Today I am going to talk a little bit about Kirtland, Ohio. There is a lot to see and do in Kirtland, Ohio. The church has a visitor’s center in Kirtland, and there are several historic sites of interest with guided tours. You can also see the new movie “Joseph Smith The Prophet of the Restoration” at the visitor’s center. You can learn more about the visitor’s center by clicking here. All sites owned and operated by the church are open between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. during the summer months.
In Kirtland, in addition to the visitor’s center, you can visit the Newell K. Whitney store, which was a meeting place for the school of the prophets. You can also visit the Isaac Morely Farm, and the Newel K. and Elizabeth Ann Whitney home. The church has also restored the ashery, sawmill and schoolhouse. There are tours available which explain the significance of these places to the community in the 1830’s.
If you drive thirty miles south to Hiram, Ohio, you can visit the John Johnson Inn and the John Johnson Farm House. There are videos, and interactive displays, which talk about these buildings. The John Johnson Inn acted as church headquarters for a few years.
A visit to Kirtland would not be complete without a visit to the Kirtland Temple. Community of Christ owns the Kirtland Temple Historic Center. Tours are available Monday through Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. There is a two-dollar tour fee per person to visit.
Accommodations are difficult to find in Kirtland, so it would be best if you booked your hotel in advance. The neighboring towns of Willoughby, Ohio, and Mentor, Ohio, have several hotels available, and the drive is not too far. If you are planning this trip in conjunction with a visit to Palmyra, make sure to read my blog about Palmyra.