Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Adams Wildlife Sanctuary

Camp Butler National Cemetery

Edwards Place Historic Home

Elijah Iles House:  Springfield’s History Museum

Illinois State Military Museum

Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center

Museum of Funeral Customs

The Dana-Thomas House Historic Sites

The Lincoln Depot

The State Capital

Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon

212 N. Sixth Street

Springfield, IL 62701

217-558-9016

www.alplm.org
Museum Hours: Monday – Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Admission Fees:
Adults 16 – 61 $7.50
Seniors (age 62+) $5.50
Students (school/college) $5.50
Children 5-15 $3.50
Children under 5 No Charge

What an honor to have this world-class library and museum in the heart of Downtown Springfield. Adults and children alike will love coming back time and again to enjoy the vast array of historical exhibits and thought-provoking questions that will arise each time you visit.   After your visit, treat the kids to a special treat from Pease’s Candy across the street from the Library!   Surely Abraham Lincoln would have enjoyed this Springfield tradition as well.

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Adams Wildlife Sanctuary

2315 Clear Lake Avenue

Springfield, IL 62703

217-544-5781

www.illinoisaudubon.org

30-acre urban sanctuary featuring prairie restoration and nature trails under direction of the Illinois Audubon Society. 

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Camp Butler National Cemetery

5063 Camp Butler Road

Springfield, IL 62707

217-492-4070

www.va.gov

Camp Butler was once the site of a Union Army training camp and a Confederate prison.  Now it is a cemetery for veterans and their dependents.  More than 18,000 are buried here, including 1,600 Union and confederate soldiers.  Open year-round during daylight hours.  Civil War to present cemetery.   Training camp for Union soldiers, POW camp for Confederate soldiers.

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 Edwards Place Historic Home

Springfield Art Association

700 N. Fourth St.

Springfield, IL 62702

217-523-2631, 217-523-3866

www.springfieldart.org

Tuesday – Saturday  11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Closed Mon/holidays

The oldest home in Springfield on its original foundation Benjamin and Helen Edwards’ Italianate mansion was once a center for social activity in Springfield.  See the authentic “Lincoln Courting Couch” from Ninian Edwards’ home where Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd were married.

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Elijah Iles House: Springfield’s History Museum

628 S. Seventh Street

Springfield, Illinois 62702

217-492-5929

www.iles-house.blogspot.com

Wednesday & Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

and by appointment

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Illinois Executive Mansion

410 E. Jackson

Springfield, IL 62701

217-782-6450

Garden: sunrise – sunset

Nature Center: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Closed Monday

One of the oldest historic residences in the state. Has served as the official residence of Illinois’ Governors and their families since Governor Joel Matteson took up residence there in 1855.

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Building #7, Central Avenue & Main Street

Springfield, Illinois 62703

217-524-8754

Illinois State Fairgrounds

www.state.il.us/osfm

Monday – Friday 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Closed week before & after Illinois State Fair

Once the home of the Illinois State Fairgrounds’ own fire station, this site has been transformed into a museum by the state fire marshal.  A special room has been set aside to teach children about fire safety.  The museum houses a vast array of antique and current firefighting equipment including a horse-drawn, hand pumped water wagon dating back to 1857.

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Oak Ridge Cemetery

Springfield, Illinois 62703

217-782-2717

www.illinoishistory.gov

April – October 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

November – March 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Located in Oak Ridge Cemetery, and dedicated in 1996, this memorial was built for the Illinois citizens who fought in the Korean War.  The names of 1,752 Illinois veterans killed in action are engraved on the octagon granite walls.

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2^nd and Capitol

Springfield, Illinois 62702

217-782-2099

www.cyberdriveillinois.com

Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturday – Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

The Illinois State Capitol held its first legislative session in 1877.  It houses the office of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State along with the House of Representatives and Senate chambers.  Topped with a 405-foot dome, the building is a combination of Renaissance Revival and Second Empire style.  Visitors can watch lawmakers in action when the legislature is in session.

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Illinois State Military Museum

1301 N. MacArthur Blvd.

Springfield, IL 62702

217-761-3910

www.il.ngb.army.mil

Tuesday – Saturday  1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

(Excluding holidays and December 26 -31)

Located on the grounds of Camp Lincoln – headquarters of the Illinois National Guard – the Illinois State Military Museum is dedicated to preserving the state’s military heritage.  This exhibit contains many rare items including the state’s collection of military battle flags, a target board shot at by President Lincoln, vehicles, weapons, uniforms, equipment and photographs.  Only Illinois museum dedicated to preserving the artifacts, and telling the story, of the Illinois citizen-soldier from early militia to modern day.

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Oak Ridge Cemetery

Springfield, Illinois 62703

217-782-2717

www.illinoishistory.gov

April – October 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

November – March 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This powerful granite monument and eternal flame pay tribute to the almost 3,000 Illinois residents who served in the Vietnam War and died or are still missing.  The walls are often surrounded by memorabilia left by friends and family of those remembered.  The memorial is located near the Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

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305 N. 5^th Street

Springfield, Illinois 62702

www.kwnm.org

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday – Sunday

9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday

9:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Scheduled to open July 2007, this national museum will contain treasured artifacts, historical paper, mementos, and several large pieces of armament helicopters, and vehicles, extensive video presentations and 6 major interactive exhibits focusing on the Korean War.

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Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices

#1 S. Old Capitol Plaza (6^th & Adams)

Springfield, IL 62701

217-785-7960

www.illinois-History.gov

Daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

When visiting downtown Springfield, be sure to stop in Lincoln’s restored law office.  It is on the south side of the square facing the Old State Capitol, and is the only building still standing in which Lincoln had a law office.  Only existing structure where Lincoln practiced law.

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(Dean House & Arnold House)

426 S. 7^th Street

Springfield, Illinois 62702

217-492-4241 x 221

www.nps.gov/liho

Daily 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The only home that Abraham Lincoln ever owned.  Abraham and Mary Lincoln purchased this 1 – ½ story cottage in 1844 and enlarged it several times to a full two-story house.  The Lincoln family lived here until their departure for Washington, D.C., in 1861.  The home, a National Historic Site, has been restored with Lincoln family furnishings, period artifacts, reproduced wallpapers, and window hangings. 

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Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center

2301 East Lake Drive

Springfield, IL 62712

217-529-1111, 217-529-0134

Wednesday – Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

(except holidays)

Designed by Jens Jensen.  Exhibits plants native to Illinois along 6 miles of trials.

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20 Miles NW of Springfield on Rt. 97

New Salem, Illinois

217-632-4000

Daily 4/16 – 9/4 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday – Sunday 9/5 – 10/31 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday – Sunday 11/1 – 2/28 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday – Sunday 3/1 – 4/15 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Located 20 miles northwest of Springfield, New Salem is the pioneer village where Lincoln arrived at the age of 22.  As you walk New Salem’s pathways, you’ll get a glimpse of life as it was in the 1830s.  Here the uneducated Lincoln was able to try out several occupations – as clerk, laborer, merchant, postmaster and surveyor, before focusing exclusively on law and politics.

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Oak Ridge Cemetery

Springfield, Illinois 62703

217-782-2717

www.illinoishistory.org

Daily 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. 4/16 – Labor Day

Tuesday – Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

9/5 – 4/15

Dedicated in 1874, Lincoln Tomb is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of their four sons, Edward, William, and Thomas.  The exquisite 117 foot tall monument is constructed of brick sheathed with Quincy granite.

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Museum of Funeral Customs

1400 Monument Avenue

Springfield, IL 62702

217-544-3480, 217-544-3484

www.funeralmuseum.org

Year round – Sunrise to Sunset

Collection of history of American funeral service/mourning customs.  Includes a research library containing items dating from the mid-16^th century. 

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The Dana-Thomas House Historic Site

301 E. Lawrence Avenue

Springfield, IL 62703

217-782-6776, 217-788-9450

www.dana-thomas.org

Wednesday – Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

(except holidays)

The Dana-Thomas House is said to be one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s largest and most elaborate Prairie-style designs.  This house has 15 rooms that contain more than 100 pieces of original furniture as well as 250 are glass windows.  The Dana-Thomas House was restored by the State of Illinois in 1990 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Preserved, originally furnished, Prairie-period architectural home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

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Tenth and Monroe Streets

Springfield, IL 62701

217-544-8695

www.aps.gov/archive/liho/depot/depot.htm

Washington Park, Fayette and Chatham Road

Springfield, IL 62704

217-753-6219

www.carillon-rees.org

Jefferson (between 5^th & 6^th Streets)

Springfield, Illinois 62703

www.alplm.org

603 S. 5^th Street

Springfield, Illinois 62702

217-524-0901

www.illinoishistory.gov

Tuesday – Saturday 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

The site is the birthplace and long-time home of poet Vachel Lindsay.  Lindsay was internationally known in the early 20^th century for his unique poetry, the artwork he created to illustrate the poetry, and animated performances of his work.  His 1879 birthplace remained Lindsay’s only home until his death in 1931.

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