Carthage Jail

When we started planning our trip back from Florida to Utah we couldn't get Nauvoo and Carthage out of our mind. We had stopped at alot of other church history sites during our drive to Florida but didn't hit these. We didn't really want to take the detour or the extra money that would have to be spent but we knew we should do it- so they became part of our MapQuest travel destinations. Our original plan was to hit Carthage Jail before closing at 5 and then stay at Nauvoo- well we hit the town of Carthage at 5. So we decided to make new plans. Something we learned about traveling cross country never make a hotel reservation- you can't get your money back and you never know if you'll make it to the stop or beyond it. So luckily we hadn't make a reservation yet. We stopped to get gas and dinner and the cold hit us. It was about 5* and the wind was howling. A HUGE change from 81* 24 hours before. We found a hotel and snuggled in for the night- happy to have a bed and not the truck seat. The next morning we found the local cafe and ate some yummy breakfast and headed over to Carthage Jail. As soon as we pulled in to the parking lot the spirit hit us.



This it the cute visitors center where you watch about a 10 minute video about the site and the jail sits to the left.

These beautiful statues line the walk way to the visitor center and jail. They stand out with the gold engraving explaining about the church and Joseph Smith.

As many know our little Cinch is all boy and never slows down- except for 2 times we can think of. This was one of those times. We walked up to this statue right before we entered the visitor center. Cinch had been running wild and then stopped dead in his tracks. He stared at the statue and I asked him who it was? Just staring we knew- he knew. He finally walked up and patted his boots and said good good. The veil is very thin.

After watching the video they take you to the jail and on a tour. We first walked in to the summer kitchen and then the main kitchen. They place the Joseph and Hyrum and most likely last ate because the Jailer liked them. Then the main room had a bed where the children usually slept- but the whole family had been sleeping because they had given up their upstairs room. Then next is the down stairs holding cell as I'll call it. Not very big probably 6'x10' The first night they were all in there with 3-4 other men. And then you climb the stairs. They are STEEP. They showed us the real jail cell. It was made of strong bars and a straw bed inside. Very dark with only little peep holes to let the sun in. We then entered the bedroom where- all hell broke loose. It was the craziest feeling as we saw the bullet hole in the door as we passed in.

We sat down and listened to a 5 minute recording of how it all played out. I can't even describe the feeling to know that we were in the room where the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum died. You can see the bullet hole that killed Hyrum and the bullet hole that unlocked the door.

And... the window Joseph fell from.

An amazing experience one can't really describe unless you've been there you don't know the feeling.

The front of the jail.

Outside view of the window Joseph fell from. A long fall.

After visiting the jail there wasn't a doubt in our minds that our detour was well worth it.