Nauvoo Visitors’ Center – Nauvoo Historic Sites

Nauvoo Visitors' Center

Location: 290 N. Main Street

The Nauvoo Visitors’ Center was built during the period when several historic homes were being restored and prepared for public tours. The main floor contains two theaters, exhibit areas, an information desk, and restrooms. An upper floor houses offices and conference space for missionaries serving in the historic sites.

Click on the links below to experience a 360° Walk-through, view an Image Gallery, or schedule a Virtual Tour.

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Image Gallery

Peek inside the Nauvoo Visitors’ Center as you scroll through our Image Gallery.

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Nauvoo Visitors' Center

The Visitors' Center has welcomed millions of visitors since its dedication in 1970. Visitors stop here to get information about tour and show reservations, to attend summer performances, and to browse exhibits installed in 2021 that tell the story of the Nauvoo temple and Joseph Smith's leadership in the 1840s.

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Nauvoo Visitors' Center

Banners and posters share images related to Nauvoo's history, the temple, and the doctrines of the Church.

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Exhibits

A panorama of Old Nauvoo and environs invites visitors to ponder how the Latter-day Saints built such a thriving city in only a few years.

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Exhibits

An expansive exhibit shares details about the original Nauvoo Temple.

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Rebuilding the Temple in 2002

Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) dedicated the rebuilt Nauvoo Temple in 2002. During his time as president of the Church, he expanded the number of temples from 47 in 1995 to 124 in 2008.

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Exhibits

Interactive panels teach more about the purpose of temples and the doctrine of eternal families.

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Artwork

This original painting from Walter Ranes illustrates the early building phases of the Nauvoo temple, emphasizing the community effort involved in process between 1842-1846.

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Original Artwork

Walter Ranes' original artwork depicts the efforts made by Latter-day Saints to receive temple blessings before departing Nauvoo in February 1846. In the two months before that exodus, some 6,000 Church members received saving ordinances in the temple that would sustain their faith as they traveled into the unknown.

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Exhibits

Various panels throughout the Visitors' Center share the history and purpose of temple ordinances that were introduced in Nauvoo as part of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Joseph Smith's Legacy

Guests gain a greater understanding of Joseph Smith's leadership, writings, and legacy through new interpretive panels.

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Temple City

The Nauvoo Temple was central to life in Nauvoo as it was being constructed and as Joseph Smith taught about its purpose. For that reason, Nauvoo is often referred to as a Temple City.

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Artifacts

An original sunstone from the Nauvoo Temple symbolizes the dawning of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

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Replicas

Near the entrance to the Women's Garden stands a replica of the original temple weather vane.

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Nauvoo Temple Model

View the internal layout of the current Nauvoo temple in this beautiful model situated in the lobby.

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Nauvoo Temple Model

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Women's Garden

Families are centrally important to Latter-day Saints, as highlighted in this statue. Those who sacrificed their time and resources to build the Nauvoo Temple in the 1840s relied on the promise that family relationships could endure beyond the grave through a temple marriage.

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Women's Garden

The garden is a favorite spot for quiet contemplation.