Eastern Church History Vacation

We recently went to up-state New York to visit Amy's parents who were serving as missionaries there. They have been acting mainly as docents, giving tours to visitors at the Sacred Grove, Smith Farm, Grandin Building (original Book of Mormon publication site), Hill Cumorah, Peter Whitmer Farm (church organization site), etc. We also visited some other attractions in the area including the Strong Museum of Play and Niagra Falls. Toward the end we travelled to 'the Ohio' and visited the Kirtland area sites.

This is in the visitor's center at the Hill Cumorah. It's modeled after the well-known Christus on Temple Square, but notice the forest painting behind the statue. In some ways it is suggestive of the First Vision.
This is in what they call the "Welcome Center." It's just a little place to get oriented when you visit the Smith Farm. The statue in the background blew my socks off when I first saw it. It's an incredibly intimate interpretation of the First Vision, showing The Father and Jesus in a partial embrace, and both of them within easy arms reach of Joseph. The love and concern that God has for each of us comes accross powerfully.
On the Smith Farm they've constructed a replica of the log cabin that the Smiths lived in. This picture is in the upstairs room where Moroni first appeared to Joseph Smith.
A few paces further down is the frame home that Alvin started to build, and that was finished by the rest of the family after he died. The plates were kept here for a time after Joseph recieved them. That's a replica of one of the younger Smith boys sitting there on the steps. Oh... never mind. I guess its Jacob.
Adjoining both of the previous buildings is a large chunk of forest known as the Sacred Grove. It was in this part of land that the Smiths owned but had not cleared that Joseph prayed and saw God the Father and Jesus. It's beautiful, and makes for a great place to go walking right before attending...
... the temple. We were able to do a session there while the Tanners watched Jacob and Allison. One interesting tid-bit about this temple is that it is the only one with a clear transparent window, which it has so that one can look out onto the Sacred Grove. This temple sits on the 100 acres owned by the Smiths, as does the little house where the Tanners have been living.
Right in the heart of Palmyra is where the Book of Mormon was published by Grandin, a local printer and businessman. It was printed here, despite the fact that none of the translation occured in Palmyra.
In Fayette the final translation took place and the church was organized at the Peter Whitmer Farm. This is a little room upstairs where Joseph stayed for a time and finished the translation.
This is the main downstairs room where 50 or so people gathered for the organization of the church.
This is the Newel K. Whitney store where Joseph and Emma stayed for 18 months. It was the first bishop's storehouse, and also housed the school of the prophets. Seventeen (if memory serves) revelations were given here, including the Word of Wisdom.
This is the Kirtland Temple! It was much larger than I thought it would be, and frankly reminded me of a stake center. An incredible building, especially considering the circumstances under which it was built.