Nauvoo with a Twist- Day 6 Part 1

We were sure after an earlier start and a drive to the visitor's center we were doing great...not. Crowds, along with an EFY, had taken all the tickets for a wagon ride. However, we were not to be daunted. We walked over to an oxen ride and entertained by three gentleman with nothing to do but chat. After a short jaunt and a few stolen petting of the oxen we were off to visit the Joseph Smith sites (all owned by the RLDS church).

 

Mansion House- They lived there only a short while. Part was destroyed in a fire.	Hotel- At the time of the exodus, only the stone and a few rows of brick were complete. The RLDS tore part down to finish it. Its now used as a hostel.

The Joseph Smith Home. The brown wooden part was where they lived. The white section was built on by Joseph III. The small brown cabin was Joseph Sr. and Lucy's home, later turned into a summer kitchen.

New gravesites for Hyrum, Joseph and Emma. under the bush while Joseph and Hyrum's were

When they searched for the bodies, Emma's was found under the now standing shed.

We toured The Red Brick Store on our own (no fee). Without the RLDS tour guide, it was neat to sit upstairs and realize how much happened in this room--endowments, meetings and the organization of the Relief Society. Overall, the tour was neat, but lacked the spirituality and warmth the rest of Old Nauvoo has. No pictures were allowed and only facts shared. At other sites, the missionaries would slip in a spiritual message with their retelling of stories.