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Shedd Aquarium

Red Brick Store

610 Water St. , Nauvoo, IL 62354

Historic Sites

Church of Latter Day Saints founder, Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store became the center of community life after its construction in 1841. In addition to serving as a general store and tithing office, it also hosted many civic and religious meetings.

Joseph kept an office upstairs and the large upper room was home to the first meetings of the Nauvoo Female Relief Society and other important activities. The building was home to Nauvoo’s RLDS congregation by the 1860s but eventually fell into disrepair and it was torn down in 1890.  Reconstructed in 1979 and once again an operating general store, the shelves are stocked with goods inspired by one of the original account books. Walking tours of the Smith properties end here, but visitors can also explore the upper room of the store on their own.

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