The Old State Capitol is a reconstruction of Illinois' statehouse from 1840 to 1876. During the…read more20th century's civil rights movement, its restorers faithfully recreated the building in which John Jones & Frances Gage worked to expand the meaning of freedom. Lincoln served his final term as a state lawmaker in 1840-41. As a lawyer, he pleaded cases before the state supreme court in this building (1841-1860). In the Illinois House chamber, Lincoln made his House Divided speech in June 1858, announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. It was to the same chamber, in May 1865, that his body was returned to lie in state, arriving from Washington, D.C., prior to final burial in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery.

We had a great time here at the old Capitol. We enjoyed the self guided tour and listening to the…read moreLincoln Troubadours sing in the rotunda area and in the old house chamber. This statehouse was not used very long, but Lincoln was in here when he was alive. It was also the last place he lay in state before they closed the coffin and buried him and his son Willie in the Springfield cemetery. We enjoyed the Underground Railroad display and stories in the old Supreme Court Chambers. This place is kind of big and you can schedule at least an hour to see everything. As of June 2025 it's open Thursday through Saturday.

Mary Todd, the widow of Abraham Lincoln chose a quiet place for her husband to rest…read more On the outskirts of town, Oakridge Cemetery has revolutionary war laid to rest here. A simple family burial and tomb. It was unheard of. After having his body taken. Yes the original tomb under the larger one it needed a better resting area. In fact the care taker for years relocated the presidents body to preserve it for the family. The caretakers mansion is next store to the tomb still today. What an undertaking. The large obelisk above his tomb and depicting statues are dedicated to his legacy. Keeping the union to together; eventually abolishing slavery. A man's heart and soul are here along side most of the Lincoln family. No one will ever be able to take his body again it's buried in lead coffin and covered in concrete. This burial now celebrates Lincoln's life and his final resting place. Now you can come and celebrate his life and death. All his contributions to history in his hometown. Make sure and rub Lincoln's nose for good luck.

A must stop if nearby especially if you're a history buff. What a beautiful burial place. The…read morepictures just don't do it justice. We unfortunately arrived close to closing time so we missed the tour. Just to walk the grounds and see the craftsmanship was amazing. The land is well taken care of and statues amazing. Next time I'll have to come earlier to get the full tour and time to explore nearby as his family and others also burried here.

Book your free tour at Eventbrite…read more We enjoyed walking through the governors mansion on a Sunday afternoon. Our docent was amazing. She grew up here in Springfield and played in the house as a child and the young person. The mansion itself is very impressive. It is the largest governors mansion of the United States and the third oldest. There is a lot of history in here and some beautiful artwork and furnishings. I'm sure someone will sell you a book so you can see all that. There are no photographs or videos allowed by visitors. Your tour will be escorted by Capitol Police to make sure you follow the rules and don't touch anything. The home is gorgeous and the first lady has done an excellent job decorating. We really enjoyed this wonderful tour.

Beautifully landscaped mansion in the center of Springfield. This is the largest governor's…read moremansion in America is Illinois' 45,000-square-foot palace, stands tall since 1855. Currently, Governor Greg Abbott & First Lady Cecilia Phalen Abbott are occupants. This is as close as we could get.

I love this community center and had such a great experience. I was planning a baby shower and was…read moreon the hunt for a large enough venue and would work within our budget. I contacted Kenny and he was great at answering my questions and working with me, as I was organizing this from out of state. We rented the multi-purpose room and the adjacent kitchen. The staff was wonderful at helping us set up the table and chairs, as well as the break down of them after the party. They provided us with trash cans to use during the party and collected it at the end. They were polite and flexible as our party ran a little longer than we expected! I appreciated that the restrooms were right outside of the multi-purpose room, clean and stocked. The staff member, who helped the day of the party, was available to us and a good communicator. Thank you! Also, I had control of the thermostats which was awesome, as we all know how the temperature fluctuates in the Midwest. Some considerations: 1.) You are not allowed to put any decorations on the walls. This was fine by me and helped simplify decoration choices. 2.) The kitchen had a refrigerator and stove but no coffee pot or dishes. They have a sink which made it easy to just wash what we used before packing it away. There's a contract you sign and a deposit you put down. Basically: be respectful of the space and keep it clean. If you change your plans, let them know ahead of time and you'll get the deposit back. This community center was a great choice for us and affordable! The shower was a great success, I highly recommend them!

Kind security guards. Their agents are the epitome of the upmost professional conduct, great…read morelisteners, and caring about keeping the community safe from evil doers. I highly recommend giving them information as well as your local police. It keeps the checks and balances system alive. The buildings outdoor architecture is fantastic and warrants a visit to see in person! Thank you for keeping our community safe!

The World War II Illinois Veterans Memorial is the most impressive of the War Memorials in Oak…read moreRidge Cemetery. Granite slabs flank a large white globe which detail battles in the European and Pacific Theaters. Almost 1 million Illinois residents served in the war. 22,000 died. Walk to see the chronology of the war. Bricks pave the walkway honoring those who fought and those who died in the war.

Everyone wants to go to Oak Ridge Cemetery to see Lincoln's Tomb, but there's more of course. It…read morealso has a few war memorials. World War II has a pretty nice one. Commemorates those from Illinois who died. There's some pretty cool structure. As for the war memorials, this one is the most impressive. It has this big white globe you notice immediately, quite the structure. There's also the names of the lost soldiers on a wall. Maybe it doesn't take much time to look at. This is nice just to reflect and admire it. For sure this gets overlooked but check it out while you're in this cemetery. It's pretty close to the other war memorials. Take a few minutes and walk around to see all of these.

A Greater Task "Why…read moreshould there not be a patient confidence in the ultimate justice of the people? Is there any better or equal hope in the world?" Abraham Lincoln, First Inaugural Address Located in a small park across the street from the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, this statue highlights the burden and complexities that Lincoln faced as he began his journey to Washington and became a wartime president. Visit this and the nearby Acts of Intolerance Sculpture to reflect on the past, the present and the future.

Acts of Intolerance…read more Two charred chimneys rising from the smoldering rubble of burned-out buildings. These stark images from an old photograph were the inspiration for this unique sculpture. The sculpture commemorates the centennial of the brutal Springfield Race Riot of 1908. During the blistering heat over two days in August, an angry white mob attacked innocent black residents of Springfield. They looted and burned their homes and businesses after they heard that two black men, one accused of raping a white woman and the other of killing a white man, had been secretly transported out of town by the sheriff for their protection. In protest, white rioters lynched two innocent black men, murdered at least five more victims, and many, many more were injured. Homes and businesses destroyed. State militia and troopers were called to stop the violence. After the riot, Mabel Hallam admitted to lying about the rape to cover up an affair with a white lover. The second accused man, Joe James, was convicted by a jury for murder and executed. The news about the vicious race riot in Abraham Lincoln's hometown shocked the country. The riot, trials and aftermath demonstrated and highlighted the complex intersection of race, class, and criminal justice in the United States. This event became a catalyst for the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) which was established in New York City on February 12, 1909, the centennial of Lincoln's birthday. The numerous relief images on the surface of the chimney columns depict scenes that suggest themes of intolerance and themes of redemption. It is a stark reminder of how intolerance and prejudices can affect and impact all of us. Definitely worth a visit to reflect on the past, the present and the future.