Picturing history: Mansion House, Nauvoo

By Kenneth Mays, For the Deseret News

Published: Wednesday, Jan. 2 2013 5:30 a.m. MST

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The Mansion House in Nauvoo, Ill., is where Joseph Smith and his family lived for about the last 10 months of the Prophet?s life. Since the Nauvoo House was years from completion, the church built a graceful, two-story home on the northeast corner of Main and Water streets to house the Prophet?s family, entertain guests and conduct church and civic business. The Smiths moved into the residence on Aug. 31,m1843. It was originally designed to be a hotel, and Joseph tried to operate it as such but eventually turned its operations over to someone else and rented several rooms for his family. This is where Joseph last said goodbye to Emma and the children before heading off to Carthage and martyrdom. The hotel wing was removed decades later. The home is owned and maintained by the Community of Christ and is open for tours.

Kenneth Mays,

Summary

The Mansion House in Nauvoo, Ill., is where Joseph Smith and his family lived for about the last 10 months of the Prophet’s life.

The Mansion House in Nauvoo, Ill., is where Joseph Smith and his family lived for about the last 10 months of the Prophets life.

Since the Nauvoo House was years from completion, The Church of Jesus of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built a graceful, two-story home on the northeast corner of Main and Water streets to house the Prophets family, entertain guests and conduct LDS Church and civic business.

The Smiths moved into the residence on Aug. 31, 1843.

It was originally designed to be a hotel, and Joseph tried to operate it as such but eventually turned its operations over to someone else and rented several rooms for his family.

This is where Joseph last said goodbye to Emma and the children before heading off to Carthage and martyrdom. The hotel wing was removed decades later.

The home is owned and maintained by the Community of Christ and is open for tours.

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