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| Sister Hansen with Sister Salcido |
One of Ann's assignments this week was in the Visitors Center working at the Ticket and Tours counter. This is often the first place visitors stop when they come to Nauvoo and the visitors center.
Usually the first question asked is something like, "Tell us what there is to do." That is quite a request when you realize there are 38 sites and/or activities here for visitors. That does not include the "Rendezvous" show and visitor center movies nor the additional shows and activities which are added for the summer months. Neither does it include the Joseph Smith Historic Site owned by the Community of Christ Church (formerly known as The Reorganized Church) which includes a visitor center, the Smith's Homestead, Mansion House, Nauvoo House, Joseph's Red Brick Store and the Smith Family Cemetery where Joseph, Emma and Hyrum are buried.
Although the tickets for all the indoor shows are free, tickets are required due to number of seats available for each show. It is at the ticket and tours counter where the tickets are picked up. At the same counter, visitors can pickup free tickets for wagon and carriage rides. Each ride includes a narrator. They also have maps
Not counting the Nauvoo Pageant which runs for one month in the summer, there are four shows visitors can see. Rendezvous is the main show. Right now it runs Tuesday through Saturday with two shows each night. During the slow winter months it only has one performance each night. Otherwise it is put on every night of the year except Sundays, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. It is performed by all the senior missionaries and tells about some of the people of Nauvoo.
"Sunset by the Mississippi" is a variety show which put on by both the senior missionaries and the young performing missionaries who are called as missionaries for about three months of the summer. They make up the Nauvoo Brass Band and the dancers and singers. Each one has to audition for their respective positions and they come from all over. One is from Australia and some of the Sisters have recently received proselyting mission calls which they will fill when they return home. All are very talented.
The other two shows are put on during the day by the young performing missionaries, one in the Visitors Center and one in the Cultural Hall. They also do little vignettes around Old Nauvoo. The band has a horse drawn wagon that goes around during the day while they play.
