monument includes a sculpture by artist Avard T. Fairbanks, depicting John the Baptist conferring the priesthood on Smith and Cowdery. In 2002, the church purchased 25 acres of land which had been heavily polluted by adjacent railroad activity. This purchase extended the church's holdings to the river. Since that time additional property has been purchased, expanding the church's holdings in the area to . The most recent acquisition occurred in January 2011, which added purchased from the Boughton family for $2.1 million. In a letter dated April 15, 2011, the LDS Church announced to nearby members that the site would be restored. The restoration included reconstructing the homes lived in by the Smith and Hale families, along with farm out-buildings. A combination visitors' center and meetinghouse is constructed, along with a new monument. Pennsylvania Route 171, which splits the historic site in two was rerouted as part of the project. In August 2015, the church announced that with construction completed, the site would be opened to the public on August 29 and was dedicated by apostle Russell M. Nelson on September 19, 2015. Steven E. Snow, the church’s official Church Historian and Recorder from August 2012 until August 2019, is credited with the completion of the Priesthood Restoration Site. See also List of historic sites of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints References External links Priesthood Restoration Site Official site Interactive Map: Priesthood Restoration Site Significant places in Mormonism Latter Day Saint movement in Pennsylvania Properties of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tourist attractions in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania 1829 in Christianity