I first visited the Carthage Jail in 1982, soon after I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of…read moreLatter-day Saints. It strengthened my testimony and still today. Visiting Carthage Jail can be sad, because it's where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred. But, I'm grateful for the opportunity to remember the great lives they lived and the contributions to the salvation of mankind they made. To quote John Taylor, "They lived great..." I'm thankful for all of the blessings that I enjoy today because of them. The Church of Jeuss Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken extraordinary care of the site. The missionaries at the site are wonderful and give complimentary tours. The history of the site is well worth a visit.

This was the highlight of our trip across the Midwest. I really enjoyed learning more about Joseph…read moreSmith and the young ladies that gave us the tour were so well spoken and thoughtful. I was touched by their comments about how supportive Hyrum Smith was of his younger brother Joseph. Wish I had an older brother like that.

Gorgeous mansion in a section of Quincy where you see a few blocks of absolutely gorgeous mansion-…read moretype homes that are amazingly maintained! Beautiful woodwork and furnishings. Some docent provided information, as well as self guided tour .

Beautiful place! Some original furniture & clothing pieces, other period pieces donated from…read morenearby. Very nice place to stop and learn some local history.

Amazing authentic and replica exhibits! World-class for a small town! They accept donations if you…read morethought the experience was worthwhile, and they have a small gift shop.

A new gem in Nauvoo! A scientific examination of Biblical truths painstakingly and superbly…read morepresented. A treat for all ages! Well done!

We spent about 2 hours exploring the grounds. There are multiple buildings you can walk in and…read moreexplore yourself with lots of informative plaques and actors scattered throughout a few to tell you more in depth information about daily life at the fort. Found out it's family run and we had the pleasure of interacting with the owner and his son, they were some of the actors! You could tell that ALL of the actors knew what they were talking about, we were blown away. They put so much thought and time into these exhibits and you can tell!

Our family (8 yr-old, mom and dad) had a great time visiting this museum. Full disclosure, it was…read moreconstructed in modern times (1980's I think) using historically accurate tools and techniques as a museum patterned after the original fort of the same name. There is about 90-minutes of activities here including several rooms with different themes like barracks, hospital, kitchen and an office from pioneer days. It's very well cared for, the staff is friendly and knowledgeable, and there is a small gift shop. In addition to the fort, you can see a Santa Fe / Burlington train engine, a fountain, and the Mississippi River all from the same parking lot. Pack a lunch, grab your camera and come check this place out - it's really fun.

What a wonderful piece of history! It's not just Quincy or Illinois history, but American history…read more We had such an amazing tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable and personable. He went at such a wonderful pace to really help us take in all the info. The mansion itself has been kept so well. If you're visiting Quincy, this is a spot you must visit.

Beautiful historic home of the former Illinois governor John Wood. We came over the winter holidays…read morewhen it's free and members of the historical society served as guides and shared stories and facts about John, his family and the various furniture and artifacts around the mansion.

Unusual building labeled as a "castle" along the Mississippi River Bluffs in Quincy, Il. Moroccan…read morein style and furnishings for a wealthy businessman and his 200 lb. dog. Used as information center and event venue.

Beautiful place with a nice history. The volunteers working there were very kind and knowledgeable…read moreof the history

This was a great tour! We started off in the visitors center. Then we toured Samuel Clemens boyhood…read morehome. "Becky Thacker's" house was across the street, as well as Grant's drugstore where the Clemens family lived when they were down on their luck. The city has preserved everything well and is taken care of it for posterity and future generations. My wife and I very much enjoyed this tour. We also took the trolley tour through town, which we enjoyed.

The tour of homes and museum of Mark Twain in Hannibal is a must see. The tour requires walking and…read moresome steps a probably would be difficult with a stroller, wheel chair or young children (although there are some elevators along the route). We did the tour on a Sunday morning. There were very few other visitors. The tour cost $14/person, which I thought was reasonable. Discounted tickets are available for seniors and kids. There is a small interpretive museum at the start that sets the stage for Sam Clement's / Mark Twain's boyhood and life. Parts of the exhibit are interactive. You then visit the Clement home (Tom Sawyer) which is styled with period furnishings and descriptive plaques. Next are visits to homes that inspired characters in his books - Huck Finn's cabin and Becky Thatcher's home. Becky's home has displays and info about the characters in Twain's books, with stories of Laura, the girl who died inspired Becky. There are clerk's along the way to answer questions, some more engaging than others. The tour acknowledges and describes Twain's views on slavery as you enter his father's office and the pharmacy exhibits. The final stop is down the street at a second museum with large interactive artifacts and a floor devoted to art. Along the tour are four gift shops that carry the shirt, books and other Twain memorabilia. The tour took about 2 hours to complete and you can break for lunch in town. There were restrooms in the museums. I learned a lot about Twain and his family and how he became a successful author. The town has been well preserved and run by local businesses. We found free street parking, but I'm guessing that parking is difficult on a busy tourist day. There is more parking behind the museum. This is a great learning experience, especially if Twain was part of your childhood reading.

Always a good thing! The museum preserves and displays historical memorabilia, photos, and stories…read morefrom Wapello County, Iowa. I appreciate the grand effort made by the society to preserve and share information. My grandparents lived in Wapello County their entire lives and I grew up spending summers at the farm. I would love to see the Military Room receive a renovation with greater emphasis on Wapello County veterans.

From the owner: The Iowa Heartland History Connection is a southeastern Iowa history museum with so much to offer!…read more- museum exhibits that rotate regularly with new things to see - view items from our own collection, from private collections, and other museums - dedicated kids room for learning and exploration - gift shop that features Iowa themed gifts and hand-made goods from local small businesses - rooms for rent for meetings, classes, lectures, presentations, and parties - a research library for National History Day research and genealogy - you can also ask a volunteer here to do research for you (for a fee)