Old State Capitol © Springfield Illinois CVB
The state capital of Illinois, Springfield owes its prominence
and position to its most famous citizen, beloved former American
president, Abraham Lincoln. The city started out as a little
pioneer settlement in 1820, called Calhoun after a South Carolina
senator of that name. The senator fell out of favour and in 1832
the town was renamed Springfield, just before a young lawyer,
Abraham Lincoln, decided to make the frontier town his home. No
sooner had he settled in than Lincoln decided to up the town's
status to state capital, a legislative effort that he seemed to
accomplish without too much trouble. The civil war brought some
economic benefits to the town with new industries opening, and
Springfield also became an important link in the state railway
system. Today the city has a thriving economy, and a good tourist
trade thanks to having been Lincoln's home town. It is also well
located midway between Chicago and St Louis on historic Route
66.
Attractions
Lincoln Presidential Library
Lincoln Library and Museum
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library opened in October 2004,
with the Museum opening on 19 April 2005. They are part of a $115
million complex dedicated to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln
and form the largest presidential library complex in the...
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Lincoln's home
Lincoln's Home
The pretty two-storey home of Abraham and Mary Lincoln was the
only home the lawyer/president ever owned. He and his wife lived in
the house between 1844 and 1861 when he was elected President. The
home has been restored and stands as it...
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Lincoln's Tomb, Oakridge Cemetery
Oak Ridge Cemetery
Abraham Lincoln was buried in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery
after his assassination in 1865. Today it is the second most
visited cemetery in the United States, being the resting place not
only of Lincoln but several other notable historic figures as well.
Lincoln's tomb...
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Old State Capitol, Springfield
Old State Capitol
The Capitol building in the Downtown Mall, Springfield, was
where Abraham Lincoln tried several hundred cases in the Supreme
Court, borrowed books from the state library, and read and swapped
stories with other lawyers and politicians in the law library. On
May 3 and...
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