The old Nauvoo-Carthage road connected Nauvoo-the largest city in the county in the 1840's-with Carthage, the county seat. The road left Nauvoo on existing streets and then struck a nearly straight line to the outskirts of Carthage.
The Mormons settled Nauvoo in 1839 and, under the leadership of the Prophet Joseph Smith, transformed the swamp area into a beautiful , prosperous city. By 1844 tensions had reached high levels. The anti-Mormon elements in Carthage and Warsaw sought to bring the legal system into their actions as they threatened violence against the Mormons.. Joseph Smith in particular. Joseph could have escaped, but in June of 1844 he submitted to arrest to satisfy the worries of his friends and the demands of his enemies. He then set out across this trail with his brother, Hyrum, and several others. His last days as a free man were spent on this trail. He had a strong sense of his fate and said, "I go like a lamb to the slaughter..." He was murdered three days later when an armed mob stormed the Carthage Jail.
The emphasis of the trail is not to rehearse the tragic aspects of history, but instead to pay tribute to Joseph Smith's character and accomplishments.
Joseph's courage and dedication to high principles in the face of opposition are qualities which, enhanced by this trail, could benefit every young man.
With very little formal education, Joseph brought forth volumes of scripture, organized the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and founded several cities... including Nauvoo. By 1845, Nauvoo was equal in size with Chicago.
To learn more of the great strengths of this pioneer, we invite you to hike the Martyrdom Trail, sponsored by the Martyrdom Trail Committee, Nauvoo's Troop #107, and other contributing troops.
