Red Brick Store

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 19, 2012

1. Red Brick Store Marker

Inscription. The original Red Brick Store opened for business on January 5, 1842, with Joseph Smith as owner and proprietor. The main floor was a general store. At the back on this floor, Bishop Newell K. Whitney had an office where people could pay their bills and tithing.

On the second floor was a small office for Joseph Smith and a large meeting room. Council meetings were held there as were Masonic Lodge meetings and the organizational meetings of the “Female Relief Society” with Emma Smith as president. Also in this room, “Endowments” as later practiced in the Nauvoo Temple were introduced and Joseph Smith III (son of Joseph Smith Jr. and church president and prophet from 1860 to 1914) was designated by his father as his successor. By the fall of 1860 the Olive Branch, an early congregation of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now Community of Christ) was meeting on the second floor.

By 1890 the building had deteriorated to the point that it was town down. It was reconstructed on the original site and open to the public in April 1980.

Erected 2003 by Community of Christ.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers

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. In addition, it is included in the Mormon Pioneer Trail series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1847.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 40° 32.45′ N, 91° 23.589′ W. Marker was in Nauvoo, Illinois, in Hancock County. It was at the intersection of Water Street and Granger Street, on the left when traveling west on Water Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 610 Water Street, Nauvoo IL 62354, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Central Illinois.

It was also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store (here, next to this marker); The History of Mississippi River Pool 19, aka Lake Cooper (within shouting distance of this marker); Smith Family Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph, Emma and Hyrum Smith (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith (about 300 feet away); Smith Family Homestead (about 400 feet away); Nauvoo Survey Stone (about 400 feet away); Joseph and Emma Smith's Mansion House (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Nauvoo.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Homestead (was about 400 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 19, 2012

2. Red Brick Store Marker