Old State Capitol Essentials

Posted on June 1, 2009 by admin

Obama and Biden at the Old State Capitol

Any trip to Springfield is incomplete without a trip to the Old State Capitol in downtown Springfield. The site is where many of Illinois’ greatest politicians argued, including an A. Lincoln with his historic, “House Divided” speech. Besides that and President Obama’s presidential run announcement and Vice Presidential announcement, here are a few more to give reason to visit:

• The Old State Capitol is a reconstruction of Illinois’ fifth statehouse
• Served as the seat of state government and a center of Illinois political life from 1839 to 1876
• Lincoln served in the building during his last term in the Illinois House of Representatives and delivered the famous 1858 “House Divided” speech in Representatives Hall
• Lincoln used the Governor’s rooms as his headquarters for his presidential run
• The building was the scene of the assassinated President’s final laying-in-state on May 3-4, 1865.
• The Greek Revival-style building was completely reconstructed in the 1960s.
• In 1961 the building was designated a National Historic Landmark and in 1966 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Hours for the Old State Capitol are 8-5, Tuesday thru Saturday.

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