There are many little shops in Nauvoo. The Red Brick Store
(mentioned yesterday), and then up on the Main Street (Mulholland Street) there
are some charming shops, with all sorts of souvenirs and memorabilia.
But among the “must
do” stops in Nauvoo, are some of my favorite souvenirs – and they cost you
nothing. That’s right -- $0.00. So how can you beat that price?
The first is the
Old Nauvoo Brick – and you get it, of course, at the Brickyard. Back in the
1840s, the original Saints were planning on staying in Nauvoo forever – so,
just like the Three Little Pigs, they knew that a Brick Home or a Brick Shop
would be the best type of shelter. Fortunately many of those old homes have
been preserved, and are now historic sites. And so is the brickyard.
A Tour Guide will
teach you how the Saints made the bricks, and even show you some 180-year-old
bricks that have survived. He has some of the clay that is used – and there is
still a small brick-making operation, so that each family can take a brick home
with them (free) to remind them of their visit. It’s about 20 minutes, and very
informative.
And just a few
blocks away is the Blacksmith Shop. Since this was long before automobiles,
horses and oxen were the “cars” of the day – and they all needed horseshoes (or
oxshoes, I guess). Plus, many parts for the wheels from the wagons were made by
the blacksmith – so you get a lesson on how the wheels were made too. Then the
blacksmith will make you a miniature horseshoe – and mine was still hot when he
handed it to me.
Plus, the
blacksmiths-of-the-day made the square-head nails used for both shoeing horses
and all of the home/shop construction – and you can have a handmade nail too.
But for fun the nails are pounded into a ring – so you get to come home with
new jewelry, in the form of a Prairie Diamond. (Yes, that’s really what they
call them.)
Sure, there are some
fun things in the stores too – but make sure you start with these. Fun
souvenirs and a fun afternoon.
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