Kirtland Temple
Also known as: House of the Lord
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Why it's listed
Kirtland Temple, also called the House of the Lord, is a three-story building of oak-framed construction with two-foot-thick stone walls, located on Chillicothe Road in Kirtland, Ohio. Early Latter Day Saints began it in 1833 after Joseph Smith Jr. directed them to build a temple. The cornerstone was laid on July 24, 1833, and the building was dedicated on March 27, 1836. Joseph Smith served as foreman of the construction and the quarry, Jacob Bump was master builder, and Sidney Rigdon and Brigham Young worked on the project. Beyond worship, the building served as a school for children, a training center for lay ministers and a lecture hall. Most of the congregation left Kirtland in 1837 and 1838. Legal title passed to the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1880. The form values it as a rare example of fine craftsmanship on the frontier, and its appearance remains largely unchanged apart from replaced plaster and added modern systems.
Significance in brief: It is presented as the center of religious, educational and community life for early Latter Day Saints in Kirtland, built under Joseph Smith Jr. from 1833 and dedicated in 1836. The form also calls it a rare example of beauty and craftsmanship on the frontier. It was recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey and praised by the Ohio Historical Society and the Architects Society of Ohio.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 69000145, listed June 4, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9020 Chillicothe Rd., Kirtland |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | June 4, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000145 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1833-1838 |
| Architect / builder | Jacob Bump, master builder; Joseph Smith, Jr., foreman of construction and the stone quarry |
| Areas of significance | Science, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 8, 1976 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent or good condition, open to the public as a museum and religious site; appearance fundamentally unchanged, with interior and exterior plaster replaced and electric lighting, central heating and a sprinkler system added. |
| Acreage | 1.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.62539, -81.36200 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 69000145.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q788604
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.