Nauvoo Burial Grounds

 We started the day visiting the Old Nauvoo burial grounds.

 It was a short walk up to the burial grounds.  

It was cold walking around the cemetery

. 

 At the entrance there is a gazebo, and on the walls

are names of those who died between 1839-1846.

Your Dad is pointing to the name Oliver Wall.

 This story of Phoebe and Wilford Woodruff was inside the gazebo.

The pioneers experienced death every day but they

carried on and accomplished much good because

they believed in Jesus Christ and His gospel.

 There are very few head stones.  I am so

grateful that they endured.  They knew 

Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to return.

 Monument dedicated to the Pioneers

 There are a lot of squirrels around Nauvoo.

 Next we went to the Historic Nauvoo Visitors' Center.

You could spend hours here, but we chose to

go on a covered wagon ride pulled by a yoke of oxen.

The wagons are only 3 feet wide.  They were used

to carry their food and belongings.  The pioneers

walked and slept on the ground.  

 Oxen could go longer without grazing and could pull

more weight then a horse.  Also a team of oxen cost

$25. while a team of horses cost $65. 

Of course they were slower.  They would 

cover 2--25 miles a day.

After our ride, we drove along the river and came

upon Ancient Nauvoo Burial Mounds.  They 

claim that artifacts from these mounds date

back 2000-3000 years ago.  We will go back

when it is warmer and I will get pictures.

On our return trip, we saw this barge pushing

a load of grains up the river.