Ohio can boast a number of contributions to the history of the United States. Seven Presidents of the United States were born here; the contributions of Ohio’s native sons and daughters – from Thomas A. Edison to John Glenn to Harvey Firestone to many, many others – are unparalleled.

One of the lesser-known but truly important chapters in American history occurred in the small village of Kirtland in Lake County.

In the early 1830s, the members of the new Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which had been established in western New York State in 1831, came to Kirtland to establish their new headquarters. The centerpiece of their community was what is now known as the Kirtland Temple, which was finished in 1836. Before its dedication, and at the dedication service itself, church leaders and followers reported visions and angelic visitations, as well as spiritual flames rising from the roof of the building. It was a remarkably large and important building on the pioneer landscape of northeast Ohio.

The church moved on to Missouri and Illinois after only a few years in Kirtland. After 1844, the majority of the membership traveled under the leadership of Brigham Young to establish Salt Lake City.  Now, over 100 such temples dot the earth; the Kirtland Temple was the very first.

The Kirtland Temple still stands and is in unusually original condition; the interior features elaborately carved, tiered pulpits for church leaders. The National Historic Landmark building is open for tours on a regular basis.

Some years back, the LDS (Mormon) Church decided to invest in and restore adjacent original structures, and also to re-construct missing components of the original community. The result is “Historic Kirtland,” which features, among other attractions, the only restored ashery in the United States.  It is well worth a visit.

Photo: Kirtland Temple, Kirtland, Lake County: midiman/Creative Commons License