Illinois

Ground was broken on the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, IL, in 1868, several years after the death of its most famous resident, Abraham Lincoln. He lived in Springfield most of his adulthood until becoming U.S. President and moving to the White House.

Lincoln is everywhere in Springfield 160 years after his death. The Illinois State Capitol is one of the few attractions in Springfield not tied directly to Lincoln, though his statue stands tall in front, reminding us that Springfield is his city.

Springfield was part of the Great Midwest Loop of 2023; after a quick stop in St. Louis to close up unfinished business, I made the fast drive up I-55 and headed straight to the capitol in downtown Springfield, which is fairly easy to navigate by car.

The Illinois Secretary of State provides tour information for visitors who need mobility assistance.

If Lincoln could see this capitol building, he would walk into a beauty! For those who love and appreciate interior design and art, this capitol is a goldmine. The design is rich in artistic detail with earthy colors I personally favor. I found it welcoming, calming, and grounding—so much so that I noticed little else.

For those who appreciate art more than I do, this capitol has a lot to offer. Welcome to the Illinois State Capitol (PDF) provides logistical information and a detailed list of art in the building. This includes the Illinois Welcoming the World statue in the rotunda and a 20’x40’ mural of George Rogers Clark signing a peace treaty with Native Americans in 1778. The Illinois State Capitol website, independently run by a team that has worked in the capitol, provides additional photos for reference.

This capitol includes offices for the Illinois Governor and both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly, which includes the Senate and House of Representatives. It is the tallest non-skyscraper capitol structure in the United States (even taller than the U.S. Capitol). The dome is covered in a zinc alloy that provides a silvery façade rarely seen in state capitols. 

Stay in Springfield for a couple of nights to ensure time to visit all Lincoln attractions. My favorite is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, which includes the home he lived in before moving to the White House and the surrounding four blocks of his neighborhood.  

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