Industry is Kanesville was instrumental in outfitting people for the Mormon trek to Salt Lake City. The city lasted from 1846 to 1953 when the Mormons abandoned it and others renamed it Council Bluffs. Originally it was named for Thomas Kane.
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| Thomas Kane |
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| Kanesville |
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| Grand Encampment |
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| diorama of Kanesville |
Thomas Kane was instrumental in lobbying President Polk as a way of supporting the Mormons in their treck west. The president wanted to assure the loyalty of the Mormons. After the recruiters had tried recruiting in the eastern Iowa locations where the Mormons had camped, Captain James Allen finally arrived in Kanesville. Brigham Young encouraged people to enlist, for the financial help it would give the church. Each recruit would receive a $42 clothing allowance, but unifors were not required. Much of that money went to support the church in Winter Quarters and on the journey west. The mustering of the Mormon Battalion also provided a way for the church to show their political support for the United States. Over five hundred joined the Battalion, five companies, which was the only unit, "Mormon Battalion," with a religious name.
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| Mormon Battalion uniform and equipment |
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| Brigham Young and a man saying goodbye to his wife |
In the winter of 1847, three years after the death of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young was impressed that it was time to reorganize the first presidency. This was after he had been to Utah and back ith the first emigration company. Kanesville was in essence the headquarters of the church during this time. Not all the apostles were present, but they did have a majority and a quorum. On December 5 they determined it was proper to reorganize the first presidency. They hastily constructed a tabernacle in which to do this. It held 1000 people. On December 27 the members met in Kanesville Tabernacle and sustained Brigham Young as Prophet with Heber C. Kimball as first counsellor and Willard Richards as second counsellor. The Kanesville Tabernacle did not survive. It was hastily constructed, over a natural spring. The wood was green and warped over time so it soon was not safe. A replica was built in 1996 but it too was torn down in 2022 as deemed unsafe. There is now a memorial, visitor center there. Kanesville is now Council Bluffs. The memorial is located off of E. Kanesville Blvd at Benton St.
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| Heber C. Kimball, Brigham Young and Willard Richards |
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| Where the tabernacle was located in 1847 |
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| An artistic rendering of the original tabernacle |
Information about Oliver Cowdery is found outside the Visitors Center. He had left the church but reunited in 1852 in Kanesville.
Kanesville Visitors Center
Oliver Cowdery Reunites with the Church of Jesus Christ
The First Presidency is Ordained
A Thriving Commerce, 1846-1853
The Mormon Battalion is Recruited
Wives of the Mormon Battalion are depicted
Since the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith in June of 1844, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had been lead by the Council of twelve apostles with Brigham Young as the President of the Quorum. After the first group had traveled to Salt Lake, and Brigham Young had returned to the Iowa/Nebraska area, he felt impressed that is was time to reorganize the First Presidency. A tabernacle was built in Kanesville (now Council Bluffs) to facilitate this. Although not all twelve apostles were present thee was enough for a quorum. The others were impressed as well that ut was time. Brigham Young was sustained as prophet and president of the church. His counsellors were Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards.
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| 12 Apostles |
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| Brigham Young |
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| The New First Presidency |
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| Sustaining by the apostles |
Mormon Pioneer stayed on both siders of the Missouri River, in Iowa and Nebraska. However Brigham Young wanted to get an early start so encourage movement to the west side of the river. Thre were severl stops on the west side before settling on Winter Quarters, Many stayed on the Iowa side as well. To prevent overcrowded in any particular area, Brigham Young asked the Saints to prred ot. This resulted in over 100 different camps and communities.
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| The red dots show the LDS communities in 1846. Coulter's Park is credited as the first city in Nebraska. Even though it was in wagons, it had an organized government. It was closed and the Saints thre moved to winter Quarters |
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| Cold Spring and Mormon Hollow were both temporary settlements in the Bellevue area. They were used before the Saints moved north to Cutler's Park and Winter Quarters |
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| Chief Big Elk arranged for the Mormons to stay in Mormon Hollow near Bellevue. He was negotiated with the Saints with regards to staying at Cutler's Park. However the Otoe had a similar negotiation the next day and insisted the mormons move closer to the river. Consequently they moved to Winter Quarters. |
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| 30th street in Florence was the most western street of Winter Quarters |
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| Only Mormon tombstone found at Winter Quarters Cemetery |
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| Interior of a Winter Quarters log cabin |
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| Orson Hyde, an apostle, published the Frontier Guardian in Iowa from 1849 to 1851 |
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| sample of the Frontier Guardian |
