Exodus Commemoration

- Activities & Events -

See Excerpts for the 2022 Event on February 5th

On the first Saturday of February each year, we honor the Latter-day Saints who were forced to leave Nauvoo in 1846. While the exodus began in February, it lasted most of the year. Our annual celebration of the Saints’ sacrifice, courage, and achievements includes a parade of wagons and marchers from Main Street to Parley Street to the river, short speeches, and a flag ceremony. For the 175th anniversary in 2021, we produced a video tribute instead.

Image Gallery

Check out images from past Exodus Commemorations.

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Gheen Home

William and Esther Gheen and their six children lived in this home, which has been restored to its 1840s size and layout. The Gheen’s had been prosperous farmers in Pennsylvania and continued farming in Nauvoo.

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Gheen Main Floor

After moving to Nauvoo, the Gheen’s donated half of their newly purchased land to the Church. They also contributed labor and funds to help build the temple. Joseph and Hyrum Smith were frequent visitors to this home.

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Nauvoo Wards

Like other cities in Illinois, Nauvoo was divided into administrative units called wards. It became a logical way to organize Church assignments, as well. The tradition carried on after the Saints left Nauvoo, and Latter-day Saints still call their main congregations wards.

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Weeks’ Home

This newly restored home belonged to William and Caroline Weeks. Joseph Smith selected William as the architect for the Nauvoo temple in 1841 after calling for design proposals and liking William’s initial ideas best.

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Parlor/Studio

Weeks used this area to showcase design options for clients. For instance, two fireplaces are finished in different styles: one in wood and one in painted marble. The home also had some conveniences like a kitchen in the basement.

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Day Room

The family would have slept upstairs, but Caroline may have used this day room to tend to napping children and household chores. Two children lived in this home, but the couple eventually had ten, with three living to adulthood.

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William’s Office

The temple design phase lasted nearly two years and went through numerous revisions until plans aligned with Joseph’s vision for the temple. The cornerstones had been laid before designs were finalized in 1843.

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Jones Pavilion

William Jones was a stonecutter. He and his wife, Elizabeth, lived somewhere near this pavilion. William cut the first moonstone for the temple from locally quarried limestone.

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Pavilion Demonstrations

At the activity pavilion, guests learn how stone was cut and placed to build the temple. Interactive demonstrations will be available in the future.

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Hunter Home

Edward and Anne Hunter were friends with the Gheen’s and also played an important role in Nauvoo. This home was rebuilt on the original foundation; it is one of the few places we know Joseph Smith received and recorded revelation.

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Parlor/Sitting Room

The Hunter’s were a prosperous family and their furnishings and large home reflected their tastes and reputation for hospitality.

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Period Furniture

Music was important to the Latter-day Saints. This period piano reminds visitors of the efforts made to foster refinement in Nauvoo.

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View from Front Room

The purple pineapple wallpaper was a popular symbol of hospitality in the 1800s. The Hunter family may not have had this wallpaper in their home, but they would have been aware of it and may have ordered something similarly elaborate from suppliers in eastern states.

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Period Replica Desk

Joseph Smith lived with the Hunter family for a while to evade capture by Missouri marshals. This room helps visitors imagine how Joseph may have dictated revelations received here regarding proxy baptisms for the dead.

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Summer Kitchen

This kitchen addition was probably built in 1843-44, about the same time Edward was called to be a bishop. As such, he was responsible for collecting tithing. In-kind donations like those represented here would be transferred to the main tithing office and distributed to those in need or used for the temple.

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Gheen Home

William Gheen died at home in 1845 before the Nauvoo Temple was completed. His wife, Esther, was able to be sealed to him by proxy in the temple on February 2, 1846. This fulfilled their desire for their family to be together forever.

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Video From Recent Event

Check out the 2022 Exodus Commemoration

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