The Icarian Community in Nauvoo
A communal society of French Icarians was established at Nauvoo in 1849. Led by Etienne Cabet, a French political theorist, the Icarians believed that all property must be held communally. The community was incorporated by the Illinois General Assembly in early 1851. At that time it had 355 members. They operated their own sawmill and grist mill and a commercial distillery. Disputes later arose over Cabet's leadership, and the Icarians began to resettle in other states. The Nauvoo community survived, however, until about 1860 -- longer that any other secular communal society in Illinois.
Marker is on Park Street north of Parley Street, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
