Tours and Activities in Historic Nauvoo

Not sure what to do in Historic Nauvoo? View a list of the tours and activities available at the historic site.

Guided Tours

Temple City
Location: William and Caroline Weeks Home

Learn how the Saints worked together to design, build, and dedicate the temple of the Lord—their crowning achievement.

Read more about the Temple City tour.
Homes of the Apostles
Location: Orson and Marinda Hyde Home

Learn about the members of the Quorum of the Twelve who spread the gospel abroad while their neighbors and family members faithfully lived it at home.

Read more about the Home of the Apostles tour.
Relief Society Foundations
Location: Hiram and Sarah Granger Kimball Home or Lucy Mack Smith Home

Learn about how the worldwide sisterhood of the Church began in Nauvoo to follow Christ’s example.

Read more about the Relief Society Foundations tour.
Pioneer Life
Location: Cultural Hall

Learn how, amid the hard work of transforming swampy Commerce into Nauvoo, the Saints still made time for social gatherings, civic meetings, and even play.

Read more about the Pioneer Life tour.
Main Street Trades
Location: Stoddard Tin Shop, Browning Gun Shop, Taylor Home Print Shop and Post Office, Riser Boot and Shoe Shop, Calvin and Sally Pendleton Home

Learn how working with tin, leather, and paper sustained the economy. Demonstrations of these trades will be available in the buildings you visit on this tour.

Read more about the Main Street Trades tour.
Pioneer Trail
Location: Seventies Hall

Learn how, after preparation, thousands of Latter-day Saints chose to follow prophetic leaders west in search of peace. You will also see a demonstration of blacksmithing on this tour.

Read more about the Pioneer Trail tour.
Joseph and Emma Smith Homes
Location: Smith Family Homestead

Learn about how Joseph and Emma Smith worked together to raise a family, lead the Savior’s restored Church, and support the growing community of Saints.

Read more about the Joseph and Emma Smith Homes tour.
Red Brick Store
Location: Red Brick Store

Learn how Joseph Smith’s Red Brick Stored provided a place for him to support his family, lead the Church, restore the endowment, and establish the first Relief Society.

Read more about the Red Brick Store tour.
Carthage Jail
Location: Carthage Jail Visitors’ Center

Learn how on June 27, 1844, a mob killed the Smith Brothers. Despite this tragic end, the legacy of Joseph Smith’s ministry endures.

Read more about the Carthage Jail tour.

Animal Experiences

Wagon Ride
Location: Wagon Depot

Take a wagon ride while in Nauvoo. There are rides available Monday–Saturday. Tickets are required from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tickets can be reserved the day of, starting at 7:00 a.m. CT.

Carriage Ride
Location: Carriage Depot

Take a carriage ride while in Nauvoo. There are rides available Monday–Saturday. Tickets are required from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Tickets can be reserved the day of, starting at 7:00 a.m. CT.

Oxen Experience
Location: Oxen Experience

Meet some hardworking oxen and see them in action. You will see how oxen helped the Saints in both building and leaving Nauvoo.
Sleigh Ride
Location: Carriage Depot

If there’s enough snow, visitors during the winter months can ask at the visitors’ center to take a sleigh ride. Missionaries will share inspirational stories of faith appropriate for the season.

Hands on Activities

Pioneer Crafts and Trade Demonstrations
Location: Family Living Center

See eight different arts and crafts from the early days of Nauvoo. From making bread to dipping candles, throwing pottery to winding rope, shaping barrels to weaving cloth, there is plenty to see and do for both children and adults.
Temple Stone Cutting
Location: Temple Stone Pavilion

Activities such as sawing, chiseling, polishing, and lifting limestone are available in this interactive space. Missionaries will provide protective glasses and gloves, and activities must be done with their supervision.
Pioneer Toys and Games
Location: Pastimes Pavilion

Children of all ages can enjoy outdoor toys and games from the 1840s. Two child-sized cabins offer options for pretend play.
Visitors’ Center Exhibit
Location: Historic Nauvoo Visitors’ Center

The new exhibit includes a variety of interactive elements such as activity booklets, designing a temple, “I-Spy”, and other interactive screens and models.