Planning for a Group Visit to Historic Nauvoo

Group of four youth smiling while in front of two red brick buildings.
Group Planning Checklist

Overview

Historic Nauvoo is a popular destination for many groups. Whether you are planning a bus tour, a school field trip, or a family reunion, careful planning and coordination with the historic site guest services will help you have a better experience during your visit.

Groups with 25 or more individuals must submit a reservation request. Groups smaller than 25 people do not need to submit a reservation request, but may also find the information on this page useful in planning your visit to Historic Nauvoo.

1. Explore Things to Do

A young man uses historical tools to set type inside a print shop.

There are a number of things to see and do during your visit to Historic Nauvoo! We recommend reviewing the Tours and Activities page and the All Locations page to explore available options. If you are coming with children or youth, the Planning for a Family Visit section has more specific recommendations for younger audiences.

Given the size of the historic buildings in Nauvoo, you will need to divide your larger group into smaller groups of approximately 10–15 individuals in order to participate in tours.

The tour size of nearby Carthage Jail is limited to 20 individuals. While part of your group waits for others to finish touring, we invite you to enjoy the jail’s visitors’ center and its exterior grounds.

2. Determine the Need for a Group Gathering Place

Log benches face a speaker’s podium in a grove of trees.

Depending on your group’s size and needs, there are a variety of places to gather or to reserve for special meetings during your visit to Historic Nauvoo. Not every facility or location is available on demand, and careful planning is required for large groups visiting during the busy summer months. When our facilities are not sufficient or available, consider looking at options outside the historic district.

Explore the possible gathering places listed below. A particular venue can be requested when filling out the Group Reservation Request. Please note that just because a venue is requested, it does not necessarily guarantee that it can be reserved. Wait for a group reservation request confirmation to verify if your requested venue was available and subsequently reserved for your group.


Although the Nauvoo Stake Center is not managed by Historic Nauvoo, you can call the visitors’ center to get the contact information to reserve the building through local stake representatives.

There are also several picnic areas in Historic Nauvoo that do not require a reservation. Please be aware that they are on a first-come, first-served basis. Find out more information about these picnic areas by clicking on the links below.

3. Read the Group Code of Conduct

Guidelines for Historic Nauvoo and the Community

  • Only missionaries may conduct tours; do not conduct discussions or classes for your group inside the historic sites.
  • Always provide youth and children with appropriate adult supervision.
  • Groups using a reserved outdoor gathering place or the Kimball Barn must leave by 10:00 p.m., and groups using a reserved historic site (Cultural Hall, Seventies Hall, or visitors’ center theater) must leave by 9:00 p.m
  • Pay attention to your group’s noise level, especially after closing (10:00 p.m.).
  • Remain on sidewalks when walking in town and stay off private residential property.
  • Do not obstruct traffic or walk in the street.
  • Clean up after yourselves if you have outdoor activities, and do not litter at any time.
  • Obey posted signs and Nauvoo City traffic ordinances.
  • Park cars in designated parking areas only.
  • Whether you contract with a bus company to travel here or drive your own large RV, instruct all drivers to always follow bus routes and to park only in designated bus parking areas. Do not unload passengers while stopped in a street.

4. Submit a Group Reservation Request

Over 100 youth and adult leaders, most in matching red T-shirts, pose for a large group photo on the front steps of a stone temple.

Please fill out the Group Reservation Request for Illinois Historic Sites to tell us about your group and your plans. After submitting the form, a missionary will contact you to discuss what is available at the site(s) for the date(s) you request and to finalize your reservation. Please be aware that we are not able to arrange lodging, food, or transportation.

5. Read the Bus Driver Information

  • Buses may not park on the street but should park west of the visitors’ center in the lot north of the Family Living Center, in the lot at the far west end of Parley Street, or in the lot to the southeast of Kimball and Main Streets. Buses may not stop at any time on public streets to unload or pick up passengers.
  • Nauvoo has designated routes for buses. GPS units might direct drivers to use roads that are not fit for bus traffic. This can lead to damage to both roads and vehicles. View the City of Nauvoo’s map of approved routes for buses and RVs.
  • Buses must obtain a sticker from the city that verifies they have read the rules governing bus and RV behavior. Contact the Nauvoo Tourism Office for information about receiving your sticker: 1-217-453-6648.

6. Review the Group Visit Common Questions

Only missionaries may give tours in Historic Nauvoo. Please limit discussions and classes to outdoor spaces or reserved gathering spaces.
We are unable to assist you with finding service projects for your group. If service is essential to your trip, please consider serving in your own communities before or after your trip. You may also consult JustServe.org for options, but it is difficult to accommodate large groups wanting quick service opportunities.
As you consider meal planning, be aware that there is no food for sale in Historic Nauvoo, and the city of Nauvoo has limited eating facilities. There are no eating establishments that can handle large groups on short notice. Please advise restaurants if you plan on bringing a large group to their business so they can prepare for you. For current information, please visit the Nauvoo Tourism Office’s website.
Buses may park in the visitors’ center west lot, in the lot north of the Family Living Center, in the lot at the far west end of Parley Street, or in the lot to the southeast of Kimball and Main Streets.
Group organizers may not reserve tickets on behalf of their group. There is a five-ticket limit per email address when reserving tickets, and orders over this amount will be canceled. You will need to have members of your group reserve tickets for these time-specific activities on their own behalf.
Historic Nauvoo is free.