The LDS Church first established a congregation in Nauvoo in 1956. Elderly LDS couples later served as missionaries and historical guides. The City of Joseph Pageant, an outdoor musical produced by the LDS Church, began running in the summer of 1976. In 1979, the city became the headquarters of a Nauvoo stake. The city was also the site of the Relief Society Memorial Garden, dedicated in 1978. It features statues by Dennis Smith and Florence Hansen.
The city's population peaked at over 10,000 people in 1844. The city's economy was largely based on construction and there were two major public projects under construction - the temple towering over the entire community, and the hotel, a four-story building on the edge of the river. Other industries included gunsmiths and blacksmiths. There were also women's organizations and Masonic Lodges. The city even had a university.
While the Saints were a wronged minority in America's history, they left a surprisingly substantial city in the form of houses, gardens, fences, and other structures. They also established a new religion, which combined the interests of local and regional politics, resulting in increased taxes and real estate values. While these differences may seem discouraging, these factors do not make Nauvoo an expensive place to visit.
The Mormons began building the city in 1839. Construction lasted for nearly five years, until the Mormons abandoned the site in 1846. The city was largely Mormon, and most of the people who lived there were Latter-day Saints. The Latter-day Saints envisioned Zion as God's kingdom on earth. In Nauvoo, a city charter was granted, which made it possible to provide essential services to its residents and to protect the church from outside difficulties.