The original tabernacle sunk into the marshy ground and was demolished/burned/built over (I can't remember which). But a few years ago a local community group raised money to reconstruct the tabernacle in replica (this time including an underground jack system to compensate for the building sinking into the ground). Because the original tabernacle was made from hand-hewn logs, the replica looks like it was too, but in actuality they were perfectly square logs that were then distressed to look like they were hand-hewn to save money. It kind of reminds me of buying jeans that are already torn and ripped.
The fireplace in the tabernacle was made from sod, as shown above. But because a fire has never been lit in the replica, you can still see the grass that would have been burned/singed away with actual use. It was a pretty neat way to make a fireplace I thought.
While the tabernacle was rebuilt by a community group, they sold it to the church a few years later for $1. The church now runs free tours and the tabernacle is used for numerous community events. When we were there it was hosting a Gingerbread House competition/exhibition.
I thought it was pretty awesome that a community group valued the importance of the original tabernacle enough to rebuild it, and it's even more awesome that they then essentially gave it to the Church for historical reasons. While on the tour we were shown the stage where Brigham Young was sustained, and also heard the story of how Oliver Cowdery returned to the saints after years in apostacy and how the speaker at the time, stopped his talk, walked back to where Oliver had entered and embraced him to welcome him back. That story of forgiveness and repentence was a poignant reminder of what the upcoming Christmas season is all about.
Sorry about the pictures without any people in them, but here's one of Sara and Liam standing in front of a statue of Brigham Young and his First Presidency in front of the Tabernacle.
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