Historic Textures: Scavenger Hunt Challenge
Find the details. Feel the history. Take your time.
Step into a simpler time with a historic scavenger hunt that invites you to slow down and notice the details that make Nauvoo so unique. Wander past split rail fences, peek inside log cabins, and admire the craftsmanship of stone and brick buildings that have stood for generations. Along the way, you might spot grazing sheep, passing horses, or even a team of oxen—living reminders of the town’s working past. This interactive experience turns quiet moments into meaningful discoveries, perfect for those who want to explore at their own pace and connect with the textures, sights, and rhythms of history.
1. Split Rail Stories
I zig and zag instead of standing straight,
Stacked by hand, I mark the boundary of yesterday.
Find: A split rail fence
Challenge:
Take a photo looking through the fence instead of at it
How many rails high is the section you found?
2. The Log Cabin Lines
Built from trees, not bricks or stone,
With notched corners that hold their own.
Find: A log cabin
Count the visible log layers on one wall.
3. Brick by Brick
Fired in heat and laid with care,
I’ve stood for years in open air.
Find: A brick building
Look closely—are the bricks uniform or varied?
Bonus Photo: Capture a pattern or texture in the brick
4. Stone & Strength
Rough and rugged, no two the same,
Stacked together without a name.
Find: A stone building or foundation
Challenge:
Find the largest stone you can spot. Describe its shape
5. Quiet in the Field
Soft and woolly, calm and slow,
Grazing where the grasses grow.
Find: Sheep
Watch quietly for 30 seconds. They are cute and cuddly, but please do not pet the sheep. What are they doing?
6. Power & Grace
Strong and steady, fast or slow,
A trusted friend from long ago.
Find: Horses
Notice their movement. Are they walking, standing, or running?
Bonus: Take a peaceful photo (no sudden movements!)
7. The Working Team
Side by side, they pull as one,
Heavy work from sun to sun.
Find: Oxen (or a representation—statue, image, or mention)
Look for what connects them. What do you see used to guide or harness them?
8. Doors of the Past
Open me to step inside,
Through time where stories still reside.
Find: An old wooden door
Look at the handle or hinges. What material are they made of? Who walked through this door?
9. Window Reflections
Glass that shows both then and now,
Look closely—you’ll see how.
Find: A window on a historic structure
Take a photo of a reflection. What do you see reflected?
10. Fields of Time
Open space with room to breathe,
Where work and life once interweaved.
Find: An open field or farmland
Stand still for one minute. What do you hear?
11. The Old Tree Witness
I’ve seen the years come and go,
More than you will ever know.
Find: A large, old tree
Try to wrap your arms around it. Can you reach all the way around?
12. The Final Moment
The day slows down, the light turns gold,
This is the story best retold.
Find: A scenic view at sunset
Take your final photo here. One word to describe Nauvoo: __________
