Nauvoo Illinois: A Different Kind of Heritage Tourism Site

Nauvoo, Illinois, is not a stereotypical heritage tourist attraction. It is not designed to make a profit or to revitalize a stagnating economy. It is not associated with a major historical event many Americans would recognize. Nauvoo is considered a ‘gift to the Mormon people’—a place where members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can remember their roots and gain spiritual strength. The purpose of this case study is to identify the reasons for Nauvoo’s existence as a heritage site and to show how the Mormon Church achieves these two objectives. A memorial to early Mormon pioneers, Nauvoo will probably never become a major heritage attraction for the general population. Its importance is primarily limited to those people with some sort of historical or religious connection to the city.