Nauvoo, Historic settlement in Hancock County, Illinois, United States
Nauvoo sits along the Mississippi River in Hancock County and contains a historic district with buildings dating back to the 1840s. Brick homes, wooden churches, and workshops spread across gentle hills above the riverbank.
The settlement emerged in 1839 as a refuge for exiles from Missouri who built a town of thousands within a few years. After many residents left in the mid-1840s, German and French immigrants arrived and remained into the 20th century.
Grapevines climb the slopes around town, where French monks planted vineyards in the 19th century and produced wine for their community. The German heritage appears in church hymns and inscriptions that still honor the settlers who shaped daily life here.
Walking through the area, visitors find signs in English and maps at several points that help navigate between sites. Many buildings open year-round, though some locations may close during poor weather.
A reconstructed temple stands on a bluff overlooking the river and displays hand-carved sunstones and moonstones on its exterior facade. French monks built underground cellars for aging cheese that remain in use today.
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