Your complete directory to Springfield, Illinois with links to everything you need to plan travel or get information.
Springfield, one of the most visitor-friendly cities in America, offers you adventure, history, and most importantly, fun! It's with great pride that we welcome you, and the world, to the city Abraham Lincoln loved. Get ready for an affordable vacation full of exciting outdoor activities, memorable historical attractions, and one-of-a-kind sites, many within walking distance from each other. In fact, there is so much to see and do in Springfield, you'll want to plan to stay for at least three days. If you are interested in additional information about Springfield, please call us at 1-800-545-7300 or 1-217-789-2360, or visit our Web site at www.visit-springfieldillinois.com. Get ready to enjoy the historic trip of a lifetime!
Lincoln's New Salem
20 mi. NW of Springfield on Rt. 97,
(217) 632-4000
www.lincolnsnewsalem.com
Hours:
Daily Mar-Oct 9am-5pm, Nov-Feb 8am-4pm; Closed New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Presidents' Day, General Election Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Donation suggested.
Abraham Lincoln grew to "a man of purpose and destiny" during his six years (1831-37) living and working in New Salem Village. Here, he clerked in a store, enlisted in the Blackhawk War, served as postmaster and deputy surveyor, studied law and was elected legislator. Timber houses, shops, and stores now comprise the reconstructed historic village where history comes to life as costumed interpreters take on the characters of the people who lived and worked here more than 150 years ago.
You can prepare for your entrance into pioneer life in 1830s Illinois by stopping by the Visitors Center as you enter the park. Also, from June through August (generally Fri-Sun) make plans to come back for an evening of entertainment at New Salem's outdoor theater - Theatre in the Park.
Lincoln Home
(National Historic Site)
8th and Jackson,
(217) 492-4241, ext. 221
www.nps.gov/liho
Hours:
8:30am-5pm daily, extended spring, summer and fall hours; Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Free.
A great starting point for your tour of Springfield. The Quaker-brown residence where the Abraham Lincoln family lived for seventeen years (1844-1861) is a national treasure. It's located at Eighth and Jackson Streets in the midst of a four-block historic neighborhood currently undergoing restoration. Your tour of the only home the Lincolns ever owned will be conducted by National Park Service rangers. Free tickets are required and may only be obtained at the Lincoln Home Visitor Center at 426 S. 7th Street on a daily first-come, first-served basis.
Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices
6th and Adams,
(217) 785-7289
Hours:
Daily Mar-Oct 9am-5pm, Nov-Feb 9am-4pm; Site closed from 12pm-1pm daily, Closed New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Presidents' Day, General Election Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Donation suggested.
Abraham Lincoln practiced law in the offices above Seth Tinsley's store from 1843 until 1852. It was an ideal location for a rising young law firm - near the Capitol and Springfield's finest hotel of the day and just above the local post office and Federal Courtroom. Stephen Logan (1843-44) and William Herndon (1844-65) were his partners during this time. This is the only surviving structure in which Lincoln maintained working law offices. (Last tour 45 minutes before closing.)
Old State Capitol
Downtown Mall,
(217) 785-7961
Hours:
Daily Mar-Oct 9am-5pm; Nov-Feb 9am-4pm; Closed New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Presidents' Day, General Election Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Donation suggested.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand . . ." These immortal words were spoken by Abraham Lincoln in the historic Old State Capitol Hall of Representatives in the turbulent days preceding the Civil War. He 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 & 4, 1865, Mr. Lincoln's body lay in state in Representatives Hall as a crowd estimated at 75,000 filed past to pay their last respects. (Last tour 45 minutes before closing.)
Mr. Lincoln's World: A living history program is held Jan.-April and June-Dec. on each Friday and Saturday from 10am-noon and 1pm-4pm. Costumed interpreters give history of 19th Century.
Lincoln Tomb
Oak Ridge Cemetery,
(217) 782-2717
Hours:
Daily Mar-Oct 9am-5pm, Nov-Feb 9am-4pm, Tues (June-Aug) 7pm-8pm; Closed New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Presidents' Day, General Election Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Free. This beautiful monument marks the final resting place of Abraham, Mary Todd, Tad, Eddie and Willie Lincoln. (Oldest son, Robert, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.) Abraham Lincoln was buried in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery at the request of Mrs. Lincoln after his assassination in 1865. The monument was designed by sculptor Larkin Mead, completed in 1874, and paid for with public donations. The original receiving vault in which Abraham Lincoln was buried can be seen on a tour of the cemetery. (Be sure to ask about the special Civil War Retreat Ceremony held at the Tomb each Tuesday evening during the summer.
Oak Ridge Cemetery:
Oak Ridge is the largest cemetery in the state of Illinois and the second-most visited cemetery in the U.S. People from across the country and throughout the world come to see the tomb of Springfield's most famous citizen. But this 365-acre cemetery is also the final resting place of seventy other notable historic figures including labor leader John L. Lewis, the famous poet Vachel Lindsay, four Illinois governors, and Lincoln's law partner, William Herndon. An audio tour, entitled Stories in Stone, provides a guided tour of unique monuments from the 1800s. The cemetery office is located at the Monument Avenue entrance to the cemetery.
Illinois State Capitol
2nd and Capitol,
(217) 782-2099
Hours:
Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat-Sun 9am-3pm; Closed New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and day after, Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day. Free.
The first legislative session was held in the new state capitol in 1877. The growth of the state had increased the need for more file storage and office space than the Old State Capitol allowed. Today it is the center of state government and houses the offices of the Governor, Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer, as well as the House of Representatives and Senate Chambers. Visitors can watch Illinois politics in action from balcony-level seating when the legislature is in session. (Handicap accessible at east and west entrances.)
Dana-Thomas House
301 E. Lawrence, (217) 782-6776
Hours:
Wed-Sun 9am-4pm; Closed New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday, Presidents' Day, General Election Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day; Gift shop on site; Suggested donation $3 for adults, $1 for children under 17.
It was 1902 in Victorian Springfield when local socialite and activist, Susan Lawrence Dana, hired a rising young architect from Chicago to remodel her family home. What resulted and remains today is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's finest prairie-style homes, complete with original furniture, art glass doors, windows and light fixtures. The rich history and architectural significance of this elaborately restored residence will add an unforgettable dimension to your tour of historic Springfield. Last tour begins at 4pm.
Visitors Center handicapped accessible and house accessible on main level via automated lift.
Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon
Washington Park, (217) 753-6219 or (217) 544-1751
www.carillon-rees.org
Hours:
Jun-Aug, Tues-Sun Noon-8pm; spring & fall, weekends only; Closed Dec-Mar; Closed Easter Day, Columbus Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving Day; Gift shop on site. Admission.
Surrounded by gardens and a reflecting pool, the magnificent bell tower in Washington Park is the third largest in the world and one of the few open to the public. You can watch the bells being played during a tour of the tower's three floors. A spectacular view of the city awaits those with stamina enough to make it up the final circular staircase to the top. Or, you can take an elevator to one of the most beautiful views in Springfield.
Route 66 Sites
Shea's Gas Station Museum
2075 Peoria Rd., (217) 522-0475
Hours:
Tues-Fri 7am-4pm, Sat 7am-Noon. Closed Sun-Mon and during Illinois State Fair. Free.
A favorite photo stop for Route 66 travelers from around the world, Shea's is a charming and eclectic collection of over half a century of gas station memorabilia. Of course, Bill Shea himself is always happy to share stories about his collection and his over 50 years alongside Route 66. It's free to tour the museum. Bill only requires that all visitors leave their signature in his guestbook.
Cozy Drive In
2935 S. 6th St., (217) 525-1992
Hours:
Mon-Sat 8am-8pm. (Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner)
This traditional Route 66 diner is a part of the history of the Mother Road. The original owner, Ed Waldmire, was the inventor of the famous American food...the Cozy Dog or corn dog. These delicious treats can be found at every county and state fair from coast tocoast. Inside the diner, you'll find an amusing and interesting selection of Route 66 memorabilia andsouvenirs.
International Route 66 Mother Road Festival
Annual event held in September (call 1-800-545-7300 or 1-217-789-2360, or visit our Web site at www.route66fest.com for exact dates)
Those of you searching for the spirit of adventure will find it at the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, held each September in Springfield, Illinois. This premiere annual event is attended by thousands of people from around the world and features hundreds of classic vehicles, live entertainment and celebrities, dozens of food and drink booths, one-of-a kind exhibits, the world's largest sock hop, and more. This event is the largest festival of it's kind in the world - a Route 66 Mecca. We invite you to come celebrate the love of the open road, the dream of simpler time and the vitality of a bygone era.
Lodging in Springfield
Whether you're looking for a cozy bed and breakfast or a five-star luxury suite, you'll find Springfield offers comfortably priced accommodations to meet every budget. With more than 4,000 rooms, Springfield can accommodate leisure travelers and groups of all types and sizes.
Transportation Services
Getting here is easy. By car, you'll find us on Interstate 55 (a.k.a. Route 66 for nostalgia lovers), just 200 miles from Chicago, and 100 miles from St. Louis. By plane, Springfield's Capital Airport is linked with the international gateway airports of St. Louis Lambert and Chicago O'Hare for daily flights. And, by train, Amtrak offers daily stops in Springfield between both Chicago and St. Louis.
In Town Transportation Services:
Springfield Trolley - An old-fashioned, open-air trolley (closed and heated in the winter) with regular stops at the major historic attractions. Tickets sold at several downtown locations. For a list of stops, ticketing locations and days of operation, call (800) 545-7300 or (217) 789-2360.
Mass Transit Buses - Public buses are available to most areas of the city. The buses run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except for holidays. For bus schedules and maps, stop by the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau at 109 N. 7th St., or call the mass transit office at (217) 522-5531.
Taxis - Several taxi companies offer service to and from the airport and train station, as well as to all areas of the city. Check the local yellow page listings for phone numbers.
Restaurants in Springfield
From our infamous, one-of-kind "horseshoe" sandwich to the ever popular Cozy Dog - you'll find a delicious selection of dining opportunities in Springfield, Illinois. Along with neighborhood fare, you"ll also find four-star restaurants, quaint cafés, fast-food and more.
Shopping and Entertainment in Springfield
Whether you're looking for a night on the town, terrific shopping, or something "fun" for the kids, you'll find a whole array of options just a short drive from where you are. Springfield boasts amusement parks, a water park and wave pool, bike and hike paths, public golf courses, a lake with a public marina, a drive-in movie theater and multiple cineplexes, museums, outdoor theaters, bars, pubs and comedy clubs.
Shoppers will love choosing from the hundreds of unique shops and stores scattered throughout the city. From central Illinois' largest enclosed retail shopping facility, Simon White Oaks Mall, to upscale shopping plazas and intriguing specialty shops located in the historic downtown - there's truly something for everyone.
Touring as a Group
If you're planning to bring either an adult or student group of 15 or more people to visit the Lincoln sites, it pays to plan ahead.
Student Groups planning to visit in April, May, September or October should plan one year ahead.During other months you should start your planning at least 3 months in advance. Because of the popularity of the Lincoln sites, all student tours must be pre-scheduled through the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. Scheduling is done on a first-come, first-serve basis. For your School Group Information Packet, including some great Student Overnight deals at local hotels, simply complete the request card at the back of this guide, mark "School Group Info" and drop it in the mail. Or, visit our Web site at www.visit-springfieldillinois.com and click on "School Tours."
Adult Groups have this free planning service available, too. For complete and personalized itinerary planning for your adult group, call our toll-free number, (800) 545-7300, and ask for the Group Tour Manager. We'll book your tours at the sites and give you a printed schedule confirmation. Or, visit our Web site at www.visit-springfieldillinois.com and click on "Group Tours.
" Individual Travelers who wish to have a tour guide, can also call our toll-free number, 800/545-7300 for contacts on individual tours.
Meetings & Conventions
As Illinois' state capital, Springfield has a long history of planning successful meetings and conventions. Our city hosts hundreds of thousands of conventioneers each year. With over 4000 high quality hotel rooms, and 250,000 square feet of meeting space, not to mention our top-notch historic sites, Springfield is the ideal destination for your next gathering. And, on top of it all, we offer a wide variety of free planning services that will help you create your history-making event.
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Submitted
by Springfield
Illinois CVB