Bonaparte, Bentonsport, and Keosauqua Iowa

Our first stop today was at a 

restaurant in Old Grist Mill in 

the town of Bonaparte.

 We had lunch in the restaurant decorated

with lots of fun antiques.

We fit right in.

 Brigham Young and his group crossed the

river here.

 The Mormon Pioneers crossed the shallow

Des Moines River just below the mill 

 The crossing itself caused few problems for the

wagons.  It was the muddy roads awaiting them that

spelled trouble.  Camp that night was very wet and muddy.

 This hotel was built by Mormon craftsmen

going to Utah.

 Then we crossed the river and traveled into 

Bentonsport. The fun stores and Indian Artifact

Museum were closed for the winter.

 At Lacey-Keosauqua state park is the Ely Ford

Mormon crossing. It will be fun to visit

these places in warmer weather.

Horton Lake and Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo play

Nauvoo State Park is located about 2 blocks

east of us.  We did not realize there was a 

lake there.  When it is warmer it will be a 

great place to walk to.

Each night the site missionaries put on a play

about Nauvoo.  This delightful musical tells

the story of the Latter Day Saints who built

Nauvoo in the 1840's and then had to leave the 

city they loved. 

The play is put on every night except Sunday.

The last show given will be Nov. 30th 2017.

Everyone is sad that it won't be presented again. 

Burlington Iowa

 This morning we drove over to Burlington Iowa.

Our first stop was Snake Alley.  It has been named

the "Crookedest Street in the World".

 We started walking up the street, then noticed

stairs on the side that we used to climb to the top.

You can drive a car down it, but we chose to walk it.

 Then we went to the Welcome Center that was on 

the water front.  When we were trying to find it,

we stopped at a Dairy Queen, of course.

This is a large Geode, Iowa's state rock.

When you crack them open they have 

a crystal like interior.  People like

to search for and collect Geodes.

Mark Twain Cave

 After we visited the rest area, we drove to 

Hannibal, Mo. to go through the Mark Twain Cave.

 This young man was are guide.  On the left

is the original entrance to the cave.

 A narrow passage in the cave

 This area could have been used by Jesse James 

as a hideout.

 Here people have thrown money down a drop-off

 This area they called the grand piano.  It is very dark

in the cave when they turned off the lights. Samuel 

Clements(Mark Twain) explored and played in the cave

with just candle light.  With all the passage ways it is 

good he didn't get lost or hurt while in the cave. 

They used colored lights here.

Statue of Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer 

Linger Longer Rest Area

 It was so breathtaking to pull into this rest area and

see the temple across the Mississippi river

 A couple came after us and she took our picture.

It was a cold day and we are dressed for it.

 It was a frigid day when the Saints left Nauvoo on

February 4, 1846. They were blessed with strength

and power from on high.  God will help us also, 

to do hard things. 

 At this located is a memorial with panels reciting the

history and building of Nauvoo.  The beautiful 

 Nauvoo Temple is clearly visible, as it was

 seen from here by the departing refugees.

Start of the Mormon Trail

Restored 47 panel truck

 One day as we were driving around Nauvoo, your Dad

noticed this truck parked outside a building.  

He wanted to get a picture of it, but when we went back

it was not parked outside.  He went in and inquired about 

it and he let us take some pictures.  It  is a Chevy 47 delivery truck.

Quincy Illinois -city of Mormon Refuge

 This sign is erected in Washington Park in Quincy.

The Mormons camped in this park after fleeing Missouri

.

 In the History Museum, across from the park, is a 

room just about the Mormon rescue.

This monument is by the river.  This is where the 

saints crossed the river from Missouri to Quincy.

You can watch a video about the rescue on youtube.

Put youtube into google search,

put Quincy Video into the search tab,

It should come up, was submitted by Larry King

Let me know if you were able to watch this video.

Carthage Jail

 This is the upstairs bedroom in Carthage jail.

Before we started the tour of the jail, we watched a video. 

 To watch- Put in Google search- Mormon messages,

click on Mormon messages/Mormon channel,

search on top right-testimony of the book of Mormon,

click on picture of Elder Holland-Testimony of the Book of Mormon.

Let me know if you were able to watch it.

 This is the window Joseph Smith fell out of.

 This is the bullet hole and original door

 The clock stopped at the time of Joseph's death

 Us standing by the Joseph and Hyrum statue

 Frank on the grounds of the Carthage jail.  In the 

summer they have beautiful flowers planted all over.

We bear testimony that Joseph Smith was a 

prophet of God and the Book of Mormon is true.

We invite you to study and learn for yourself.

Gain your own testimony of these truths.