The Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois

What to do in Springfield, IL on a Saturday?  Eric and I were delighted to see that the Old State Capitol is open on Saturdays.  It's in the same neighborhood as the current State Capitol.

The building and grounds looked deserted at 9:15 am.  Saturday mornings are probably slow in this section of the city.  Eric pushed open the door and we were greeted by Mike Burke, Assistant Manager of Living History Programs.  Mike's tour was very detailed and there was plenty of time to ask questions.   A couple from Nottingham, England joined us.

After the current State Capitol was finished in 1876, this building was used as the Sangamon County Courthouse until 1966.  Starting in 1966 workers completely dismantled the building, stone by stone, and rebuilt it. The public areas of the Old State Capitol were reconstructed to resemble the appearance of the building in the mid1800s.  Abraham Lincoln used the building's libraries and argued before the Illinois Supreme Court.






The Fifth Illionis
State Capitol

The exterior is constructed

with dolomitic limestone.

Main Staircase

The Rotunda

Mike standing beneath
the portrait of the
Marquis de LaFayette
in the Senate Chamber.

A restored flag carried

 by an Illinois regiment

  in the Civil War.

Portrait of George Washington

in the Assembly Chamber

Governor's Reception  Room

Abraham Lincoln ran his

Presidential Campaign here.

Governor's Office

Illinois Supreme Court

originally had four judges.

While Mike answered questions Eric and I discovered that the Lincoln Presidential Museum not to be missed while visiting Springfield.  It's just a few blocks away from the Old State Capitol.  After coffee and a scone Eric and I set off to learn more about our sixteenth president.