DOWNTOWN AREA
Dana-Thomas Home – A Frank Lloyd Wright design
301 E. Lawrence Ave.
217-782-6776
http://historicspringfield.dnr.illinois.gov/
Facebook.com/StateHistoricSitesOfSpringfieldIL
Donations accepted
A go to to Springfield just isn’t full with out touring the magnificent Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana-Thomas Home. The house incorporates the biggest assortment of site-specific, unique Wright artwork glass and furnishings befitting Wright’s first “clean verify” fee.
In 1902, Springfield socialite and ladies’s rights advocate Susan Lawrence Dana commissioned Wright to design a brand new residence across the current household dwelling. Dana spared no expense, and Wright went all-out in what’s thought of one in all his first full expressions of the Prairie Fashion. When completed in 1904, the $60,000 venture was the biggest residence Wright had constructed – 35 rooms on three ranges, encompassing 12,000 sq. toes of dwelling house.
Within the early Eighties the state of Illinois acquired the residence from then-owner Thomas Publishing. The home incorporates the biggest assortment of Wright furnishings and art-glass home windows on this planet. It additionally includes a panoramic mural, created by internationally famend artist George Niedecken, who painted many murals for Wright.
Occasions on the Dana-Thomas Home embody live shows, excursions, and floral designs in the course of the holidays. The State Historic Websites at Springfield are managed by the Illinois Division of Pure Sources. Go to the web site for added info relating to particular packages being deliberate by IDNR to have fun the preservation of this architectural gem.
Elijah Iles Home
628 S. Seventh St.
Open Sat. 12-4 p.m., April 30-Oct. 15, or e mail [email protected]
for an appointment.
217-679-0797
ileshouse.org
Donations accepted
The Elijah Iles Home is believed to have been constructed earlier than 1837. Elijah Iles, a founding father of Springfield, and spouse Malinda lived right here; it’s the metropolis’s oldest dwelling nonetheless in unique design. There’s proof that the identical architect who designed the Previous State Capitol constructed it. It is without doubt one of the state’s earliest residences within the Greek Revival type. Two of Springfield’s most well-known residents, Abraham Lincoln and poet Vachel Lindsay, are identified to have visited the home later. Lincoln was a visitor of Robert Irwin, they usually loved many a card recreation within the parlor. Due to the home’s spectacular structure and wealthy historical past, it was positioned on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations in 1978. It needed to be moved from two earlier places, discovering its present dwelling on the nook of Seventh and Prepare dinner streets in 1998. An elevator, accessible from particular parking behind the home, offers entry to guests with restricted mobility. The Farrell and Ann Homosexual Museum of Springfield Historical past is within the decrease degree. Upstairs is an all-new exhibit: artwork and furnishings from the house of Phyllis Herndon Brissenden (d. 2019).
Illinois State Museum
502 S. Spring St.
217-782-7386
illinoisstatemuseum.org
Free – donations appreciated
The Illinois State Museum tells the story of Illinois by artwork, archeology, pure science, tradition and historical past. Guests expertise three flooring of everlasting and altering world-renowned reveals impressed by the museum’s 13.5-million-piece assortment. Adults and kids alike will discover themselves within the story of sea creatures, Ice Age behemoths and centuries of Illinois human historical past. Benefit from the rotating and splendidly curated non permanent exhibitions. The Illinois State Museum is without doubt one of the state’s true gems, and it’s fully free.
Kidzeum of Well being and Science
412 E. Adams St.
217-679-2123
Kidzeum.org
Admission
Kidzeum, positioned within the coronary heart of Springfield’s Downtown Historic District, affords an interesting and academic expertise for kids and households. Spanning three flooring, Kidzeum options immersive reveals designed to spark curiosity and creativity in youngsters of all ages. With interactive shows and hands-on actions, the museum invitations youngsters to discover every part from science and artwork to native historical past. It is the right vacation spot for households trying to study, play and join in a single dynamic, family-friendly atmosphere. Kidzeum can be dwelling to the Migrating Mural, created by nationally famend artist Jane Kim – a part of the Route 66 Mural Path.
Route Historical past, Inc.
737 E. Prepare dinner St.
217-503-4129
www.routehistory.net
Free admission, $10 for Digital Expertise
A museum and memento store that integrates historical past and expertise by reveals, storytelling and a digital actuality expertise that highlights the numerous roles of Black companies, the Negro Motorist Inexperienced Ebook, the Nice Migration and sunset cities alongside the Illinois leg of Route 66 in the course of the Civil Rights and Jim Crow eras.
The Route Historical past Digital Expertise Is a 20-minute immersive expertise that enables guests to put on an oculus and study historic Black folks, occasions and companies alongside Route 66 within the cities of Chicago, Joliet, Bloomington, Springfield, Brooklyn and East St. Louis.
Vachel Lindsay Dwelling State
Historic Web site
603 S. Fifth St.
217-524-0901
http://historicspringfield.dnr.illinois.gov/
Facebook.com/StateHistoricSitesOfSpringfieldIL
Donations accepted
“Prairie troubadour” Vachel Lindsay captured the eye of audiences around the globe in the course of the early 1900s. He was born on Nov. 10, 1879, and died on Dec. 5, 1931. Each occasions came about within the Lindsay household dwelling throughout the road from the Illinois Governor’s Mansion. Lindsay’s father, Thomas, was a doctor; his mom, Catherine, was an artist and social reformer. Lindsay was imagined to observe in his father’s footsteps, and after highschool he attended Hiram School in Ohio to check medication, however he ultimately dropped out to attend artwork colleges in Chicago and New York.
Within the early twentieth century, Lindsay set out on a sequence of tramps throughout America. On the conclusion of one in all these journeys, his poem “Basic William Sales space Enters into Heaven,” a eulogy to the founding father of the Salvation Military, was revealed in Chicago’s Poetry journal. The poem introduced him nationwide consideration, and subsequent works garnered worldwide acclaim. A few of his best-known poems embody “The Congo” and “Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight.”
Lindsay’s household dwelling, now a state historic web site, has been restored to depict life in 1917, when Lindsay’s mother and father nonetheless performed an lively position in group life. Examples of Lindsay’s poetry and artwork, not part of the home at the moment, have been added to showcase the poet. Occasions embody poetry readings and writing workshops. The State Historic Websites at Springfield are managed by the Illinois Division of Pure Sources.
NORTH OF DOWNTOWN SPRINGFIELD
Springfield and Central Illinois African American Historical past Museum
1440 Monument Ave.
217-391-6323
spiaahm.org
Donations accepted
The Museum opened in 2012 and is positioned on the primary entrance to Oak Ridge Cemetery, inside strolling distance of Lincoln’s Tomb. The mission is “to inform genuine tales about African American life in Springfield and central Illinois by exhibitions, training, collections and packages to protect, interpret and have fun African American historical past and tradition. A number of the reveals featured embody: The Center Passage, documenting the slave commerce; One thing So Horrible, The Springfield Race Riot of 1908, which led to the formation of the NAACP; Oldest Springfield African American Church buildings courting again to 1838 and Central Illinois Pioneer Households from the 1800s to the current. The reveals are extensively researched and plans name for including a hologram exhibit within the close to future to make the museum extra accessible for patrons.
Illinois Struggle Memorials
1441 Monument Ave.
217-524-3971
http://historicspringfield.dnr.illinois.gov/
Facebook.com/StateHistoricSitesOfSpringfieldIL
World Struggle II Illinois Veterans Memorial in Oak Ridge Cemetery was constructed to honor the 987,000 women and men from Illinois who served our nation throughout World Struggle II, when 22,000 Illinois residents gave their lives in pursuit of liberty. The memorial design centerpiece is a globe 12 toes in diameter, which represents the world in battle throughout World Struggle II. It’s surrounded by a granite wall engraved with the names and dates of main battles of the Pacific and European theaters of battle. A central plaza of personalised engraved bricks completes the design.
The Illinois Korean Struggle Memorial, devoted on June 16, 1996, can be positioned in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The monument’s centerpiece is a 12-foot bronze bell surrounded by 4 larger-than-life warriors representing the 5 branches of the armed forces – Military, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Drive and Marines. The names of over 1,700 Illinoisans killed in Korea are inscribed alongside eight partitions of the memorial’s granite base.
The Illinois Vietnam Veterans Memorial was devoted in Might 1988. The memorial incorporates 5 black granite partitions upon that are inscribed the two,970 names of Illinoisans who died or are nonetheless lacking. The 5 black granite partitions type inside courtyards, one for every of the 5 branches of service. Every department of service is designated by its insignia, which is etched on interior 15-foot-high grey granite partitions. Additionally inscribed on the grey granite partitions are the names of these listed as lacking in motion or as prisoners of battle, in addition to the names of the very best adorned veterans in every department of service. An everlasting flame burns atop the memorial the place the grey granite partitions converge.
Devoted in 2016, The Illinois Purple Coronary heart Memorial honors recipients of the Purple Coronary heart killed or wounded from all wars the US has participated in. The middle of the Memorial consists of an eight-foot piece of black granite with an engraving of a Purple Coronary heart on it. The opposite aspect of the stone includes a quote from William Shakespeare’s Henry V: “We few, we glad few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.” Two smaller black granite stones to the left and proper of the centerpiece of the Memorial characteristic the engravings of 4 troopers.
The State Historic Websites at Springfield are managed by the Illinois Division of Pure Sources.
Illinois State Army Museum
Camp Lincoln
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd.
217-761-3910
facebook.com/illinois.state.military.museum
Donations accepted
Situated on the grounds of Camp Lincoln, headquarters of the Illinois Nationwide Guard, the Illinois State Army Museum is devoted to the state’s navy heritage and accumulating, preserving, deciphering and exhibiting the navy artifacts related to the citizen-soldier of Illinois. The Citizen-Soldier exhibit options the navy experiences of well-known Illinois troopers equivalent to Carl Sandburg, Robert McCormick, John A. Logan and Abraham Lincoln.
Whilst you’re there, take a detailed take a look at the goal board utilized by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to test-fire the brand new Spencer rifle, or ask concerning the museum’s assortment of Civil Struggle flags at present held in storage however viewable by the general public. A sensible World Struggle II scene depicts Illinois’ 132nd Infantry in fight on Guadalcanal in 1942. Displayed outdoors are restored Vietnam Struggle-era AH-1 Cobra and UH-1 “Huey” helicopters and an M60A-3 tank.
The Pearson Museum
801 N. Rutledge St.
217-545-4382
Free
Situated on the Southern Illinois College Faculty of Medication, this instructing museum covers numerous elements of therapeutic, together with pharmaceutical, surgical, dental and different medication. Remedies by the centuries come to life in everlasting and altering reveals. Named for long-practicing Springfield doctor Emmett Pearson, the museum includes a dental exhibit, an entire homeopathic dispensary and a complete 1900 drugstore from Canton, Illinois, with its many apothecary jars and furnishings. Faculty teams and training physicians typically go to the museum to listen to lectures. Open by appointment.
Air Fight Museum
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport
835 S. Airport Rd.
aircombatmuseum.com
Donations accepted
The Air Fight Museum showcases the position of navy aviation and includes a assortment of historic plane and aviation memorabilia together with a P-51 Mustang, a Vought F4U-5 Corsair, a P40 underneath restoration, a Beechcraft AT-11 used to coach bombardiers in World Struggle II, a 1931 Fleet Mannequin 9 biplane and the world’s solely remaining Kreutzer Air coach, amongst others. A WWI-replica Sopwith Camel is being constructed on the premises. For particular person visits, donations are prompt. Group excursions are $75, by appointment solely.
Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil Struggle Museum
503 S. Walnut St.
217-544-0616
duvcw.org
Free
The museum preserves numerous artifacts of Civil Struggle historical past, together with rifles, medals, pictures, forex, drums, uniforms and letters from troopers on the entrance. A present store affords quite a lot of books concerning the Civil Struggle and different memorabilia. Situated subsequent to the Museum is an American foursquare-style home inbuilt 1898, devoted because the Dr. Benjamin Franklin Stephenson Library and Analysis Heart, the founding father of the Grand Military of the Republic. The library homes an entire set of “Struggle of the Riot: Official Data of the Union and Accomplice Armies.” Quite a few different volumes are additionally out there for on-site analysis.
NEARBY
Camp Butler Nationwide Cemetery
5063 Camp Butler Rd.
217-492-4070
www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/campbutler.asp
One among 14 websites designated nationwide cemeteries by President Abraham Lincoln, Camp Butler was additionally used to coach Union troops and served as a prisoner-of-war camp in the course of the Civil Struggle. Some 800 Accomplice troopers are buried right here. So, too, are 39 German and 4 Italian navy personnel and a Korean spy who was working for Germany, interred right here after unsuccessful efforts to find their kin after World Struggle II. The location has an out of doors touch-screen kiosk that allows guests to find the graves of troopers buried at Camp Butler.
Clayville Historic Web site
12828 State Route 125 (a few mile east of Nice Plains)
From Springfield, take Jefferson Road west and keep to the left on 125 the place Route 97 (the street to New Salem) breaks north.
217-481-4430
clayville.org
Donations accepted
Go to the oldest brick constructing in Sangamon County, which Is celebrating 200 years in 2024. In-built 1824 by the Broadwell household, it was the stagecoach cease, inn and tavern on the outdated put up street to Beardstown. The 14-acre pioneer web site consists of two log cabins, each moved to the location within the early Sixties. The Batterton cabin was constructed in 1817 and represents early pioneer life, maybe much like the cabin John Broadwell would have constructed when he arrived in 1819. Two giant 1850s-era barns had been additionally moved to the location and reconstructed. One barn holds the pioneer agriculture museum and the opposite has been up to date as a venue rental house and consists of an open-air pavilion with a big stone fire. The Rustemeyer Blacksmith Store, the final lively blacksmith store in Springfield, has additionally been relocated right here. Do not forget to cease by the reconstructed college home; rumor has it {that a} younger Abraham Lincoln would cease and go to his buddy Mentor Graham, who was a trainer on the college, and take heed to the scholars learn their classes. In 1842, the primary Whig Celebration state conference was held at Clayville, named after candidate Henry Clays. Guided excursions can be found by appointment, or guests could wander the grounds.
Abraham Lincoln Lengthy 9 Museum
200 S. Most important St., Athens (12 miles north of Springfield on Rte. 29; additionally take I-55, Williamsville Exit 109, then west seven miles. Athens is seven miles east of Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Web site).
217-361-7857
Abrahamlincolnlongninemuseum.com
Donations accepted
Situated within the unique 1831-32 Col. Matthew Rogers Constructing. On Aug. 3, 1837, Abraham Lincoln and a lot of the different “Lengthy 9” legislators from Sangamon County had been current on the Rogers Constructing to be honored at a banquet for serving to cross the invoice to maneuver the state capital to Springfield. Totally different rotating reveals every month relate to Lincoln, Rogers Constructing/Museum, Sangamon/Menard Counties and space personalities. Everlasting reveals embody a recreated banquet space, audio-narrated dioramas displaying Lincoln’s actions within the Athens space whereas he was dwelling in close by New Salem, Biography Room, Historical past Room and remnants of the unique “Lincoln Stairs” – utilized by Lincoln and the others to achieve the second-floor banquet space. Excursions are self-guided. Open Tuesday-Sunday, 1-5 p.m., from June 3 by Aug. 31.
