Wilford Woodruff Home

LOCATION: Durphy and Hotchkiss Streets

All Sites, Tours, Shows, and Rides at Historic Nauvoo are FREE!

Wilford Woodruff, the fourth president of the LDS Church, completed this home in 1845. He was often known as “Wilford the Faithful” because of his devotion and dedication to the Lord.

Phoebe Woodruff's bee-keep

When Wilford built this lovely home, he wanted it to be warm and cozy. Consequently, he put a fireplace in every room, eight in all. He secured bricks, made in Nauvoo, by bartering and using what little money he had, and by doing much of his own work.  He recorded in his journal, “I went to a brick kiln and flung out 7,000 bricks, nearly melting myself.” Once the home was completed, Wilford and his family spent fewer than 100 nights there before joining the exodus to the west. Visitors see many beautiful artifacts that belonged to Wilford and his wife, Phoebe.

President Woodruff used this chair late at night while writing in his journals

Upon leaving Nauvoo, Wilford wrote in his journal, “I was in Nauvoo on the 26th of May, 1846, for the last time, and left the city of the Saints feeling that most likely I was taking a final farewell of Nauvoo for this life. I looked upon the temple and city as they receded from view and asked the Lord to remember the sacrifices of His Saints.”

Today, that prayer has been answered with the restoration of the City of Nauvoo and the rebuilding of the beautiful temple on the hill. It is, indeed, a fitting memorial to those who sacrificed so much for the gospel of Jesus Christ.