Nauvoo

We got to our hotel in Fort Madison, Iowa around 8 Friday night, so we didn't do any Nauvoo sight seeing until Saturday. And since that was the only day we'd have there, and needed to get in Carthage, we had a packed day. Nauvoo, Illinois is a Mormon town from the 1840s where the church found refuge for a while until they were driven out by mobs. It was mostly destroyed then, and then restored in the 1970s or something like that. We saw the schoolhouse and played on chalk slates, then toured John Browning's home and gun shop. Then we saw the post office and Pioneer Pastimes area. We caught our scheduled wagon ride, which served well to cool us off, then played at the indoor Family Living Center. We finished by seeing all the places that give you souvenirs--the blacksmith, the brickyard and the bakery--before heading down to Carthage, Illinois. Carthage is the town where Joseph Smith was taken to jail with several other church leaders, on charge of declaring martial law and destroying a printing press that advocated for the harassment of church members, and there shot and killed by a mob dressed as Indians.

Begin the 4-yr-old photography. We were in the Browning Home and Gun Shop.

 

This guy in our tour group just thought Tommy was a great photographer and was happy to smile and pose for Tom's pictures.

 

John Browning and his son were gun inventors who never got their inventions patented, so they generally don't get credit. The top revolver is an automatic that can fire 5-6 shots before needing reloaded.

 

Part of the floor was original, but I don't think it was this part. Check out that awesome shoe though!

 

More gun inventions.

 

Closer look at the automatic rifle.

 

I can't remember if it was John or his son who invented that machine gun.

 

Pioneer Pastimes sheep

 

 

Wagon ride tour through town.

 

We saw this little boy while eating lunch and Shad and I both nearly flipped over that ingenious bib he's wearing.

 

Nauvoo temple

 

"Like a lamb to the slaughter." Joseph told his brother Hyrum as they rode to meet their captors that he knew they were going to their deaths.

 

 

 

Family Living Center

 

Covered wagon outside the blacksmith shop.

 

 

We ran into my aunt Angie and uncle Michael with their kids here. They were in Nauvoo prior to going to KY for the reunion as well. I'm trying out my "prairie diamond" ring in place of my wedding ring that I'm allergic to. So far no problems.

 

Tom is such a flirt and has no problem creating social opportunities for himself. While waiting for our tour to start at Carthage Jail, he walked into this side room and struck up a conversation with the sister missionaries in there. He corrected them that he's Spider-Man and Katie is Batman, though he acknowledged that he understood it was confusing for them since he was wearing a Batman shirt and Katie was wearing a Superman shirt. He introduced all of our super identities, and obliged the girls with his autograph at their request. He refused to tell them his REAL name. They tried their hardest and were surprised at how well he denied having any other name.

 

 

Outside of Carthage Jail, in Carthage, Illinois.

 

 

 

The beautiful drive between Nauvoo and Carthage. The road goes right along the Mississippi river.

 

Lily pads! Had we come just a couple weeks later, their white lotus flowers would be in bloom.

 

More lily pads.

 

We left Sunday morning to head down to Kentucky for a family reunion with my mom's family. We took a rest stop by the temple in St. Louis, MO. There's a park right next door with covered tables, functioning bathrooms and drinking fountains. Perfect stop!

 

 

 

Hello, Gateway Arch. I've always wanted to see you.