1846 hostilities (including vigilante violence and the assassination of Joseph Smith, Jr.) had grown severe enough that Brigham Young (accepted by most of Smith's followers as his successor) and his supporters left in what is known as the Mormon Exodus, along theMormon Trail. The te
Top Attractions in Nauvoo
Explore the best things to see and do in Nauvoo:
- ★Nauvoo Illinois Temple (LDS)
- ★Nauvoo State Park
Where to Stay in Nauvoo
- 🏨Hotel Nauvoo Historic Inn & Restaurant
Nauvoo Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: