Mansion House — Attraction in Nauvoo

Our experience at Nauvoo, "The Beautiful Place", was wonderful! Everyone was so helpful and kind! You do need to either go online and get FREE tickets just to reserve a spot or check in to the visitor center early in the day, in order to reserve spots to sit to watch the FREE shows, but their dancing and singing is worth the stopping in early, calling, or going online. If you don't care about the shows, but just want to see the life of a pioneer or the life of early Latter-day Saints and hear their story, then just show up, but early in the day. On Saturday and Sunday it was noon to 5pm in the Summer. Winter hours, you need to call ahead or check into the visitor center and see if some Senior Missionaries can get you a private showing. They've done that for our family once, 3 years ago. Always the best thing to do, is check in with the visitor center. Everything does close early at 5pm, and there are no grocery stores other than Dollar General and tiny shops. So, either bring food, shop in Keokuk, or get there early enough to get to the few shops or few eating options. They are nice but not conducive to a tight budget for a large family. Definitely get a hotel or place to stay ahead of time. We really do recommend visiting and one of our favorite things was on Sunday evening The Trail of Hope tour, where they led us down the trail that the Pioneer Saints walked on as they fled Nauvoo, and acted out and recited journal entries of their lives and then you got to dip your feet in the Mississippi River at the end, at sunset. It was beautiful and spiritual and you felt a connection with those who have...

In August 2025, we visited the Mansion Home in Nauvoo, Illinois. The Mansion House is part of the LDS Church's Nauvoo Historical Sites, and none of these Nauvoo Historical Sites charge an admission fee to enter. Joseph and Emma Smith lived in the Mansion Home starting in about 1843, and this would be considered their dream home. It is a well-maintained historic home, and the furniture and decorations give it an authentic feel. It is interesting to learn more about the lives of notable historical figures. The Nauvoo Historical Sites are amazing to visit and...

I really loved the Mansion House and the rich history presented there on the tour. The graves in the back left me feeling somber and wondering what could have been had Joseph not been assassinated. I loved how Community of Christ and LDS members blended together on the tour. It's nice to see these religious "cousins" getting along and coming together to appreciate their...