Top Attractions in Springfield

Illinois State Capitol

The Illinois State Capitol, located in Springfield, Illinois, is the building that houses the executive and legislative branches of the government of the U.S. state of Illinois. The current structure is the sixth to serve as capitol since Illinois became a part of the United States in 1818. The capitol is in the architectural style of the French Renaissance and was designed by Cochrane and Garnsey, an architecture and design firm based in Chicago. Ground was first broken for the new capitol on March 11, 1868, and it was completed twenty years later for a total cost of $4,500,000. The dome is covered in zinc to provide a silvery facade which does not weather. The interior of the dome features a plaster frieze painted to resemble bronze, which illustrates scenes from Illinois history, and stained glass windows (including a stained glass replica of the state seal in the oculus of the dome). The seal featured in the top of the dome is the seal used by Illinois prior to the American Civil War. It differs from the modern seal in that the phrase "State Sovereignty" is above the phrase "National Union." After the Civil War, the legislature voted to reverse these phrases as they professed that National Union was the more important of these two concepts.

St. Nicholas Hotel

The St. Nicholas Hotel is a historic hotel located at 400 E. Jefferson St. in Springfield, Illinois, US. The original building of the St. Nicholas Hotel was constructed in 1855. An annex was built on the hotel in 1910, and the current main building was constructed in 1924. The Georgian Revival main building was designed by the New York City architectural firm H.L. Stevens and Company. When the current main building opened, it was the second-tallest building in Springfield after the State Capitol. During sessions of the Illinois General Assembly, the St. Nicholas Hotel became a meeting place for Illinois politicians, who often conducted political business within the building. The hotel has hosted many notable visitors to Springfield, including three U.S. Presidents: Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. Paul Powell lived in the St. Nicholas Hotel during his term as the Illinois Secretary of State. After his death in 1970, the executor of Powell's will found $750,000 in cash stored in shoeboxes, briefcases, and strongboxes in Powell's suite, room 546 of the hotel. As the money greatly exceeded Powell's salary, which was at the most $30,000 per year, a federal investigation examined Powell's behavior while in office. The investigation determined that Powell had acquired the money via illegal cash bribes and led to the imprisonment of several state contractors. The hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 10, 1983. It is the only remaining hotel in Springfield which dates from the 1920s or earlier.

Henson Robinson Zoo

The Henson Robinson Zoo is a private nonprofit zoo serving the population of the greater Springfield, Illinois, United States, metropolitan area. The zoo was built in 1968-1970 on the eastern shore of Lake Springfield, and opened in 1970. The Henson Robinson Zoo is affiliated with the Springfield Park District. It is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. As of 2009, it housed more than 300 animal specimens representing more than 90 species. The zoo charges an admission fee. Admission Rates Adults $5.75 Children $4.00 Children FREE Seniors $4.25 Hours January February Open Saturday & Sunday Only 10am-4pm March-October Open Monday Friday 10am-5pm & Saturday & Sunday 10am-6pm November & December Open Every Day 10am-4pm

Illinois Executive Mansion

The Illinois Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of Illinois. It is located at 410 E. Jackson Street in Springfield, Illinois and is open to tours on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, free of charge. The Georgian style Mansion was designed by Chicago architect John M. Van Osdel. The Mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The 16-room manor was completed in 1855 and was first occupied by governor Joel Matteson, who held the official grand opening on January 10, 1856. It is one of the oldest historic residences in the state of Illinois and one of the three oldest continuously occupied governors mansions in the United States. The governors mansion is constructed in an "H" shaped configuration. During the Christmas season the mansion is decorated lavishly with Christmas decorations, including over a dozen Christmas trees. Although sometimes used for state functions such as state dinners and the like, the mansion proper is, for the most part, a historic site. The libraries, bedrooms, parlors, sitting rooms, etc. are maintained as they may have looked in the 19th century. The governor and his family are not expected to actually reside in the main mansion itself. Rather, a 7-room private apartment on the second floor of the mansion is provided for the governor and his family. Former Illinois Governor George Ryan and First Lady Lura Lynn Ryan refurbished much of the mansions furniture during their tenure using private donations. In 2011, a multimillion dollar renovation was planned because the last repairs to the mansion were in 1971. In 2009, newly elevated Governor Pat Quinn announced that he was looking forward to living in the mansion, calling it "the peoples house." His predecessor Rod Blagojevich had continued to live in his Ravenswood Manor, Chicago home while commuting via state plane to Springfield and preferred to execute his gubernatorial duties from within his home and, less commonly, the Governors office in Chicagos Thompson Center. The 2014 polar vortex led to significant water damage to the mansion, and Governor Quinn, who chose to live in the mansion part-time, allocated about $40,000 in emergency repairs. Shortly after his election as governor, Bruce Rauner announced that he and his wife would invest some of their money into repairing the mansion so they could live in it during his term.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum documents the life of the 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, and the course of the American Civil War. Combining traditional scholarship with 21st-century showmanship techniques, the museum ranks as one of the most visited presidential libraries. Its library, in addition to housing an extensive collection on Lincoln, also houses the collection of the Illinois State Historical Library, founded by the state in 1889. The library and museum is located in the state capital of Springfield, Illinois, and is overseen by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, an agency of state government. It is not affiliated with the U.S. National Archives and its system of Presidential Libraries.

Lincoln Tomb

Lincoln Tomb is the final resting place of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, and three of their four sons. It is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. At the close of the events marking Lincolns death, his body was placed in a nearby receiving tomb and later in the state tomb. The mausoleum is owned and administered by the State of Illinois as Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site. It was designated one of the first National Historic Landmarks in 1960, and thus became one of the first sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, when that designation was created.

Dana-Thomas House

The Dana-Thomas House or Susan Lawrence Dana House or Dana House is an expression of architect Frank Lloyd Wrights Prairie School. Located along East Lawrence Avenue in Springfield, Illinois, for patron Susan Lawrence Dana, the town house reflects the mutual affection of the patron and the architect for organic architecture, the relatively flat landscape of the U.S. state of Illinois, and the Japanese aesthetic as expressed in Japanese prints.

Lincoln Colored Home

The Lincoln Colored Home, also known as the Lincoln Colored Old Folks and Orphans Home, was opened March 8, 1898 and remained in operation in Springfield, Illinois until 1933. It was one of the first orphanages for African American children in the United States. The actual building is still standing and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The home, located at 427 South 12th Street in Springfield, IL, was built in 1904 after the original home at the same site was razed. Currently, the home stands empty in a state of disrepair, although the last two owners of the property have made efforts to restore it.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Lincoln Home National Historic Site preserves the Springfield, Illinois home and a historic district where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1844 to 1861, before becoming the 16th President of the United States. The presidential memorial includes the four blocks surrounding the home and a visitor center.

Vachel Lindsay House

Vachel Lindsay House is a historic house museum in Springfield, Illinois. It was the birthplace and home of poet Vachel Lindsay. The Greek Revival house was constructed in 1879. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency operates the house as a historic house museum and offers tours of the home that emphasize Vachel Lindsays poetry and art. The first floor contains an entry hall, two parlors, library, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and pantry. The second floor includes a central hall, sewing room, five bedrooms, bathroom, and trunk room.

Museum of Funeral Customs

The Museum of Funeral Customs was located at 1440 Monument Ave. in Springfield, Illinois, USA. It featured exhibits dealing with American funerary and mourning customs. The museum was near Oak Ridge Cemetery, the site of Abraham Lincolns tomb. Collections at the museum included a re-created 1920s embalming room, coffins and funeral paraphernalia from various cultures and times, examples of post-mortem photography, and a scale model of Lincolns funeral train. The museum hosted tours and special events and provided resources to scholars who are researching funeral customs. A gift shop provided books and funeral-related gifts, including coffin-shaped keychains and chocolates. The museum was closed in March 2009 due to poor attendance and handling of the museums trust fund. The contents of the collection were transferred to the Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum in Carthage, Illinois in February of 2011.

Edwards Place

Edwards Place is a historic house located at 700 North 4th Street in Springfield, Illinois. The Italianate house was built in 1833; its design features bracketed cornices and a cupola with a skylight. Lawyer Benjamin S. Edwards, son of Illinois governor Ninian Edwards, owned the house. While he lived there, the house became an important political center for Springfield, as Edwards hosted rallies and gatherings for Illinois politicians. Abraham Lincoln gave a speech from one of the house's second-story windows, and Stephen A. Douglas hosted a rally on the property. The house also hosted guests who came to Springfield for Lincoln's funeral. Several of the Lincoln family's possessions are now held in the Edwards house. Edwards' daughter donated the house to the Springfield Art Association in 1913; it has since served the association as a museum, school, and meeting house. It also features the assocation's M. G. Nelson Family Gallery that hosts about 12 exhibitions per year, an art library and an art studio for classes. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1969.

Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop

The Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop in Springfield, Illinois is one of the few remaining early Maid-Rite franchises in the United States. This specific shop claims to have the first drive-thru window in the U.S. The building, along historic U.S. Route 66, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Elijah Iles House

The Elijah Iles House is a historic house located at 624 South 7th Street in Springfield, Illinois. William Vigal built the house for Elijah Iles in 1832; it is one of the oldest surviving houses in Springfield. Iles, who moved to Springfield in 1821, was one of the city's earliest settlers. He ran the first store in Sangamon County and helped persuade the county to locate the county seat in Springfield. His house has a Greek Revival design inspired by Southern architecture. It is one of the few Greek Revival residences in Central Illinois. The house is owned by the Elijah Iles House Foundation and features the Museum of Springfield History on the lower level. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1978.

Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site

The Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site is a historic brick building built in 1841 in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located at 6th and Adams Streets in Springfield, Illinois. The law office has been restored and is operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency as a state historic site. The office building is a surviving portion of what was the Tinsley Block, a brick structure built by local developer Seth M. Tinsley in 1840-1841 to provide office space for professionals working in the newly chosen state capital city. The Illinois General Assembly had moved the capital from Vandalia, Illinois to Springfield in late 1839, and local workers had begun to build a new limestone state house, now the Old State Capitol State Historic Site, on the parcel of land just north of the Tinsley Block. Lawyer Abraham Lincoln and his partner Stephen T. Logan moved their partnership law offices to a third-floor office in the Tinsley Block in 1843. The Illinois Supreme Court, where the partners often pled cases, met in the State Capitol across the street, and the U.S. District Court rented space on the Tinsley Block's second floor. The firm of Logan & Lincoln broke up in 1844. Lincoln continued to practice law in the Tinsley Block office and accepted a younger lawyer, William H. Herndon, as his junior partner. The firm of Lincoln and Herndon practiced from the Tinsley Block office from 1844 until about 1852.

Lazy A Motel

The Lazy A Motel is a historic former motel located along Old U.S. Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois. The motel was built in 1948-49 and had 13 rooms arranged in a U shape, with garages located between the rooms. The building was designed in the Southwestern Vernacular style, which can be seen in its stucco walls, its flat tile roof, and its cast iron railings and fixtures. The motel was one of many mom and pop motels built along US 66; however, it was one of only two dozen such motels remaining in Illinois as of 1994. Since the motel's closure, the building has been used for apartments. The motel was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 8, 1994.

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden

The Lincoln Memorial Garden is a self-governing 100-acre woodland and prairie garden owned by the city of Springfield, Illinois and managed by the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation. The gardens are made up of two major units, the 63-acre Jensen section bordering Lake Springfield, and the newer 29-acre Ostermeier Prairie Center section. There are also 19 acres of additional buffer properties. As of April 2006, the Garden is maintained by a full-time staff of 4 men and women, supplemented by more than 150 volunteers and docents.

Adams Wildlife Sanctuary

The Margery Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, usually called the Adams Wildlife Sanctuary, is a 40-acre privately owned and operated wildlife sanctuary and botanical garden located in Springfield, Illinois. Its second-growth forest land and restored tallgrass prairie are managed so as to maximize the diversity of the urban wildlife that visits the property. It is owned and operated by the Illinois Audubon Society, which has named it after their benefactress, Margery Adams.

Oak Ridge Cemetery

Oak Ridge Cemetery is a cemetery located in Springfield, Illinois, in the United States. Lincoln Tomb, which serves as the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, his wife and all but one of his children, is located at Oak Ridge. A number of other prominent politicians and persons from Illinois are also buried at the cemetery. As a result of Lincolns Tomb, Oak Ridge is the second-most visited cemetery in the United States, after Arlington National Cemetery. Oak Ridge is the 3rd and now only public cemetery in Springfield, the other two cemeteries were the City Cemetery and Hutchinson. Oak Ridge was designed by William Saunders as part of the Rural Cemetery Landscape Lawn Style. The location of the cemetery was carefully selected because of the topography, which included rolling hills which was key in the Rural Cemetery Landscape Lawn Style. The many oak trees in the cemetery is how Oak Ridge got its name. The ridge borders low-lying Spring Creek, creating landscaped topography unusual in central Illinois. The newest section, in the southwest, of Oak Ridge opened after 1945. The design follows the Memorial Park style cemetery in which roadways are wider to accommodate vehicles. The Cemetery has memorials for the Korean War, World War II and the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Illinois State Fair

The Illinois State Fair is an annual festival, centering on the theme of agriculture, hosted by the U.S. state of Illinois in the state capital, Springfield. The state fair has been celebrated almost every year since 1853. In 2008 there were more than 700,000 visits, up five percent from 2005, making it the 13th largest state fair in the United States. Currently, the fair is held annually over an 11-day period in mid-August of each year. In 2015, the State Fair will be held from August 13-23, and an admission fee will be charged.

The Black Sheep Cafe

The Black Sheep Cafe is an all ages music venue in Springfield, Illinois. The Black Sheep opened for its first shows in September 2005, and since then has become a notable venue in the Springfield, Illinois music scene. The venue is a drug and alcohol free space and is also entirely volunteer-ran. The Black Sheep hosts many shows each month, and a few big annual events including Black Sheep Fest and Dumb Fest in the summer. The venue describes itself as "an all ages art space in the historic old south town neighborhood in Springfield, Illinois."

Camp Butler National Cemetery

Camp Butler National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located a few miles northeast of Springfield and a few miles southwest of Riverton, a small town nearby to Springfield, in Sangamon County, Illinois. It was named for Illinois State Treasurer at the time of its establishment, William Butler. Administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, it occupies approximately 53 acres , and is the site of 19,824 interments as of the end of 2005. Camp Butler National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Bell Miller Apartments

The Bell Miller Apartments are a historic apartment building located at 835 South Second Street in Springfield, Illinois. The six-flat apartments were built in 1909 by Bell Miller, a local florist branching out into real estate. Architect George H. Helmle designed the three-story Classical Revival building. The building's design features an entrance pavilion supported by Doric columns, verandahs on both sides, and an egg-and-dart frieze and dentillated cornice along the roof line. The interior also featured the style, as stairways with Classical balustrades led to each apartment. The apartments were part of a wave of new apartment buildings constructed in Springfield's Aristocracy Hill neighborhood in the 1910s and 1920s. The new apartments were advertised as "luxury apartments" and featured privacy and amenities designed to attract middle-class professionals, successfully countering the stigma that apartments were low-class housing. The Bell Miller Apartments stood apart even from these other buildings due to its commitment to Classical decoration both inside and out; while other buildings had formally styled exteriors, few featured as lavish of interiors. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1995.

Price/Wheeler House

The Price/Wheeler House is a historic house located at 618 South 7th Street in Springfield, Illinois. Built in 1899, the house was the first of the city's turn-of-the-century Classical Revival residences. The house features a two-story front portico with four Ionic columns and a frieze and dentillated cornice. At the time of its construction, the house's design was unprecedented in Springfield; by 1910, however, the Classical Revival style was well-represented in Springfield's residential architecture. The house was built for Isaiah Price, a businessman who died two years after its construction. Former Springfield mayor and eventual U.S. Representative Loren Wheeler purchased the house in 1904. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 14, 1985.

Rippon-Kinsella House

The Rippon-Kinsella House is a historic house located at 1317 North Third Street in Springfield, Illinois. The house was most likely built in 1871 for businessman John Rippon, Jr. Its original design was a simple Italianate plan; the style can still be seen in its bracketed eaves and its long arched windows with round hoods. Rippon sold the house in 1891, and after passing through several other owners it was bought by Richard "Dick" Kinsella in 1899. Kinsella ran a local wallpaper and paint business, worked as a scout for the New York Giants baseball team, and was a prominent Sangamon County Democrat. In 1905, Kinsella remodeled his house to incorporate Classical elements; the house's porch with Doric columns and its high-pitched roof were added at this time. Classical Revival architecture was popular in both new and remodeled houses in Springfield at the time, and the more traditional Italianate houses were well-suited to renovations; the house is one of the best-preserved examples of these hybrid designs. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 27, 1992.

Strawbridge-Shepherd House

The Strawbridge-Shepherd House is a historic house located at 5255 Shepherd Road in Springfield, Illinois. Saddle and harness maker Thomas Strawbridge built the house for himself circa 1845. The original house was a two-story Greek Revival structure, a popular design choice at the time; it is one of the best-preserved Greek Revival houses in the Springfield area. Key Greek Revival elements of the house include its wide cornice trim resembling an entablature and the pilasters, sidelights, and transom around the front door. An addition from circa 1865 gave the house an "L" shape and added a new kitchen. Civil War veteran Charles M. Shepherd purchased the house in 1883. Shepard made several additions and modifications to the house; many of these added Queen Anne elements, such as the two porches with decorative spindlework. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 8, 2015.

Hugh M. Garvey House

The Hugh M. Garvey House is a historic house located at 8 Fair Oaks Drive in Leland Grove, Illinois. The International Style house was built from 1956 to 1959. It was the first house built in the style in the Springfield area and one of the area's first modern-styled homes; however, it led to a wave of popularity for the International Style in Springfield during the 1960s. Prominent Central Illinois architect John Benya designed the house; he later became known for his major projects in Quincy, including its airport terminal. The two-story house has a glass-paneled curtain wall exterior with an aluminum frame. Steel and concrete elements provide structural support, and concrete and brick dividers split each side of the house in half visually. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 2009.

Town House

The Town House is a historic apartment building located at 718 7th Street in Springfield, Illinois. The high-rise building is composed of an 11-story section and a 13-story section joined by a 14-story connector. Built in 1958, the International Style building was designed by Chicago architectural firm Shaw, Metz and Dolio. Springfield's Franklin Life Insurance Company underwrote the building; while it was originally intended to serve as employee housing, it quickly became a desirable residence for the general public as well. The building was the first high-rise luxury apartment complex in Springfield and was likely inspired by the earlier Hickox Apartments, a 1920s complex which set standards for luxury apartments in Springfield. It attempted to bring the more urban lifestyle of large Midwestern cities to comparatively smaller Springfield, and early residents boasted of their access to downtown and reduced housework. Shortly after its construction, however, the national trend of dispersed suburban homes made its way to Springfield; as a result, the Town House was the only luxury high-rise apartment ever built in the city. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 2005.

Gov. Richard Yates House

The Gov. Richard Yates House is a historic house located at 1190 Williams Boulevard in Springfield, Illinois. The house was built in 1904-05 for Illinois governor Richard Yates, Jr. Architects Helmle and Helmle designed the house, which has Romanesque Revival and Queen Anne influences. The house's first floor has rusticated stone walls, as do both stories of the turret on the west side; it is a rare example of rusticated stone in a residential Helmle & Helmle design. The front entrance opens to a great hall, which connects the interior rooms; this arrangement allowed Yates to host political gatherings in his home. A landing in front of the fireplace provided a raised space for Yates or his guests to give speeches. Yates left the governor's office the same year his house was completed; he later served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1919 to 1933. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 1, 1984.

Heimberger House

The Heimberger House is a historic house located at 653-655 West Vine Street in Springfield, Illinois. The two-family house was built in 1915; it was designed to resemble a single-family house to blend in with the surrounding neighborhood. Harry Jasper Reiger designed the Arts and Crafts style bungalow. The house has a characteristic low-pitched Craftsman roof with exposed rafters, wide eaves, and clipped gables. Skylights in the roof let natural light into the interior rooms, an uncommon feature for a Craftsman bungalow. The front porch is covered by a large half-timbered gable and features ornamental tiling. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 221, 22014.

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Top Attractions in Springfield

Illinois State Capitol

St. Nicholas Hotel

Henson Robinson Zoo

Illinois Executive Mansion

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Lincoln Tomb

Dana-Thomas House

Lincoln Colored Home

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Vachel Lindsay House

Museum of Funeral Customs

Edwards Place

Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop

Elijah Iles House

Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site

Lazy A Motel

Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden

Adams Wildlife Sanctuary

Oak Ridge Cemetery

Illinois State Fair

The Black Sheep Cafe

Camp Butler National Cemetery

Bell Miller Apartments

Price/Wheeler House

Rippon-Kinsella House

Strawbridge-Shepherd House

Hugh M. Garvey House

Town House

Gov. Richard Yates House

Heimberger House

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Walking/Driving Tours

A guided tour where GuRoute will direct you from stop to stop and narrate a description of each attraction you arrive at

Cater tours to your Audience

What you need to do...

Mystery Tour

Create a Mystery Tour

Scavenger Hunt

Create a Scavenger Hunt