350 N. Main Street
Nauvoo, Illinois
217-453-6434
The Visitors’ Center Interior
Monument to Women Memorial Garden
The Historic Nauvoo Visitors’ Center is one of the best places to begin an exploration of Nauvoo. The Center was dedicated in dedicated in 1971 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The interior of the center contains a large relief map of 1846 Nauvoo and a replica of a full-sized replica of Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus, a statue of the resurrected Christ. Two films, the 20 minute “Remembering Nauvoo” and the 68 minute “Joseph Smith, Prophet of the Restoration” are offered for viewing at the center.
Adjacent to the Historic Nauvoo Visitors Center is the Monument to Women Memorial Garden which was dedicated in 1976. The memorial consists of a heroic central sculpture of a woman, enhanced by 12 life-sized figures expressing the widely varied nature of women's vital role in society. The statues are set among brick walkways, flowers, shrubs, and trees. The display could be the largest commissioned display of sculpture in the world dedicated to women. The sponsor of the two-acre memorial is the women's Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Historic Nauvoo Visitors’ Center is the starting point of horse-drawn wagon tours of historic Nauvoo. The approximately one hour wagon ride tour that is narrated by a tour guide is free and is a unique way of seeing aspects of Historic Nauvoo that you might otherwise miss, including various shops and buildings in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith's home, and the Trail of Hope by which the Saints left Nauvoo. The tours start from just northeast of the visitor's center parking lot at the corner of Partridge and Hubbard Streets.
During the summer visitors can enjoy musical theater productions about Old Nauvoo at the visitors' center and historic Cultural Hall (reservations are necessary; call 1-888-453-6434). No tickets are necessary to participate in the campfire variety shows from May through August. No tickets are necessary to attend the Nauvoo Pageant, an outdoor musical drama celebrating the restored gospel and the faith of early Latter-day Saints in Nauvoo.
The Historic Nauvoo Visitors’ Center is staffed by knowledgeable people who can give you the information you need about the many things to see and do in Nauvoo as well as the surrounding area. The Center also operates a 24 hour information kiosk is located just south of Nauvoo on IL-96 where maps and brochures can be picked up.
Visiting the Nauvoo Visitors Center
Visiting Hours (late August - late May)
Monday - Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm
Sunday: 12:30 pm - 5 pm
Visiting Hours (late May - August)
Monday - Saturday: 9 am - 7 pm
Sunday: 12:30 pm - 6 pm
There is no fee to visit the Nauvoo Visitors Center
Explore the community of Nauvoo
