Springfield Landmarks and Monuments

(Springfield, Illinois - IL, USA)

The Illinois State Capitol Building is actually the sixth capitol to be built within the state of Illinois, since it joined the United States of America in the year 1818. Construction of this present-day landmark began in the late 1860s and it was not completed for another 20 years or so, costing approximately US$4.5 million in total.

Various extensions, improvements and remodeling programs have continued over the subsequent decades and today, there is a city statute in place that decrees no other structure can be built higher than the Capitol Building.

The Lincoln Home National Historic Site is another hugely important landmark in Springfield and it was here where the great man, Abraham Lincoln, lived between the years of 1833 and 1861, before he rose to power and became America's 16th president in 1861. Within four blocks of the Lincoln Home are a number of additional well-preserved sites, such as the Arnold House and Dean House, both of which display an assortment of Lincoln-related memorabilia.

Illinois State Capitol Building

Address: 401 South 2nd Street, Springfield, Illinois (IL), 62706, USA
Tel: +1 217 782 2000
The crowning dome (some 28 meters / 92 feet wide) of the majestic Illinois State Capitol Building immediately draws the eye, being perched upon a short tower and rotunda. The height to the very top of the dome is just over 110 meters / 361 feet, which interestingly makes this the highest capitol in the whole nation, with the exception of those cities who chose a skyscraper construction.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: free

Old State Capitol Building

Address: Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, Illinois (IL), 62701, USA
Tel: +1 217 785 7960
Classed as a State Historic Site, the Old State Capitol Building was actually the 5th state house built for Illinois and was constructed between the years of 1837 and 1840 at a cost of approximately US$240,000. The Greek Revival architecture has many traditional features, such as a portico, rotunda and dome, with both Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama announcing their candidacies here, in 1858 and 2007 respectively. As the city expanded following the American Civil War, it soon became apparent that the capitol was becoming too small and it was decommissioned following the completion of its 6th incarnation, just a few blocks away. Guided tours are available and last in the region of half an hour. There are also shorter videos explaining the history of the building.
Open hours: seasonal hours
Admission: free

Lincoln Home National Historic Site

Address: 426 South 7th Street, Springfield, Illinois (IL), USA
Tel: +1 217 492 4241
One of the most famous and important of all the landmarks in Springfield is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site on South 7th Street. The house itself was kindly donated to Illinois state in 1887, by Abraham's son, Robert Lincoln, with the proviso that it would continue to be maintained and opened to members of the general public for free. Since then, it has been fully restored and appears exactly as it would have in the mid-19th century, being furnished with antiques and filled with period detailing.
Open hours: daily - 08:30 to 17:00
Admission: free, tour ticket required

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Address: 524 East Lawrence Avenue, Springfield, Illinois (IL), 62703, USA
Tel: +1 217 522 3342
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception rather dominates East Lawrence Avenue, with its Greek Revival-style architecture and grand entrance, which comes complete with four fluted columns and a creamy Mankato stone facade. Building work began in the summer of 1927 and was completed just over one year later, when this landmark became the seat of the capital's Roman Catholic diocese. An extensive restoration program was undertaken in 2009 and ensured that the cathedral remains in good condition, to cope with its constant stream of visitors.
Open hours: daily - 07:00 to 18:00
Admission: free, donations suggested

Vachel Lindsay House

Address: 603 South 5th Street, Springfield, Illinois (IL), 62703, USA
Tel: +1 217 524 0901
Standing just a couple of blocks away from the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the beautiful Greek Revival Vachel Lindsay House dates back to the latter part of the 1870s and was listed as a National Historic Landmark roughly a century later. The house is actually the birthplace and former home of accomplished 'singing' poet Nicholas Vachel Lindsay (1879 to 1931) and is today managed by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Period furnishings and plentiful antiques adorn the numerous rooms, which include parlors, a library, a sewing room and five bedrooms. Guided tours offer a real insight into the life of this native Springfield 'performance artist'.
Open hours: seasonal hours
Admission: charge

Korean War State Memorial / World War II Memorial / Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Address: Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1500 Monument Avenue, Springfield, Illinois (IL), 62702, USA
Tel: +1 217 782 2177
A number of poignant memorials are to be found within the Oak Ridge Cemetery, on the northern side of downtown Springfield. The Korean War State Memorial is one such sight and honours those who fought for freedom during this savage battle, which began in 1950 and ended just over three years later. Further monuments pay tribute to those from the state of Illinois who sadly lost their lives fighting in the Second World War (1939 to 1945) and the lengthy Vietnam War (1955 to 1975).
Open hours: daily, November to February - 07:00 to 17:00; March to October - 07:00 to 20:00
Admission: free

Lincoln Tomb

Address: Oak Ridge Cemetery, 1500 Monument Avenue, Springfield, Illinois (IL), 62702, USA
Tel: +1 217 782 2717
Amongst the most-visited sights in Springfield is the very showy tomb of Abraham Lincoln, which stands within the Oak Ridge Cemetery and is really quite hard to miss, with its tall obelisk measuring more than 35 meters / 115 feet in height. President Lincoln was assassinated on 15th April 1865 and on this same day, many residents of Springfield formed an association in order to obtain the necessary funds to build a fitting memorial for this great man. Construction took place between 1868 and 1874, with the tomb becoming a National Historic Landmark in the middle of the 20th century. The remains of Lincoln, his wife and his sons are all interred here in a secure vault.
Open hours: May to August, Monday to Sunday - 09:00 to 17:00; September to October, March to April, Tuesday to Saturday - 09:00 to 17:00; November to February, Tuesday to Saturday - 09:00 to 16:00
Admission: free

Great Western Depot

Address: 930 East Monroe Street, Springfield, Illinois (IL), 62701, USA
Tel: +1 217 544 8695
This spot is where Abraham Lincoln spoke his Farewell Address in February 1861 to a sizeable crowd of more than 1,000 locals, just before he made his way to Washington DC for his inauguration as US president. The train station was built in 1852 by the Great Western Railroad. However, it was greatly remodeled just five years later, following substantial fire damage. A historical marker was added in 1966, commemorating Lincoln's important speech.
Open hours: May to August, daily
Admission: free

University of Illinois Springfield (UIS)

Address: West University Court, Springfield, Illinois (IL), 62703, USA
Tel: +1 217 206 6600
The campus of the University of Illinois Springfield is located on the southeastern side of the city, close to the lake. It was founded as recently as 1969, when it was known as the Sangamon State University, and is presently called home by more than 5,000 students, roughly two-thirds of which are undergraduates. The campus itself is modern in style and features extensive leisure facilities, such as its Kiwanis Stadium, UIS Athletic and Recreation Center, and various landscaped gardens. Older educational institutions in the state capital include the Benedictine University (1929) on North 5th Street and the Robert Morris University-Illinois (1965) on Montvale Drive.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free