Nauvoo's Hidden Flight — Decode the Exodus

Your quest begins at the majestic Nauvoo Temple, a National Historic Landmark. Dedicated in 1846 by the Mormons just before their departure, this 65-meter-high edifice, capable of accommodating 2,000 people, was the spiritual center of the community. It was destroyed by fire in 1848 and then a tornado in 1850, before being rebuilt and rededicated in 2002. It was here, under Joseph Smith's direction between 1841 and 1846, that preparations for the Mormon exodus took on a sacred dimension, marking the end of their presence in Nauvoo. Here you collect the first information about Smith's intentions.

Continue to the Joseph Smith Historic Site, another Illinois State Historic Site, including the Homestead and the Mansion House. The Homestead, built in 1843, was Joseph Smith's family residence until his assassination in 1844. The Mansion House, erected between 1843 and 1844, served as a hotel after his death. This site, managed by the Community of Christ since 1991, is a key point of the exodus, as it was from here that Brigham Young organized the departure of the faithful in 1846. You will find clues about the prophet's last wishes, scattered throughout the rooms where he lived.

The Red Brick Store, built by Joseph Smith in 1842, is your next stop. This two-story general store, measuring 9x18m, was much more than a simple business. It served as a meeting place for the Female Relief Society, founded on March 17, 1842, and was the site of crucial discussions about Mormon expansion that led to the exodus. Joseph Smith was also elected mayor of Nauvoo here in 1842. Restored between 1984 and 1991, it now showcases pre-exodus Mormon history. You will uncover the commercial and political strategies that preceded the great departure on the Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail.

Your journey then takes you to the Brigham Young Home, built between 1843 and 1844. This two-story residence, with its garden, was Brigham Young's home until his departure for the Salt Lake Valley in February 1846. Furnished with original artifacts, it bears witness to daily life before the exodus. From this house, Young directed the evacuation of Nauvoo, leading 15,000 Mormons west. You will decode the logistical plans and routes that were laid out for this epic journey, a landmark of Illinois heritage.

Finally, your journey concludes at the Smith Family Cemetery, established in 1844, where Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, and their parents are buried. Their tombs were discovered in 1928 after a secret exhumation post-assassination, aimed at preventing vandalism. This sacred site of approximately 0.1 hectare, managed by the Community of Christ, is intrinsically linked to the tragedy that triggered the Mormon exodus. It is here, at this place of memory and contemplation, that you will piece together the last parts of the puzzle, understanding the extent of the sacrifice and the determination that animated the pioneers of Nauvoo, Illinois.