The Nauvoo Temple, once the religious center of a growing community and the most magnificent structure of Old Nauvoo, rises as a present-day reconstructed building.
Originally built of locally quarried gray limestone, the Nauvoo Temple required over five years in construction. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints volunteered labor and sacrificed jewelry, china, and heirlooms to purchase needed building materials. Although many of the Saints were forced to leave Nauvoo early in 1846, the temple provided a place to receive sacred ordinances before their departure.
Following the exodus, the Temple was gutted by fire in 1848 and was further weakened by a tornado in May 1850. The ruined building was later razed, and its stones were used to construct other buildings.
Plans to reconstruct the temple were announced in April 1999 and the completed temple was dedicated 27 June 2002. Built according to the original architectural drawings and using period-influenced design elements, the temple replicates the original as nearly as possible.
Tours of the interior of the temple are not available.
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