Near Nauvoo in Hancock County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
In 1839, the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith chose the town, then called Commerce, as the home for his followers, who had been driven from Missouri
Near Nauvoo in Hancock County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
In 1839, the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith chose the town, then called Commerce, as the home for his followers, who had been driven from Missouri. The Mormons named the community Nauvoo, said to mean “Beautiful Place,” and obtained a special charter from the Illinois Legislature, which gave the city government its own courts, militia, university, and all other governmental powers not prohibited by the Federal and State Constitutions.
Mormon converts from all parts of America and Europe soon swelled the population to about 15,000 making Nauvoo one of the largest cities in Illinois by 1845. But some of the Mormons as well as their Gentile neighbors began to resent the civil and religious authority of the Mormon leaders, and frictions in the area grew severe. When the Nauvoo City Council had an anti-Mormon newspaper destroyed, the Mormon leaders were arrested and jailed at Carthage. There, on June 27, 1844, an armed mob shot and killed Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum. Conflict between the Mormons and their neighbors continued until 1846 when the Mormons completed their exodus from the state.
Erected 1963 by the Division of Highways and the Illinois State Historical Society.
Marker series. This marker is included in the Illinois State Historical Society, and the Mormon Pioneer Trail marker series.
Location. 40° 32.361′ N, 91° 23.185′ W. Marker is near Nauvoo, Illinois, in Hancock County. Marker is on Illinois Route 96 0.1 miles south of Water Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is just south of town in a road side pull out. Marker is in this post office area: Nauvoo IL 62354, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Nauvoo House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Bidamon Stable (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mansion House (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Homestead (approx. 0.3 miles away); Nauvoo Survey Stone (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Icarian Community in Nauvoo (approx. 0.3 miles away); Red Brick Store (approx. 0.4 miles away); Exodus to Greatness (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nauvoo.
Categories. • Churches, Etc. • Settlements & Settlers •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on May 17, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 388 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 17, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.