We couldn’t call ourselves Utah’s Adventure Family if we didn’t love Utah history, and Utah history means LDS history. We’ve visited Church History sites all across the country. We love these sites, and they are almost always FREE to visit. On this page, we summarize the LDS Church History sites across the United States. If you are looking for the Church History Sites in Utah, use this link.
Vermont
Joseph Smith Birthplace (Sharon, Vermont):
We haven’t quite made it back to this site yet!
New York
Smith Family Farm and Sacred Grove (Palmyra, New York)
This site features the Smith farmhouse and Smith Home. You can also walk through the Sacred Grove where Joseph received the First Vision.
Hill Cumorah (Palmyra, New York)
Located right in Palmyra by the Sacred Grove, the Hill Cumorah is where Joseph received the Golden Plates from Moroni.
Grandin Building (Palymra, New York)
We loved this interactive site which is the original building where the Book of Mormon was published. The kids loved seeing the printing process, and even folded their own Book of Mormon pages.
Whitmer Farm (Fayette, New York)
The Whitmer Farm is where the Church was first organized on April 6, 1830. Our boys liked the fun, interactive Visitor Center at this site.
Joseph Knight and Josiah Stowell homes (Colesville, New York)
This site is not run by the Church, but is in the hands of Church members from the Knight family. It was quite a bit different, but was definitely worth the stop. You must schedule a tour before visiting.
Pennsylvania
Priesthood Restoration Site (Oakland Township, PA)
The site of the Priesthood Restoration has the home Emma Hale grew up in, the first home of Joseph and Emma, the site of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood, and the location where Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were baptized.
Ohio
Kirtland Temple (Kirtland, Ohio)
This site is run by the Community of Christ, but our guide was a volunteer who happened to be LDS. There is a Visitor Center as well as a tour of the temple. One of our favorite Church History Sites, but you’ll pay a fee.
Historic Kirtland (Kirtland, Ohio)
There are many things to see in Historic Kirtland. The most impressive is the Whitney store, where many significant events took place. You can also see such structures as the Whitney home, sawmill, and potash factory.
Isaac Morley Farm (Kirtland, Ohio)
This is a self-guided walk up to the farm site. There isn’t much to see, and you can see it in about 15 minutes, but it’s close to other sites in Kirtland.
John Johnson Farm (Hyrum, Ohio)
Located southeast of Kirtland, the Johnson Farm is the sight were Joseph Smith lived when he was tarred and feathered. He and Sidney Rigdon received Section 76 in the upstairs room of this house.
Illinois
Historic Nauvoo (Nauvoo, Illinois)
The crown jewel of the Church History sites is Nauvoo. There are homes of the Apostles, craftsmen and trade sites, and a number of stores, bakeries, and other businesses. It takes more than a full day to visit Nauvoo.
Carthage Jail (Carthage, Illinois)
The site of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. The jail is the original building where the martyrdom took place, and not much has been changed or restored.
Independence Visitors’ Center (Independence, Missouri)
There is a large site in Independence that focuses on Pioneer life and what it might have been like to be a Saint in Missouri.
Liberty Jail (Liberty, Illinois)
This reconstruction takes you back to the dungeon where Joseph and others were imprisoned in for five months.
Missouri
Far West (Far West, Missouri):
We haven’t visited the cornerstones for Far West Temple.
Adam-ondi-Ahman (Far West, Missouri):
This site is dedicated for the return of the Saints to Missouri, but we haven’t been there.
Haun’s Mill (Far West, Missouri)
A small settlement of Saints was massacred at Haun’s Mill, but we haven’t been there.
Nebraska
Winter Quarters (Omaha, Nebraska)
This is the site of the Saints last jumping off point before heading West. The Pioneers lived in this area for two years before leaving for the Salt Lake Valley.
Wyoming
Martin’s Cove (Wyoming)
There is a tour and small museum that tells of the hardship along the Pioneer trail.
Independence Rock (Wyoming)
Independence Rock was an important stop along the pioneer trail throughout the 1850s and 1860s. Many pioneers scratched their names and the dates in the rock. The oldest dating back to 1842!
Utah
There are so many historical sites in Utah. It is hard to list them all in this post, so you can use this link to find out more: Utah Church History Sites. A few of our favorites are The Beehive House, This is the Place Heritage Park, and Fort Bluff.
California
Mormon Battalion (San Diego, California)
There is a wonderful, interactive museum in San Diego that commemorates the end of the Mormon Battalion’s march.
We have loved visiting all of these LDS Church History Sites. They are almost all free and worth a stop. Learning about these early members of the LDS church gives you a greater understanding of Pioneer life in the 1800s and all that they sacrificed for their families and religion. For information from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on these sites, visit their website.
