A jail whose only supplied “comfort” was loose straw on the floor–but even that seems hard to claim as it stank and poked at the skin seems a odd place to memorialize. In the basement of the building where the actual jail was located no beds or privacy was provided. Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints and several of his companions were imprisoned here for four and a half months during the coldest part of the Missouri winter of 1838 – 1839. A visit here is instructive as to how and why this place is referred to a “temple-prison”.
History
Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ are familiar with this jail even though Liberty, Missouri was never a major gathering place for the Church of Jesus Christ. Liberty Jail was the location that Elder Neal A. Maxwell called the “temple prison” because of the spiritual development that took place in Joseph Smith and the revelations and understanding that was granted to him during his incarceration here.
Liberty jail was divided into two levels, with an under seven-foot ceiling in the lower level and a seven-foot ceiling in the upper room. It’s walls were two feet thick on the outside and made of stone, and the inside walls were spaced about a foot away and made of oak. The only way into the cell below was through a heavy wooden trap door.
Present
Today in place of Liberty Jail the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built a ‘Historic Liberty Jail Visitors’ Center’. A tour through the visitors’ center takes less than an hour as the guides inform you about Joseph Smith’s incarceration. A partial reconstruction of the jail sits within the museum allowing you to simultaneously see the upper and lower floors at once. Inside the model of the jail sits figurines dressed like Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae, Caleb Baldwin and Sidney Rigdonwholly (church leaders incarcerated there) within the basement prison. Missionaries are available to explain what occurred at the jail and its importance to the history of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Tips and Logistics
- The Visitor Center is just off the main downtown square of Liberty, Mo. This is a crowded busy community and pulling a large RV into the area is not advised.
- The parking lot next to the visitors center is small, so for those with big TV or RV’s we suggest that you park on the streets around the visitors center.
Camping
Crows Creek Campground (about 25min away)
Located in Smithville, Missouri, this campground is one of the favorites in the area. Clay County Parks manages more than 6,000 acres of parks including golf courses, disc golf courses, 24 miles of trails, 777 camp sites, marinas, swim beaches, and docks at Smithville Lake.
Watkins Mill State Park (about 26 min away)
Features include:
- Picnic table, fire ring, and grill are available at each site
- Shower and laundry facilities
- Playground
- Water/Electric Sites available
- Tents and RV’s welcome
Rates:
Unimproved – $20/night
Electric – 30 amp $25/night
Electric- 50 amp $35/night
Directions
Watkins Mill State Park to Liberty Jail (about 17 miles)
- From the park entrance, go left (east) to CR RA. Follow it south to SR-92. Go left (east) on SR-92 to US 69. Turn right (south) onto US 69 into Excelsior Springs.
- Stay on US 69 through Excelsior Springs until you reach SR-33, which is the last turnoff before you are forced onto I-35
- Turn left (south) onto SR-33 and continue into Liberty, Mo. This brings you into Liberty by the “back door,” so as you enter the town, watch the street signs for a blue sign pointing to the Liberty Jail.
- Turn right (west) on Mississippi Street. Go four blocks to Main Street, where there will be signs directing to the Liberty Jail Visitors Center.
Haun’s Mill (about 1h 6min)
- Take NE Catawba Rd to State Hwy F
- Continue on State Hwy F. Take MO-116 W and I-35 S to E Mississippi St in Liberty
- Continue on E Mississippi St. Drive to N Main St
- Arrive at 216 N Main St, Liberty, MO
From Adam-ondi-Ahman (about 1h 5min)
- Get on I-35 S in Colfax township from MO-13 S, MO-6 W and US-69 S
- Follow I-35 S to Plattsburg Rd in Liberty. Take exist 20 from I-35 S
- Take N Lightburne St to N Main St
Kansas city (about 30min)
- Get on I-70 W/US-71 N from E 10th St
- Follow I-35 N to W Kansas St in Liberty. Take exit 16 from I-35 N
- Continue on W Kansas St. Take W Mississippi St to N Main St
Near by Attractions
Haun’s Mill
In the Autumn of 1838, about 75 families from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lived near Haun’s mill. While no more buildings or houses remain today, this location is often visited in memory of the events that transpired there. Haun’s Mill is infamous for the killings of 17 members in what is called ‘the Haun’s Mill Massacre.