New "on site" Joseph Smith and Early Church History Museum presented by Don Black Free to the public

Covered Wagon Bed in the Weary Traveler Lodge

Trail West 2010

Van Fleet Quarter Horses & Wagon Train

Join Us on this historic ride for a day, a week, or all the way!

376 Miles

Riding the Mormon Pioneer Trail

Ogallala, Nebraska to Casper, Wyoming

Ride Begins June 4, 2010

For information visit

http://www.vanfleetwagontrain.com/index.htm

It is a lot of fun so don't miss out.

Buried Treasure

On December 4, 2009 Jack Stossel and I (Dave Hardle) accidentally found buried treasure. Four miles down river from the temple we were clearing a spot of ground which once was owned by the Huntsakers in the 1840's. In the process we were cleaning up a foundation of laid stone from an old house that was probably built around 1860's. The brick rubble was a mixture of old pioneer brick and a little newer brick that was larger and had two little indentations in the top and the bottom. As I stacked the brick in piles to save them Jack hit something hard and solid below ground level. We dug by hand to discover Large temple stones buried in the ground. For over 150 years three beautifully hand sculptures stones had been buried. I pressure washed a 400 lb stone and it is displayed at the Weary Traveler Lodge.

Chicago Tribune Article

Where to stay in Nauvoo

By Jay Jones Special to Tribune Newspapers

December 27, 2009

Given that Nauvoo's a four-and-a-half hour drive from Chicago and that there's so much to see, it's a good idea to plan an overnight stay. The town offers several lodging options, but by far the most unique and memorable experience is provided at Nauvoo Log Cabins.

Over the past several years, LDS church member Dave Hardle has made it his mission to search out old log cabins, dismantle them and move them – log by log – to his land on the east edge of town. He has reassembled six homes that originally stood in North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, and elsewhere in Illinois.

"Of course, the doors were all off," Hardle said of his discoveries. "The cows would be wandering in and out."

As Hardle and his son took apart the old homes, they numbered and mapped each log to ease the task of putting the buildings back together.

"The pioneers did the hard part," he said modestly. "My job was easy."

The homes are cleverly decorated using period antiques. For example, in the bathroom of the Jamison cabin, the towels hang over an ox yoke and the soap sits inside an old tin saucepan. Hardle also provides booklets explaining the history of each home.

"The Jamisons were early settlers in frontier Wyoming," one page reads. "Along the Bear River, near the foothills of the Uinta Mountains, this cabin was built to serve as a bunkhouse for ranch hands. It had a pot-belly stove for heat."

The pot-belly stove is long gone. All of the cabins feature modern conveniences, including satellite TVs and, of course, central heating.

As piles of timber adjacent to the parking lot attest, Hardle plans to reconstruct five more cabins.

Peak season rates range from $72 for the Ferrin Cabin, which sleeps two, to $400 for the magnificent (and new) Weary Traveler Lodge. With its four bedrooms and three bathrooms, it can accommodate up to 13 guests.

Lower rates are available in the off season.

www.nauvoologcabins.com; 217-453-9000.

Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune

Happy Holidays from Nauvoo

We stayed at the Nixon cabin so we could enjoy the fireplace. It's cold outside but it is warm and cozy in here.

John Franklin Sanders Cabin

Things to do and see in Nauvoo!

Sledding in Nauvoo

Sage went sledding with some guests who are staying in the Nixon cabin. They took her down at the state park across the road from the Wilford Woodruff home.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Nauvoo Log Cabins

Nauvoo Log Cabins - The best choice for lodging in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Nauvoo Log cabins is located right inside of the city limits of Nauvoo, Illinois. It is a unique lodging choice for your visit to our beautiful city. Most of our cabins are original homes built by pioneers who had previously lived in this area. We obtained some of them from descendants of those pioneer families. They have come from as far away as Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. They have been rebuilt and modified with modern conveniences for your comfort and enjoyment. The history of each cabin can be found on our website http://www.nauvoologcabins.com/ Take a peek and enjoy the fun stories that we have accumulated about each cabin and the families who lived in them or better yet come and visit and feel the spirit of this wonderful city and the people who built it and made it their home.