Planning at trip to Nauvoo this year?
Make Fort Madison your home base while exploring one of the most important destinations in Church history.
Located just 15 minutes from Nauvoo, Fort Madison offers comfortable hotels, excellent dining, museums, riverfront views, and easy access to the places where the pioneer story continued across the Mississippi River.
Before the Saints began their journey west, many crossed into Iowa near Montrose, where visitors today can stand along the riverbank and enjoy breathtaking views of the Nauvoo Temple while reflecting on this remarkable chapter of American history.
After an evening at the Nauvoo Pageant, return to Fort Madison to relax, enjoy local restaurants, and discover attractions including historic museums, Old Fort Madison, scenic riverfront parks, and the largest double-deck swing-span bridge in the world.
Whether you're attending the pageant for a night or spending several days exploring the area, Fort Madison provides the perfect combination of history, hospitality, and convenience.
📍 Just 15 minutes from Nauvoo
🏨 Comfortable lodging options
🌊 Mississippi River views
🏛 Museums and historic attractions
🍽 Great local dining
Book your Fort Madison stay today and make the most of your Nauvoo experience!
**Ask for the special 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐞 when booking your Fort Madison lodging!**
Nauvoo Pageant Jul 7-Aug 1, 2026
The Nauvoo Pageant is a major live outdoor theatrical production held each summer at Historic Nauvoo, Illinois, telling the story of early Latter-day Saints in the 1840s. It is part of a season that also includes the British Pageant, which focuses on early missionary work in the British Isles.
Nauvoo Pageant: A Tribute to Joseph Smith – A 2-hour dramatization of early converts in the U.S., featuring authentic hymns, folk songs, dances, and scenes based on historical records. It honors Joseph and Emma Smith, the sacrifices of early members, and the building of Nauvoo and the temple. The Nauvoo Pageant on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
British Pageant – Depicts the restoration of the gospel and early British missionary efforts, with ties to religious reformers, and includes familiar characters from the Nauvoo Pageant. The British Pageant runs on Wednesdays & Fridays.
** No tickets are required, and no reservations are needed.
Preshow Country Fair – Enjoy the Country Fair at 7pm before the Pageant begins. Take part in over 20 different activities from the 1840's Nauvoo era. Guests saw logs, dance round dances, tie quilts, see puppet shows, play stick ball, try stick pull and stilts, tie rugs, and much, much more. As the sun sets, young pageant guests join a bagpipe parade signaling the beginning of the Pageant performance at 8:30 PM.