Carthage Jail is a historic building in Carthage, Illinois, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It was built in 1839 and is best known as the location of the 1844 killing of Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and his brother Hyrum, by a mob of approximately 150 men. It was added to the NRHP in 1973 and is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) as a historic site with an adjacent visitors' center.Plan to visit Carthage Jail and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Carthage attractions using our Carthage online trip builder.
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Carthage Jail reviews
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Wonderful experience starting with some videos that portray the events leading up to the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and then a walking tour of the jail / home with all the details of the events and...
Wonderful experience starting with some videos that portray the events leading up to the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and then a walking tour of the jail / home with all the details of the events and... more »
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This is a place of sadness and reflection. It is beautifully maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the sister missionaries do a great job telling the tragic tale of Joseph.... more
This is a place of sadness and reflection. It is beautifully maintained by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the sister missionaries do a great job telling the tragic tale of Joseph.... more »
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Very interesting experience here with very friendly tour guides. There were many large groups coming in to tour while I was leaving, so I recommend getting there around opening time to get the best experience and minimize waiting times. They also offer some great films to watch while you wait for the next tour to start.
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We decided to stop on our way though Illinois and I'm so glad we did! It was a very sacred and somber experience to stand in the room where the prophet Joseph Smith was and where he died. Even though it was heart wrenching, I'm glad we had the experience. The sister missionaries did a great job giving the tour and maintaining a reverence as they shared the history.
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