The colored areas in the map below are the areas covered by the 2009 Bicentennial photo tour of Springfield, Illinois. The pictures were all taken myself between August and October 2009 and will be used in my Lincoln Land 80s CD project.
This tour was coded myself using CSS and HTML. I didn’t use any Javascript or Flash so it should work in pretty much any standards-compliant browser, even if you browse with Javascript or Flash off like I do.
Click on a colored area in the map below to "zoom in" to a map of that particular area of the city and view photos taken in that area. Each of the different colored areas contains neighborhoods with their own distinct characteristics. Have fun exploring!
All photos and text Copyright © 2009 Chris Umhoefer. All rights reserved.
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Each one of the pink arrows on the map below represents a location where a picture was taken. The arrows point in the direction the picture was taken. Click on an arrow to view the picture and see what that part of Springfield looks like.
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- 1. 100 block of North 7th Street, Looking South from Jefferson Street
100 block of North 7th Street, Looking South from Jefferson StreetI’ve always liked this colorful, asymmetrical view of 7th Street comprised of the tall buildings (the Hilton and President Abraham Lincoln Hotels) on the left (east) side of 7th Street and the low-rise historic buildings on the right (west) side of 7th.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 2. Lincoln Statue in the Southwest Corner of Union Square Park
Lincoln Statue in the Southwest Corner of Union Square ParkA popular picture taking spot for tourists, I’ve always liked how this statue portrays Lincoln in a "human" manner, encouraging people to interact with him, as though he has come back to Springfield. I know the pose is fictitious – he’s holding a draft of his Second Inaugural address in his hat – but Lincoln is celebrated both as a common man and as a hero, and I think this statue successfully combines both of them. This statue was given as a gift to the city in July 2006 by Siciliano, Inc., the construction company that built the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, and is the 7th and last Lincoln statue to be erected in the city.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 3. Union Station
Union StationThis historic train station facing Madison Street between 5th and 6th Streets is now a visitor’s center for Springfield. It was built in 1897 to serve passengers on the Illinois Central Railroad, and it served that purpose until the 1970s when it was abandoned. In 1984 the tracks along Madison Street were removed, and in 1985 it was renovated into an upscale mall, saving it from demolition. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency had offices in this building from 1990 to 2004, when the nearby Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library opened. In 2004 a three-year effort to restore the station to its original 1897 appearance began, and the 110-foot clock tower (removed in the 1940s due to fears that it would collapse) was meticulously rebuilt. The restoration effort was completed in April 2007.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 4. Convention Center
Convention CenterBuilt in the 1970s, this large indoor venue hosts many different events, from big-name rock concerts to Illinois history conferences. There was a huge concert for Lincoln here on the eve of his Bicentennial, February 11, 2009, and of course, I was there. The Convention Center takes up an entire city block, and it has 7,700 seats and over 20,000 square feet of meeting space. I took this picture in the evening for effect. I timed it so that I’d get something "Springfieldy" (is that a word?) on the electronic sign outside, in this case the Old State Capitol.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 5. Lincoln Statue in the Southeast Corner of Union Square Park
Lincoln Statue in the Southeast Corner of Union Square ParkThis dramatic larger-than-life size statue of Lincoln was erected at the southeast corner of Union Square Park in 2006. It is the 6th Lincoln statue to be erected in Springfield. Entitled "A Greater Task", it depicts a bearded Lincoln facing east with his coat blowing in the wind to represent the difficulties ahead as he assumes the Presidency. The statue has a good quote from his First Inaugural Address on its base. Behind him is Union Station, which further adds to the dramatic effect, even though it is not a Lincoln era structure and Lincoln actually left for Washington from a different station (called the Lincoln Depot) at 10th and Monroe. I took this picture on a cloudy day to further add to the dramatic effect. This statue is another very popular place for tourists to take pictures. (Click outside the image to return to map.)- 6. City Hall
City HallSpringfield City Hall is a modernist structure at 7th and Monroe. I took the picture in the evening. It was somewhat cloudy the day I took it, so I had my camera adjusted for the cloudiness. At the last minute, right when I was down to one picture left on my memory card, the sun came through the clouds and illuminated the building. I quickly took the last picture and it turned out beautiful.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 7. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
Abraham Lincoln Presidential MuseumSpringfield’s biggest tourist attraction opened on April 19, 2005. I was at the opening, along with 25,000 other attendees. The Museum has had over 2.1 million visitors so far (as of the end of 2009), and it gets about 500,000 visitors per year. It is the most visited presidential museum by far, and it attracts visitors from every state and continent. The Museum is over 200,000 square feet and takes up an entire city block. Its address is 212 North 6th Street, numbered after Lincoln’s Birthday (2/12). The Museum has dramatically increased tourism and vibrancy in Springfield. I took the picture in such a way that it looks like the Museum’s logo.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 8. South Side of the Square
South Side of the SquareI love taking a picture of this at sunset. The sun illuminates all of the historic buildings on the south side of the square, causing them to "glow", creating a very colorful picture. Many of the buildings on the south side of the square are Lincoln-era, and the furthest one to the left is the Tinsley Building, where Lincoln had law offices.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 9. Horace Mann Building
Horace Mann BuildingThis building is the headquarters of Horace Mann Insurance Co. and was built in 1971. It is probably one of the most interesting buildings to be built in the modernist style. The roof stretches out over the main part of the building, which stretches out over the entrance, and the main part of the building is supported by thick square steel columns. The building is perfectly symmetrical. It feels kind of like you’re in a giant tunnel (but still open to the outside) when you walk up to the entrance. The building is surrounded by a parklike area with lots of trees and paths, and the building and its grounds take up 2 full city blocks. I took the picture in the evening, so that you can see the lights on in the building.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 10. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
Abraham Lincoln Presidential LibraryCompleted in 2004, this world-class research center contains one of the world’s largest Lincoln collections. Its holdings include one of the five known original copies of the Gettysburg Address, an original copy of the 13th Amendment signed by Lincoln, and a commemorative copy of the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Lincoln. It recently acquired the Taper Collection, which includes one of Lincoln’s stovepipe hats and was one of the largest private Lincoln collections. Lincoln items from the Library are regularly rotated in and out of public display in the Museum. The Library also contains the vast holdings of the Illinois State Historical Library. I originally planned to take this picture during the daytime, but I did not arrive until the twilight just after sunset. I decided to see if I could take a decent picture anyway. I pulled it off, and I captured some great lighting effects. (Click outside the image to return to map.)- 11. City Hall Fountain West
City Hall Fountain WestThis fountain is on the west side of City Hall, near the 7th and Monroe intersection. At night this fountain lights up in gorgeous blue and red colors. I took this photo at night to capture that effect. (Click outside the image to return to map.)- 12. St. Nicholas Hotel
St. Nicholas HotelThis building at 4th and Jefferson has a lot of history. Lincoln sat for sculptor Thomas D. Jones on the 4th floor of this building in 1861, just before he went to Washington. (The sculpture is now in the Old State Capitol). He also made a speech here in 1860. Douglas also frequented this hotel. Today, it is an apartment building that houses the Caitie Girl’s restaurant on the first floor. (It’s a neat place if you haven’t been there.) I captured the hotel in the evening (including the annex to the south on 4th Street) as people were walking into the building. You can still see the "Hotel St. Nicholas" painted on the side of the building up near the top. The Grand Ballroom on the left is still used for events.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 13. Springfield Marine Bank
Springfield Marine BankThis is the oldest still existing bank in Illinois, dating back to 1851. It is located on the east side of the square. The "Springfield Marine Bank" facade and columns in this structure date back to the Lincoln era. Lincoln held a bank account at the Springfield Marine Bank from 1853 until his assassination in 1865. The ledger where his account records were kept is on public display inside the building. The interior of the bank has been restored also, and it is sometimes used for cultural events and exhibits. In Lincoln’s day, the Sangamon County Courthouse was just to the north (left) of this building (at the southeast corner of 6th and Washington). Today, the Chase Bank building occupies this spot. Due to bank mergers in the past 20 years, Chase Bank owns this bank now.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 14. Lincoln Depot
Lincoln DepotOn February 11, 1861, Lincoln left Springfield at this train station to assume the Presidency. He gave a very emotional farewell address from the rear platform of the train to a crowd of over 1,000 citizens as he was about to leave his hometown. It is one of the few impromptu speeches that Lincoln gave (Lincoln typically spent weeks preparing speeches). Its unusual impromptu nature suggests the emotions Lincoln felt about his hometown and its people. We know what he said because newspaper reporters on the train asked him to write it down after he left. The entire speech is engraved into a stone plaque visible to the right of the depot. It’s also on a "Looking for Lincoln" storyboard in front of the depot, and on a sign (not visible in the picture) further west on the 900 block of East Monroe Street. The depot contains a small museum, and it has been restored as much as possible to look like it did on the day Lincoln left. I’ve always thought it would be neat if this was still a functional depot, and with the city’s plans for high speed rail on the 10th Street tracks, it could happen!(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 16. Illinois Building
Illinois BuildingThis 15-story Art Deco office building, located at the northeast corner of 6th and Adams, is the third tallest building in Springfield. It was built in 1931. On the first floor, it contains street-level retail and restaurants. At night, the top of this building lights up. I took this picture from Adams Street at around sunset, just after the light at the top of the building turned on. I believe Barack Obama’s Springfield office is in this building.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 17. Skyline from the 700 Block of East Madison Street
Skyline from the 700 Block of East Madison StreetTaken at night, to capture the lights on in the Hilton and President Abraham Lincoln Hotels and in the Illinois Building. You can also see some of the historic buildings on the west side of 7th Street from here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 18. Hilton Hotel
Hilton HotelLook up, up, up… This towering 30-story hotel was built in 1977 and is the second tallest building in Springfield. Only the State Capitol (the new one) is taller. I took this at night (from near 7th and Adams, where the hotel is located) to capture the pretty lights on in the hotel. If you go to the 30th floor of this hotel, you can get some truly incredible views of the city and beyond.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 19. Lincoln Statue at Lincoln Library
Lincoln Statue at Lincoln LibraryThis “cubist” Lincoln statue was erected outside of the entrance of the main branch of Lincoln Library (Springfield’s public library system) in 1976. It is the 4th Lincoln statue to be erected in Springfield. Some people don’t like it, but I actually do like this statue. Somehow it seems to remind me of my 1980s youth. In any case, I think it goes along well with the building.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 20. 200 block of South 5th Street, Looking North from Monroe Street
200 block of South 5th Street, Looking North from Monroe StreetThis is one of the blocks in the 5th Street nightlife district in downtown Springfield. A lot of the bars/nightclubs/late night restaurants in Springfield are located on this street. I took this shot in the evening as people were milling about and sitting outside at some of the restaurants to capture the mood. A horse-drawn carriage adds to the historic mood of the city.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 21. Skyline from the 200 block of South 9th Street
Skyline from the 200 block of South 9th StreetThis is taken at sunset, looking west towards the big hotels and the Illinois Building. The lights in the hotels and the colors from the sun setting create a very vibrant scene, one that I feel represents downtown Springfield. The city’s alive!(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 22. Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices
Lincoln-Herndon Law OfficesAlso called the Tinsley Building (for its owner Seth Tinsley), this building, located on the southwest corner of 6th and Adams, is the only building still standing today in which Lincoln had law offices. (Lincoln also had law offices at five other sites, two of which are marked with plaques – one where the Myers Building is today and one on the 100 block of North 5th Street.) In 1986, the state bought the building from a local preservation group and restored it. The exact dates Lincoln had offices in the Tinsley Building are unclear, but he did have an office in the front of the building and (later) in the back. The building is basically the same today as it was then, except for the first floor, which has a small museum, and the Tinsley Dry Goods gift shop (one of my favorite shops in Springfield). The post office is in basically the same spot as it was then. To the right of the building is the C.M. Smith building (a rehabilitated section of the Tinsley Building), from which Lincoln wrote much of his First Inaugural Address. I took this shot facing the north side of the Tinsley Building, close up. You can almost imagine Lincoln coming up to the door and entering it.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 23. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum at Sunset
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum at SunsetThis shot was taken from "behind" the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, through the trees on the grounds of the nearby Horace Mann building. I’ve always thought the museum looked neat at sunset, so I wanted to do a shot of the museum at sunset for Lincoln Land 80s.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 24. Lincoln Statue at 6th and Adams
Lincoln Statue at 6th and AdamsThis statue on the Adams Street Mall is my favorite Lincoln statue in Springfield. It was erected in 2004 and is entitled "Springfield’s Lincoln". It is the 5th Lincoln statue to be erected in Springfield. It shows Lincoln as a normal Springfield citizen, and as a lawyer and politician, before he became well known nationally. Mary is straightening his tie, with his son Willie standing beside him. His son Robert (Tad wasn’t born yet) is running away from him (this was not captured in the picture). Surrounding the statue in gold lettering is a snippet from Lincoln’s Farewell Address. This statue is life size, and it certainly encourages tourists to interact with Lincoln as evidenced by its popularity as a tourist gathering spot. This makes it rather difficult to take the picture, since I don’t want people directly behind the statue (though I like capturing people walking around or sitting at sidewalk cafes on 6th Street in the distance). I used the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices as a backdrop to represent his career at this point in his life.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 25. 300 block of South 8th Street, Looking North from Capitol Avenue
300 block of South 8th Street, Looking North from Capitol AvenueThis section of 8th Street is actually a tree-canopied brick pedestrian walkway between City Hall and the police station. You can see these buildings along the side of the street; further down the street, you can see Saputo’s (a very good Italian restaurant), the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, and the Convention Center.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 26. Iles House
Iles HouseThis house is the oldest house still standing in Springfield. It was built in 1827 by Charles Matheny, one of Springfield’s founding fathers, and was occupied by another founding father of Springfield, Elijah Iles, for which the house is named. Elijah Iles was a friend and political ally of Abraham Lincoln. The house was originally located at 6th and Cook. Over the decades, it was moved around a couple locations on the south side of the city before it was bought by the Elijah Iles Foundation and moved to the northeast corner of 7th and Cook in 2001. (The 6th and Cook location is now a church.) Once it was moved to 7th and Cook, the Elijah Iles Foundation restored the house as much as possible to its original appearance and opened it to the public. Today, tours and events are held here, and there is a small Springfield history museum in the basement.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 27. Lincoln Statue at State Capitol
Lincoln Statue at State CapitolThis dramatic statue of Lincoln on the State Capitol grounds greets you at the Capitol’s eastern approach, at 2nd Street and Capitol Avenue. Erected in 1918 as the 2nd Lincoln statue in Springfield, it is one of the most visible Lincoln statues in the city due to its location. You can see it from points far down Capitol Avenue and it is the first thing you see when you walk up to the dramatic east entrance of the Capitol. The statue is entitled "The Lincoln of the Farewell Address", and part of his farewell address is inscribed on the back of the concrete wall behind the statue.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 28. 400 block of East Jefferson Street, Looking East from 4th Street
400 block of East Jefferson Street, Looking East from 4th StreetThis shot is aimed at one of Springfield’s greatest treasures between two of the city’s biggest downtown residential complexes. To the left (north side of Jefferson) is the vine-covered Near North Village Apartments, and to the right (south side of Jefferson) is the historic St. Nicholas Hotel (now apartments). In the distance are the rotundae of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 29. County Building
County BuildingEven though the sign by the building says "Sangamon County Complex", I call it the County Building, and so do many other people, probably because it’s shorter to say. The building was built in 1991, though it certainly looks more historic than that. It houses all of the county offices, including the present day Sangamon County Courthouse, and even the jail. The building takes up the whole block bounded by 9th, 10th, Adams, and Monroe. The original idea for this shot involved getting the whole 9th Street side of the building together with the sign, but realizing that that was impossible, I decided to take it with the sign close up. I liked the results.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 30. 500 block of South 7th Street, Looking North from Edwards Street
500 block of South 7th Street, Looking North from Edwards StreetThis historic block, located in a residential area just west of the Lincoln Home and just south of downtown, offers an interesting view of the city in the distance. The first house on the left (west) side of the street is the Maisenbacher House, an upper middle class home that was built by Isaac Lindsay with a loan from Abraham Lincoln. Originally located on the 1000 block of South 7th, this house is currently being restored after it was moved to this location in 2008 to save it. On the right (east) side of the street is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Further down the street, in the distance, you can see tall church steeples and downtown buildings like the Hilton poking through the trees.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 31. City Hall Fountain East
City Hall Fountain EastSplash, splash, splash… This large fountain is located at the corner of 8th and Monroe, to the east of City Hall. It pulsates and splashes water several times each second. I tried to capture it during one of these water-splashing cycles, and I think I succeeded. Behind the fountain is the walkway that forms the 300 block of South 8th.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 33. President Abraham Lincoln Hotel
President Abraham Lincoln HotelThis large hotel on the northeast corner of 7th and Adams is often considered the most expensive, luxurious hotel in the city. It was built in 1985, though its architecture, designed to emulate its historic surroundings, would lead you to believe it was built much earlier than that. It is located across Adams Street from the Hilton and is right next to the Convention Center. It contains restaurants, conference rooms, and ballrooms on the first floor. This year, with the Bicentennial, it is surrounded by Lincoln Bicentennial banners and posters in the windows.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 34. Hoogland Center for the Arts
Hoogland Center for the ArtsThis large building on the 400 block of South 6th Street, on the south edge of downtown, contains theaters, art galleries, and the like, and is home to the Prairie Art Alliance. There are many events, like live theater and music, that occur here. It has a colorful marquee on the outside that lights up at night. To represent the activity that occurs here, I decided to take a picture of the Hoogland Center at night, after a show let out. The shot is panned towards downtown, so you can see what’s in the distance.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 35. 600 block of East Washington Street, Looking West from 7th Street
600 block of East Washington Street, Looking West from 7th StreetThis is the only streetscape shot in the entire Lincoln Land 80s project that is taken at night. I did it this way since this block seems to have more activity at night than during the daytime, and I wanted to have at least one nighttime streetscape shot. There are people walking down the street in the shot. The Myers Building on 5th Street is visible in the distance, and further in the distance is a parking ramp stairwell all lit up (I always thought it looked neat that way). Since it’s impossible to set up a tripod in the middle of the street, this shot focused down the north side of Washington Street. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library lies just to the north of this historic block.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 36. Lincoln Home
Lincoln HomeThis upper middle class house on the northeast corner of 8th and Jackson was the only home Lincoln ever owned. He lived here from 1844 to 1861 (when he left to be inaugurated as President). He probably spent the best years of his life here. The house was built in 1839 by the Rev. Charles Dresser, who also presided over the Lincolns’ wedding in 1842. When Lincoln bought the house, it was only 1 1/2 stories tall, and they added onto it over the years. The home was given to the state of Illinois in 1887 by Lincoln’s son Robert and then (along with the 4-block-square area surrounding it) to the National Park Service in 1972. One of the stipulations Robert made in the transfer of the home to the government is that it must always be free to tour, and that of course is still true today.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 37. Skyline from the 400 block of North 11th Street
Skyline from the 400 block of North 11th StreetIf you recognize this photo, it’s because I used it (well, a version from 2007) to make my blog header image. I love the pretty lights and the urban feel. You can see the Hilton, the Convention Center, the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, the Horace Mann Building, the Illinois Building, the State Capitol and the Myers Building from here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 38. 600 block of East Capitol Avenue, Looking West from 7th Street
600 block of East Capitol Avenue, Looking West from 7th StreetThis is my favorite Capitol Avenue vista of the State Capitol. To the right is the First Presbyterian Church, which the Lincolns attended (albeit not at this location), and visible down the street are restaurants and shops.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 39. 600 block of East Monroe Street, Looking West from 7th Street
600 block of East Monroe Street, Looking West from 7th StreetThis busy block has the Federal Building on the left, a state office building on the right, and restaurants in the distance. A Looking for Lincoln sign is visible on the state office building, near the corner. The tall white building on the left side of the street in the distance is known as the Ridgely Building. For some reason, the traffic pattern at the 7th/Monroe intersection makes it tricky to take this streetscape shot.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 40. 600 block of East Adams Street, Looking West from 7th Street
600 block of East Adams Street, Looking West from 7th StreetTaken from the north sidewalk of the street instead of in the middle, because I like it that way. This vibrant block connects the hotels with the Adams Street Mall and the 5th and 6th Street corridors in the distance. It is lined with shops and restaurants and is one of the main corridors in downtown Springfield. The Illinois Building is visible on the right in the distance.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 41. West Side of the Square
West Side of the SquareLike the South Side of the Square shot, this one features the sun shining on the buildings. Which means that it was taken in the morning, and I’m not a morning person, so this shot was little difficult to get. But I like the feel of this picture, somehow calming, yet urban, and vibrant. The tall building on the far right is the Myers Building, and Lincoln’s last law office (from 1856 to 1861) was in the spot where this building now is. Earlier, in 1837, Joshua Speed’s store, the place Lincoln lived when he first moved to Springfield, was in the same spot. (The Myers Building was built in 1886.) Lincoln and Speed became great friends. The Chatterton Building, the 2nd building from the left, is a Lincoln-era building that housed a jewelry store where Lincoln bought Mary Todd’s wedding ring.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 42. Old State Capitol
Old State CapitolThis building was completed in 1839, when the state capital was moved here from Vandalia. Lincoln was one of the "Long Nine", a group of representatives serving in the state legislature at that time, that was instrumental in moving the state capital to Springfield, thereby assuring its future. The population of Illinois was shifting northward at this time, and Springfield was the biggest city, centrally located within the state, making it a good location for the state capital. At the time this building was built, it was the tallest building in Illinois. It served as the State Capitol building until the new and current State Capitol was completed in 1876. Lincoln served two terms in the State House of Representatives in this building and he also gave his famous "House Divided" speech here. The building today is preserved to its Lincoln-era state and the flag that flies on top is 33 stars (the number of states in the Union in 1860 when Lincoln was elected). This building is the center of town now, just as it was in Lincoln’s day; many events are held here and on the block the building sits on, known as the Square. The building is a State Historic Site and is open to the public for tours.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 43. View from the 800 block of East Jefferson Street
View from the 800 block of East Jefferson StreetWhile walking to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum one day, I noticed that there was a point on this block where you could see the domes of both the old and the new State Capitols, and where the domes of each of the State Capitols both have the same apparent size. This is a shot of this, viewed through the columns of the Horace Mann building on this block, and the trees on its grounds. You can also see the US Bank building, the Illinois Building and the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau building on 7th Street (the brick building with the cone-shaped thingy reminiscent of a castle on top) from here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 44. State Capitol
State CapitolThis building is the current State Capitol. It is the tallest building in Springfield and one of the trademark buildings on its skyline. It is 405 feet high (74 feet higher than the U.S. Capitol in Washington). It was completed in 1876. It took 8 years to build it. The state started work on this building in 1868 because they were running out of room in what is now the Old State Capitol. The building is often referred to as the "New State Capitol" to distinguish it from the old one. It is located where 1st Street and Capitol Avenue would intersect if they ran that far; the building and its grounds take up a 4-square-block area surrounding this location. It is so large it is impossible to get the whole thing in a single picture, so I just shot the dome from the dramatic east entrance at 2nd and Capitol. The Lincoln Tomb would be where the State Capitol is now if Mary did not insist that Lincoln was to be buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery. (Click outside the image to return to map.)- 45. Union Square Park
Union Square ParkSpringfield’s "front yard". This beautiful downtown park is part of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum campus. It takes up most of the block bounded by 6th Street, 5th Street, Jefferson Street, and Madison Street. (Union Station occupies the Madison Street side of the block on the north.) The park contains an ampitheater-type area for concerts and events, paths and walkways, trees, flowers, and grass native to Illinois, two Lincoln statues, and a gazebo-type structure in the middle. This park is incredibly popular with tourists, and it’s a great place to rest for a bit. I can see this being used for weddings (I know that the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and the Old State Capitol have been used for that). I took this shot from the northwestern corner of the park, facing the Presidential Museum to the southeast.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 46. Lincoln Square Apartments
Lincoln Square ApartmentsLuxury apartments in a great downtown location. I toured one of these once on the downtown Upper Story Tour, and they are very nice. The apartments have an indoor pool, courtyard, excercise room, all that stuff. Maybe someday I’ll live here. The building was built in 1984, though it looks much older than that. It emulates its historic downtown surroundings, as if it’s been there since Lincoln’s time. There is an interesting network of passageways inside the buildings that looks like it would be fun to explore. There are even parts of the building with skylights, where it feels like you’re outside, but you’re not. The network of passageways is extensive, and extends to historic buildings facing 6th Street (not visible in the photo). I took the photo from the 5th/Monroe intersection, where I captured some of the vibrancy surrounding the apartments. Notice the "Looking for Lincoln" sign on the 5th Street side of the building.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 50. 400 block of South 8th Street, Looking South from Capitol Avenue
400 block of South 8th Street, Looking South from Capitol AvenueThis historic tree-lined street is in the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. It has been preserved to its 1860 appearance. The Lincoln Home itself is visible down the street to your left. It was very difficult to get this shot without people in it.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 55. Adams Street Mall, Looking West from 6th Street
Adams Street Mall, Looking West from 6th StreetAlso known as the Old State Capitol Plaza, or simply as the 500 block of East Adams Street, this busy brick pedestrian mall, which forms the south side of the square, is often used for outdoor events. I took the photo during one of these. The shops and restaurants that line the Adams Street Mall are visible to the left. The Lincoln Statue at 6th and Adams is located on this mall, and the Mall’s location between the Old State Capitol and the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices make it a popular place for tourists to gather. Some of this can be seen in the shot. (Click outside the image to return to map.)- 56. 200 block of South 6th Street, Looking South from Adams Street
200 block of South 6th Street, Looking South from Adams StreetThis busy block is in the heart of downtown Springfield. Many popular shops and restaurants line this block. The Tinsley Building, which contains the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, is visible on the right. The Delano law firm on the left side of the street at the corner, where the blue "Looking for Lincoln" marker is, is the oldest still existing business in Springfield. It dates to the late 1820s and was around when Lincoln was around as a lawyer. They likely knew each other. To capture the vibrant urban feel I took the picture with people walking down the street.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 58. Skyline from 5th and Capitol
Skyline from 5th and CapitolThe harmony and contrast between nature and the city is visible in this shot. Through the trees, you can see buildings that punctuate the Springfield skyline. Down below, you can see the street, and people walking along it.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 59. 100 block of North 6th Street, Looking North from Washington Street
100 block of North 6th Street, Looking North from Washington StreetThe Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library occupies much of the right (east) side of this block. On the west side of this block, there are shops and restaurants. This block is often busy with tourists and other people milling about. I tried to capture some of this in the shot.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 61. Vachel Lindsay Home
Vachel Lindsay HomeThis Lincoln-era home on the 600 block of South 5th Street was home to Springfield poet Vachel Lindsay, whose works include the famous poem "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight". He was born in this home in 1879, and he lived here his entire life until his death in 1931. The home is restored to its appearance during that time. This is also known as the C.M. Smith home, for the name of Lincoln’s brother-in-law, who lived here during Lincoln’s time, and owned a store on the south side of the square in the west half of the Tinsley Building, adjacent to Lincoln’s law offices in the east half of the Tinsley Building. Lincoln was a frequent vistor to the Smiths. The home was built by the Rev. Charles Dresser, who also built the Lincolns’ home at 8th and Jackson Streets. The Vachel Lindsay/C.M. Smith Home is now owned by the state and is open to the public for tours.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 62. First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian ChurchThis is the church that the Lincolns attended (though Lincoln was never an official member of the church). When Lincoln lived in Springfield, the church was located at 3rd and Washington. It was moved to this location at 7th and Capitol in 1871. The new church building incorporates some elements from the old one, though (such as the stained-glass windows). The pew the Lincolns rented is on display here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 64. Lincoln Tower Apartments
Lincoln Tower ApartmentsThis large apartment building is conveniently located near the State Capitol. Even though it’s a more modern building, I felt the need to include it as it is another major "downtown living" apartment complex.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 65. State Library
State LibraryThis beautiful building on the northeast corner of 2nd and Capitol is located across the street from the State Capitol. It houses the state library. This is different from the Illinois State Historical Library, which is now located in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. The names along the top of the building are the names of prominent Illinois authors, writers, and educators. There is a statue of MLK on the 2nd/Capitol corner in front of the building, which was erected in 1988, and moved here in 1993. It faces the Lincoln statue in front of the State Capitol. The 2nd/Capitol intersection is sometimes referred to as "Freedom Corner" due to the location of these two stautes.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 66. Skyline from the 500 block of East Madison Street
Skyline from the 500 block of East Madison StreetThis picture was taken from the top level of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum parking ramp. You can get a beautiful view of the city from here. The picture is aimed down 6th Street towards the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where you can see the entrances of both. You can also see some of the buildings on the east side of 6th Street, such as the Illinois Building and the Springfield Marine Bank, and the Hilton and President Abraham Lincoln hotels.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 67. 900 block of South 2nd Street, Looking South from Canedy Street
900 block of South 2nd Street, Looking South from Canedy StreetThis shot represents the Aristocracy Hill neighborhood, just to the south of downtown. This neighborhood contains many Lincoln era houses, including some on this block, and is a diverse, though upscale neighborhood. Technically, the Vachel Lindsay Home and the Lincoln Home are also part of this neighborhood. The neighborhood is named Aristocracy Hill because the Governor’s Mansion is located within it.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 69. Lincoln Totem Pole
Lincoln Totem PoleSo, what’s this doing outside the Illinois State Museum? After Lincoln’s assassination, the Tongass tribe of Indians in southeast Alaska adopted the Lincoln story as tribal legend. The story goes that when Alaska was purchased and became a U.S. territory, slaves among the Indian tribes there were freed by Lincoln’s acts as President. To commemorate the event, the tribe erected a totem pole in his honor. The original pole is now in a museum in Juneau, Alaska (after having been moved from Saxman, Alaska), and a copy is in the Illinois State Museum. This one outside the museum is a fiberglass replica of the totem pole. It is 50 feet tall and the carved statue of Lincoln on the top is 5 feet 10 inches tall (6 inches short of Lincoln’s 6 foot 4 inch height). I suspect a lot of people don’t notice this pole (it’s by the parking lot, near the Spring and Edwards intersection), but it goes to show how Lincoln is remembered by many different cultures.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 77. Skyline from the 800 block of East Madison Street
Skyline from the 800 block of East Madison StreetTaken facing the Old State Capitol, you can also see the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, the State Capitol, the Myers Building, and the Illinois Building from here. The landscaping adds a colorful feel to the picture.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 79. Governor’s Mansion
Governor’s MansionThis beautiful Georgian mansion was built in 1855, and it is the 3rd largest governor’s mansion in the country. The grounds of the mansion are beautifully landscaped with trees, flowers, and fountains, and they take up the entire city block that the mansion sits on. Joel Matteson was the first governor to reside here. Lincoln was a frequent visitor and attended many events here. The mansion is open for tours and it contains several Lincoln-related artifacts, including paintings and a sculpture.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 83. Inside the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices
Inside the Lincoln-Herndon Law OfficesThis picture was taken in the law office of Lincoln and Herndon in the back of the Tinsley Building on the third floor. This office was used by Lincoln from about 1849 to 1853, and it is restored as much as possible to look like it did then. This is one of two offices Lincoln had in the Tinsley Building at different points in his career; the other one was in the front of the building, which Lincoln used during the early 1840s. I can just imagine Lincoln lying on the couch in this office telling stories or reading the newspaper out loud as he was known to do.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 85. State Capitol Rotunda
State Capitol RotundaStanding on the 1st floor of the State Capitol Rotunda, as close to the center as I could (there is a statue preventing you from standing exactly in the center), I took this shot facing straight up into the rotunda. I love the pretty colors and the intricate details – don’t you?(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 86. Inside the Old State Capitol
Inside the Old State CapitolThis picture was taken inside Representatives Hall where Lincoln served in the Legislature. Lincoln was an Illinois legislator for four terms; his last term, from 1840 to 1841, was served in this room (the others were served in Vandalia). The desk with the hat on it is where Lincoln sat. The desk itself isn’t the actual desk that Lincoln sat at; that desk is on display in the north side of the room (not in the photo). Lincoln gave his famous "House Divided" speech in 1858 accepting his nomination to run for U.S. Senate (and many other speeches) underneath the big portrait of George Washington in the center of the room. Today, both this room and the Old State Capitol itself are often used for Lincoln-related events. The entire Old State Capitol is open for tours.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 87. Inside Lincoln’s Home
Inside Lincoln’s HomeThis picture was taken inside the formal parlor on the north side of Lincoln’s home, which was used for formal events, like when the Republican delegation from Chicago came and told him he had won the 1860 Republican nomination for President. Many of the items in this room (like the couch, and the portable writing desk) are items Lincoln owned. You can feel Lincoln’s spirit in here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 88. Lincoln Family Statue in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum Plaza
Lincoln Family Statue in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum PlazaThe ceremonial 88th shot. I always do this one last, it seems like a fitting tribute to Lincoln and Springfield for finishing the Lincoln Land 80s project (the picture taking part anyway). This life-size statue of Lincoln and his family (including Mary, Willie, Tad, and Robert) inside the central plaza of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum is a popular picture-taking spot for tourists. Eddie is not included in the statue since we do not know what he looked like. Behind the Lincolns, a replica of the White House is visible.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
Each one of the pink arrows on the map below represents a location where a picture was taken. The arrows point in the direction the picture was taken. Click on an arrow to view the picture and see what that part of Springfield looks like.
The names of the different neighborhoods are marked by the blue text on the map. Each neighborhood has its own character and personality.
Click "Zoom Out" to return to the main map.
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- 17. Skyline from the 700 Block of East Madison Street
- Skyline from the 700 Block of East Madison StreetTaken at night, to capture the lights on in the Hilton and President Abraham Lincoln Hotels and in the Illinois Building. You can also see some of the historic buildings on the west side of 7th Street from here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 37. Skyline from the 400 block of North 11th Street
- Skyline from the 400 block of North 11th StreetIf you recognize this photo, it’s because I used it (well, a version from 2007) to make my blog header image. I love the pretty lights and the urban feel. You can see the Hilton, the Convention Center, the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, the Horace Mann Building, the Illinois Building, the State Capitol and the Myers Building from here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 47. Edwards Place
Edwards PlaceThis mansion in the Enos Park neighborhood is the oldest home still on its original foundation in Springfield. It was built in 1833. It was home to Benjamin Edwards, Ninian Edwards’ brother. The Lincolns were married at Ninian Edwards’ home which was on the 500 block of South 2nd Street where the Centennial (or Howlett) Building is now. However, the Lincolns visited the Benjamin Edwards home many times, and the home was a focal point for activity during Lincoln’s time. A "Looking for Lincoln" sign to the left of the home details some of the things that happened here. The home is open to the public for tours and the Springfield Art Association (which owns the home) occupies an annex.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 48. Lincoln Park Pavilion
Lincoln Park PavilionThis is in Lincoln Park, a large, beautiful Northend park nestled in a historic neighborhood. The park encompasses over 150 acres, or about 24 city blocks. It has a rural feel and was created over a century ago at the north end of a streetcar line as a retreat from the city and as a place for families to go and have picnics and fun. The park has many Springfield traditions associated with it, and it contains paths, forests, lagoons, and a recreation center (called the Nelson Center) containing a pool and two ice skating rinks (among other things). The pavilion in this park looks like an old stone country home on top of a big hill. It is located in the southern portion of the park, and you can see it from the little park road once you get into the park from the southeast entrance near 5th and Black. I took the photo from the grass "staircase" across the park lagoon from the pavilion. I wanted to capture the rural feel of the pavilion in this picture.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 49. Lincoln Bust at Lincoln Tomb
Lincoln Bust at Lincoln TombThis is the one where everybody wants to rub his nose. It’s supposed to bring you good luck, and Lincoln’s nose is all shiny from all the rubbing. The bust was sculpted by Gutzon Borglum, who also did busts of Lincoln on Mt. Rushmore, in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and in the U.S. Capitol. There is a story (not sure if it’s true) that Gutzon Borglum left off Lincoln’s left ear because his life was unfinished. This picture has a side view of the bust, of the side without the ear. I took this photo at sunset since I feel it captures the mood of the Lincoln Tomb nicely.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 52. 700 block of North 5th Street, Looking North from Miller Street
700 block of North 5th Street, Looking North from Miller StreetThis shot represents the Enos Park neighborhood, a diverse neighborhood just to the north of downtown. This neighborhood contains many Lincoln-era homes and lots of big trees and large, old colorful houses of varying architectural styles. There’s lots of character in this neighborhood. This block contains some beautiful old rowhouses, called the Enos Flats, visible on the right (east) side of the street. They have black gated iron entryways outside (containing the house numbers), stained-glass windows on the 1st floor, and the upper floors have blue trim around the windows, contrasting with the brick exterior. Also visible on this block are a couple of large brick homes, and a mixture of other historic homes.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 53. Lincoln Park Bridge
Lincoln Park BridgeThis stone bridge in Lincoln Park is over a century old. It spans the park lagoon, which contains beautiful waterfalls and fountains. It leads into a forest, where a path leads up a giant "grass staircase". This picture of the bridge was taken from the end opposite the staircase, where "LINCOLN" and "PARK" are carved into the posts at the end of the bridge. The forest is visible in the distance behind the lagoon.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 54. State Fairgrounds Main Entrance
State Fairgrounds Main EntranceThis is on 11th Street, at its intersection with Sangamon Avenue. There’s a large statue of Lincoln as a railsplitter just inside the gate. The statue is 35 feet high and is the 3rd Lincoln statue to be erected in Springfield. It was erected in 1967. This isn’t my favorite Lincoln sculpture in Springfield (I always thought it was kind of tacky), but it’s still a representation of Lincoln and deserves to be included. I love getting the evening light on this shot – it’s as if the fair is about to begin.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 66. Skyline from the 500 block of East Madison Street
- Skyline from the 500 block of East Madison StreetThis picture was taken from the top level of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum parking ramp. You can get a beautiful view of the city from here. The picture is aimed down 6th Street towards the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where you can see the entrances of both. You can also see some of the buildings on the east side of 6th Street, such as the Illinois Building and the Springfield Marine Bank, and the Hilton and President Abraham Lincoln hotels.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 77. Skyline from the 800 block of East Madison Street
- Skyline from the 800 block of East Madison StreetTaken facing the Old State Capitol, you can also see the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, the State Capitol, the Myers Building, and the Illinois Building from here. The landscaping adds a colorful feel to the picture.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 78. Lincoln Statue on Lincoln Tomb Upper Deck
Lincoln Statue on Lincoln Tomb Upper DeckThis larger-than-life-size Lincoln statue on the upper deck of the Lincoln Tomb was the first Lincoln statue to be erected in Springfield. It was dedicated in 1874, when the Lincoln Tomb was finished. This was actually very early for a Lincoln statue, since at the time, the nation was still figuring out how to best commemorate Lincoln’s memory. I suspect the reason the first Lincoln statue in Springfield was erected here, and not downtown, is because plans for the Lincoln Tomb began immediately after his death, and it only made sense to put the first statue at the Tomb. The statue depicts Abraham Lincoln emancipating the slaves, with his arm outstretched and holding a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. Since one of the things that made me a Lincoln admirer is emancipation, it is one of my favorite Lincoln statues in the city. Because the statue is up so high, you can see more detail in the picture than you can with your eyes alone. It is interesting how since 1874, Lincoln statues have gone from depicting a more "serious" Lincoln, often involving his achievements, to a more "personal" Lincoln.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 80. Brinkerhoff Home
Brinkerhoff HomeThis is a big, beautiful house on the northend in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, on the Springfield College campus. It was built in 1869. It is surrounded by lots of trees and sits at the top of a big hill with a view of Lincoln Park to the northwest of the home. The home and its grounds are used for events related to Springfield history.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 81. Lincoln Tomb
Lincoln TombThe final resting place of Abraham Lincoln. It is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery, a large, beautiful, peaceful 365-acre cemetery on the northend. It is the largest cemetery in Illinois and the second most visited cemetery in the country. The Tomb itself is 117 feet tall. It was designed by Larkin Mead of Vermont. It took 5 years to build, and was completed in 1874. It has gone through several renovations since then; the last one, in the 1930s, added the interior corridors. Outside is the famous bust where people love to rub Lincoln’s nose, and a statue of Lincoln and four statues depicting the Civil War are located on the upper deck. There are 50 state shields carved into the tomb, in the order in which they came into the Union. Inside the tomb are 9 "statuettes" of Abraham Lincoln, which are all replicas of Lincoln statues elsewhere. In addition to Mr. Lincoln, Mary and the Lincolns’ sons Willie, Tad, and Eddie are buried here. Robert is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Originally, the Lincoln Tomb was going to be where the State Capitol now is, but Mary threatened to have Lincoln buried in Chicago if he was not going to be buried at Oak Ridge.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 82. 1200 block of North Monument Avenue, Looking North from North Grand Avenue
1200 block of North Monument Avenue, Looking North from North Grand AvenueThis shot represents the Oak Ridge neighborhood on the northend, north and west of Enos Park. It is a middle class neighborhood built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This street is a tree-lined boulevard with historic streetlights and brick landscaping that leads into Oak Ridge Cemetery. It is lined with historic two-story homes prominently displaying the American flag.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 84. It Will Become All One Thing
It Will Become All One ThingAt the intersection of 1st Street and North Grand Avenue on the northend, there is a small park with benches and a large wooden sign with this unifying quote from Abraham Lincoln’s House Divided speech. The sign is visible as you are going south down Monument towards North Grand Avenue (away from Oak Ridge Cemetery). The area around this small, but beautiful, park contains many big trees.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
Each one of the pink arrows on the map below represents a location where a picture was taken. The arrows point in the direction the picture was taken. Click on an arrow to view the picture and see what that part of Springfield looks like.
The names of the different neighborhoods are marked by the blue text on the map. Each neighborhood has its own character and personality.
Click "Zoom Out" to return to the main map.
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- 26. Iles House
- Iles HouseThis house is the oldest house still standing in Springfield. It was built in 1827 by Charles Matheny, one of Springfield’s founding fathers, and was occupied by another founding father of Springfield, Elijah Iles, for which the house is named. Elijah Iles was a friend and political ally of Abraham Lincoln. The house was originally located at 6th and Cook. Over the decades, it was moved around a couple locations on the south side of the city before it was bought by the Elijah Iles Foundation and moved to the northeast corner of 7th and Cook in 2001. (The 6th and Cook location is now a church.) Once it was moved to 7th and Cook, the Elijah Iles Foundation restored the house as much as possible to its original appearance and opened it to the public. Today, tours and events are held here, and there is a small Springfield history museum in the basement.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 30. 500 block of South 7th Street, Looking North from Edwards Street
- 500 block of South 7th Street, Looking North from Edwards StreetThis historic block, located in a residential area just west of the Lincoln Home and just south of downtown, offers an interesting view of the city in the distance. The first house on the left (west) side of the street is the Maisenbacher House, an upper middle class home that was built by Isaac Lindsay with a loan from Abraham Lincoln. Originally located on the 1000 block of South 7th, this house is currently being restored after it was moved to this location in 2008 to save it. On the right (east) side of the street is the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. Further down the street, in the distance, you can see tall church steeples and downtown buildings like the Hilton poking through the trees.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 34. Hoogland Center for the Arts
- Hoogland Center for the ArtsThis large building on the 400 block of South 6th Street, on the south edge of downtown, contains theaters, art galleries, and the like, and is home to the Prairie Art Alliance. There are many events, like live theater and music, that occur here. It has a colorful marquee on the outside that lights up at night. To represent the activity that occurs here, I decided to take a picture of the Hoogland Center at night, after a show let out. The shot is panned towards downtown, so you can see what’s in the distance.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 36. Lincoln Home
- Lincoln HomeThis upper middle class house on the northeast corner of 8th and Jackson was the only home Lincoln ever owned. He lived here from 1844 to 1861 (when he left to be inaugurated as President). He probably spent the best years of his life here. The house was built in 1839 by the Rev. Charles Dresser, who also presided over the Lincolns’ wedding in 1842. When Lincoln bought the house, it was only 1 1/2 stories tall, and they added onto it over the years. The home was given to the state of Illinois in 1887 by Lincoln’s son Robert and then (along with the 4-block-square area surrounding it) to the National Park Service in 1972. One of the stipulations Robert made in the transfer of the home to the government is that it must always be free to tour, and that of course is still true today.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 50. 400 block of South 8th Street, Looking South from Capitol Avenue
- 400 block of South 8th Street, Looking South from Capitol AvenueThis historic tree-lined street is in the Lincoln Home National Historic Site. It has been preserved to its 1860 appearance. The Lincoln Home itself is visible down the street to your left. It was very difficult to get this shot without people in it.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 57. 1100 block of South Grand Avenue East, Looking East from 11th Street
1100 block of South Grand Avenue East, Looking East from 11th StreetThis is in Old South Town, a quirky "mini-downtown" district on the near east side that is currently being revitalized. The district is about one mile southeast of downtown. It was developed primarily between 1870 and 1930, and it is just to the southeast of some Lincoln-era neighborhoods. It is not as polished as downtown, but it contains its own neat little shops and restaurants and even has its own little nightlife. I tried to capture some of the emerging vibrancy in the picture. It appears that the upper stories of some of the buildings are being renovated into loft apartments or condos (like what has happened and is happening downtown). Some of the buildings here are still in the process of renovation, and you can see some of this in the picture. The South Town theater marquee in this district is the oldest theater marquee in Illinois, dating from the 1910s.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 61. Vachel Lindsay Home
- Vachel Lindsay HomeThis Lincoln-era home on the 600 block of South 5th Street was home to Springfield poet Vachel Lindsay, whose works include the famous poem "Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight". He was born in this home in 1879, and he lived here his entire life until his death in 1931. The home is restored to its appearance during that time. This is also known as the C.M. Smith home, for the name of Lincoln’s brother-in-law, who lived here during Lincoln’s time, and owned a store on the south side of the square in the west half of the Tinsley Building, adjacent to Lincoln’s law offices in the east half of the Tinsley Building. Lincoln was a frequent vistor to the Smiths. The home was built by the Rev. Charles Dresser, who also built the Lincolns’ home at 8th and Jackson Streets. The Vachel Lindsay/C.M. Smith Home is now owned by the state and is open to the public for tours.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 63. Pasfield House
Pasfield HouseThis large historic house in the Pasfield House neighborhood, just to the west of the State Capitol, functions as a B&B now. It’s not Lincoln-era (it was built in 1896), but it’s still beautiful. As a nice added touch, there is a large color cutout of Abraham Lincoln waving at you from the front porch. I love it and I made sure to capture it in the picture.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 64. Lincoln Tower Apartments
- Lincoln Tower ApartmentsThis large apartment building is conveniently located near the State Capitol. Even though it’s a more modern building, I felt the need to include it as it is another major "downtown living" apartment complex.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 67. 900 block of South 2nd Street, Looking South from Canedy Street
- 900 block of South 2nd Street, Looking South from Canedy StreetThis shot represents the Aristocracy Hill neighborhood, just to the south of downtown. This neighborhood contains many Lincoln era houses, including some on this block, and is a diverse, though upscale neighborhood. Technically, the Vachel Lindsay Home and the Lincoln Home are also part of this neighborhood. The neighborhood is named Aristocracy Hill because the Governor’s Mansion is located within it.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 68. 500 block of South Walnut Street, Looking South from Governor Street
500 block of South Walnut Street, Looking South from Governor StreetThis shot represents the Pasfield House neighborhood, just to the west of downtown. The neighborhood was developed primarily between 1850 and 1880, so some parts of this neighborhood are Lincoln-era. This block is an upper middle class area developed around the time of the Civil War. Beautiful, large, colorful homes from that era line this block. The Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Museum is located on this block and is visible on the right (west) side of the street, at the Governor Street intersection.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 69. Lincoln Totem Pole
- Lincoln Totem PoleSo, what’s this doing outside the Illinois State Museum? After Lincoln’s assassination, the Tongass tribe of Indians in southeast Alaska adopted the Lincoln story as tribal legend. The story goes that when Alaska was purchased and became a U.S. territory, slaves among the Indian tribes there were freed by Lincoln’s acts as President. To commemorate the event, the tribe erected a totem pole in his honor. The original pole is now in a museum in Juneau, Alaska (after having been moved from Saxman, Alaska), and a copy is in the Illinois State Museum. This one outside the museum is a fiberglass replica of the totem pole. It is 50 feet tall and the carved statue of Lincoln on the top is 5 feet 10 inches tall (6 inches short of Lincoln’s 6 foot 4 inch height). I suspect a lot of people don’t notice this pole (it’s by the parking lot, near the Spring and Edwards intersection), but it goes to show how Lincoln is remembered by many different cultures.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 71. 1500 block of South 4th Street, Looking North from Spruce Street
1500 block of South 4th Street, Looking North from Spruce StreetThis shot represents the Near South neighborhood, a middle class neighborhood to the south of Aristocracy Hill that was developed around the turn of the 20th century. It has big trees and a diverse range of housing styles, including brick apartment buildings which were a new style of living at the time. The east-west streets in this neighborhood are all named after trees.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 72. 1800 block of South State Street, Looking South
1800 block of South State Street, Looking SouthThis narrow tree-lined brick street is located in the Hawthorne Place neighborhood, an older middle class neighborhood on the south side built in the early 20th century. Some parts of the neighborhood are more upscale than others; this is one of the "normal middle class" portions of the neighborhood. This block is lined with one, one-and-a-half and two-story middle-class homes. There is no cross street dividing the 1700 and 1800 blocks of South State Street.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 79. Governor’s Mansion
- Governor’s MansionThis beautiful Georgian mansion was built in 1855, and it is the 3rd largest governor’s mansion in the country. The grounds of the mansion are beautifully landscaped with trees, flowers, and fountains, and they take up the entire city block that the mansion sits on. Joel Matteson was the first governor to reside here. Lincoln was a frequent visitor and attended many events here. The mansion is open for tours and it contains several Lincoln-related artifacts, including paintings and a sculpture.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 87. Inside Lincoln’s Home
- Inside Lincoln’s HomeThis picture was taken inside the formal parlor on the north side of Lincoln’s home, which was used for formal events, like when the Republican delegation from Chicago came and told him he had won the 1860 Republican nomination for President. Many of the items in this room (like the couch, and the portable writing desk) are items Lincoln owned. You can feel Lincoln’s spirit in here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
Each one of the pink arrows on the map below represents a location where a picture was taken. The arrows point in the direction the picture was taken. Click on an arrow to view the picture and see what that part of Springfield looks like.
The names of the different neighborhoods are marked by the blue text on the map. Each neighborhood has its own character and personality.
Click "Zoom Out" to return to the main map.
- Zoom Out
- Zoom out
- 14. Lincoln Depot
- Lincoln DepotOn February 11, 1861, Lincoln left Springfield at this train station to assume the Presidency. He gave a very emotional farewell address from the rear platform of the train to a crowd of over 1,000 citizens as he was about to leave his hometown. It is one of the few impromptu speeches that Lincoln gave (Lincoln typically spent weeks preparing speeches). Its unusual impromptu nature suggests the emotions Lincoln felt about his hometown and its people. We know what he said because newspaper reporters on the train asked him to write it down after he left. The entire speech is engraved into a stone plaque visible to the right of the depot. It’s also on a "Looking for Lincoln" storyboard in front of the depot, and on a sign (not visible in the picture) further west on the 900 block of East Monroe Street. The depot contains a small museum, and it has been restored as much as possible to look like it did on the day Lincoln left. I’ve always thought it would be neat if this was still a functional depot, and with the city’s plans for high speed rail on the 10th Street tracks, it could happen!(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 15. Skyline from the 14th Street Bridge over Clear Lake Avenue
Skyline from the 14th Street Bridge over Clear Lake AvenueThis is probably one of the best unobstructed views of the Springfield skyline in the city. You can see many of the buildings that characterize modern Springfield from here. You can see the County Building, the Hilton and President Abraham Lincoln Hotels, the Illinois Building, the new and old State Capitol buildings, the Horace Mann building, the St. Nicholas Hotel, the Union Station clock tower, and even the top of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. I have a tradition of using this shot as an "introduction" to Springfield on the cover of the first Lincoln Land 80s CD, since many people enter Springfield via Clear Lake and see a view of the skyline like this on their way into the city.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 32. 300 block of South 13th Street, Looking North from Capitol Avenue
300 block of South 13th Street, Looking North from Capitol AvenueThis shot represents the Pioneer Park neighborhood, a primarily middle class, African American neighborhood just to the east of downtown. This neighborhood was developed in Lincoln’s time, though many of the houses in the neighborhood now are newer than that. Still though, the neighborhood has character and contains many old homes. This particular block was selected since it included a brick street. I love those.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 37. Skyline from the 400 block of North 11th Street
- Skyline from the 400 block of North 11th StreetIf you recognize this photo, it’s because I used it (well, a version from 2007) to make my blog header image. I love the pretty lights and the urban feel. You can see the Hilton, the Convention Center, the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, the Horace Mann Building, the Illinois Building, the State Capitol and the Myers Building from here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 51. Lincoln School
Lincoln SchoolI thought I’d do a school for this project, since a lot of Springfield’s school buildings are historic and have character. I chose this one since not only is it historic, it’s named after Lincoln. It is an alternative school for gifted students located in the Pioneer Park neighborhood. The picture was taken from the 12th/Capitol intersection, where only the older, original parts of the school are visible, and not the modern additions that have been made to it. From here, you can see the "Lincoln School" carved into the stone above the doorway, and the flag on the flagpole flying high in the schoolyard behind the trees. The school and its grounds take up an entire city block. This is the only shot in the project that I did on a cloudy day, but I think the clouds made the picture more interesting.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 57. 1100 block of South Grand Avenue East, Looking East from 11th Street
- 1100 block of South Grand Avenue East, Looking East from 11th StreetThis is in Old South Town, a quirky "mini-downtown" district on the near east side that is currently being revitalized. The district is about one mile southeast of downtown. It was developed primarily between 1870 and 1930, and it is just to the southeast of some Lincoln-era neighborhoods. It is not as polished as downtown, but it contains its own neat little shops and restaurants and even has its own little nightlife. I tried to capture some of the emerging vibrancy in the picture. It appears that the upper stories of some of the buildings are being renovated into loft apartments or condos (like what has happened and is happening downtown). Some of the buildings here are still in the process of renovation, and you can see some of this in the picture. The South Town theater marquee in this district is the oldest theater marquee in Illinois, dating from the 1910s.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 60. Skyline from Comer Cox Park
Skyline from Comer Cox ParkComer Cox Park is a good-sized park on the east side, on the east edge of the Pioneer Park neighborhood. It takes up 6 city blocks or almost 40 acres, along M.L. King Drive between Capitol Avenue and Washington Street. It was developed at the end of a streetcar line in the early 20th century. From this park you can get a good view of the skyline, with the Hilton and the State Capitol poking up through the trees in the Pioneer Park neighborhood closer to the park. A Springfield tradition related to this park is the annual Juneteenth celebration that occurs here. Juneteenth celebrates the date June 19, 1865, when word reached Texas that Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had set the slaves free.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
Each one of the pink arrows on the map below represents a location where a picture was taken. The arrows point in the direction the picture was taken. Click on an arrow to view the picture and see what that part of Springfield looks like.
The names of the different neighborhoods are marked by the blue text on the map. Each neighborhood has its own character and personality.
Click "Zoom Out" to return to the main map.
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- 63. Pasfield House
- Pasfield HouseThis large historic house in the Pasfield House neighborhood, just to the west of the State Capitol, functions as a B&B now. It’s not Lincoln-era (it was built in 1896), but it’s still beautiful. As a nice added touch, there is a large color cutout of Abraham Lincoln waving at you from the front porch. I love it and I made sure to capture it in the picture.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 68. 500 block of South Walnut Street, Looking South from Governor Street
- 500 block of South Walnut Street, Looking South from Governor StreetThis shot represents the Pasfield House neighborhood, just to the west of downtown. The neighborhood was developed primarily between 1850 and 1880, so some parts of this neighborhood are Lincoln-era. This block is an upper middle class area developed around the time of the Civil War. Beautiful, large, colorful homes from that era line this block. The Daughters of the Union Veterans of the Civil War Museum is located on this block and is visible on the right (west) side of the street, at the Governor Street intersection.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 69. Lincoln Totem Pole
- Lincoln Totem PoleSo, what’s this doing outside the Illinois State Museum? After Lincoln’s assassination, the Tongass tribe of Indians in southeast Alaska adopted the Lincoln story as tribal legend. The story goes that when Alaska was purchased and became a U.S. territory, slaves among the Indian tribes there were freed by Lincoln’s acts as President. To commemorate the event, the tribe erected a totem pole in his honor. The original pole is now in a museum in Juneau, Alaska (after having been moved from Saxman, Alaska), and a copy is in the Illinois State Museum. This one outside the museum is a fiberglass replica of the totem pole. It is 50 feet tall and the carved statue of Lincoln on the top is 5 feet 10 inches tall (6 inches short of Lincoln’s 6 foot 4 inch height). I suspect a lot of people don’t notice this pole (it’s by the parking lot, near the Spring and Edwards intersection), but it goes to show how Lincoln is remembered by many different cultures.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 70. Skyline from Douglas Park
Skyline from Douglas ParkDouglas Park is a decent-sized park on the northwest side, covering about 40 acres or 6 city blocks. It is hilly and contains forested areas, and it is famous for its bandshell where the Springfield Municipal Band and other local bands often play. Through the trees at the southeast corner of this park, at Walnut Street and Madison Street, you can see the downtown skyline, which is particularly beautiful during the afternoon and evening. I took the picture during this time. The Hilton, the State Capitol and the Ridgely Building are visible from here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)- 72. 1800 block of South State Street, Looking South
- 1800 block of South State Street, Looking SouthThis narrow tree-lined brick street is located in the Hawthorne Place neighborhood, an older middle class neighborhood on the south side built in the early 20th century. Some parts of the neighborhood are more upscale than others; this is one of the "normal middle class" portions of the neighborhood. This block is lined with one, one-and-a-half and two-story middle-class homes. There is no cross street dividing the 1700 and 1800 blocks of South State Street.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
- 73. 1400 block of South Lincoln Avenue, Looking North from Leland Avenue
1400 block of South Lincoln Avenue, Looking North from Leland AvenueThis tree-lined brick street is located in the Washington Park neighborhood, one of Springfield’s tonier neighborhoods, located on the west side of the city. Large, old houses and mansions are common in this neighborhood, which was developed at around the turn of the 20th century. This shot looks north towards Washington Park, visible in the distance where Lincoln Avenue stops at South Grand Avenue (it continues on the other side of the park). There’s a little private drive about halfway between Leland Avenue and the park, that divides the 1300 and 1400 blocks of South Lincoln Avenue. At the South Grand Avenue intersection, on the right, there is a large red brick house with a 3-car garage labeled "Park Place". I wonder if anybody’s thought of building "Boardwalk" yet. (Click outside the image to return to map.)- 74. Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon
Thomas Rees Memorial CarillonThis carillon is located in the west central portion of Washington Park. It is the 5th largest carillon in the world. It has 67 bells in it and is 12 stories tall. There are concerts held here during the summer and also during Christmas. The carillon was built in 1962. (Click outside the image to return to map.)- 75. Washington Park Gazebo
Washington Park GazeboThis is in Washington Park, a large west side park containing (among other things) two golf courses, forests, paths, lagoons, natural areas, and botanical gardens. The park encompasses over 280 acres, or about 44 city blocks. Like Lincoln Park and Comer Cox Park, this park has its origins at the end of an early 20th century streetcar line. The gazebo is in the eastern portion of Washington Park, near the Lincoln Avenue/South Grand Avenue intersection. It’s surrounded by lots of trees, and a grassy open area. Events are sometimes held here.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
Each one of the pink arrows on the map below represents a location where a picture was taken. The arrows point in the direction the picture was taken. Click on an arrow to view the picture and see what that part of Springfield looks like.
The names of the different neighborhoods are marked by the blue text on the map. Each neighborhood has its own character and personality.
Click "Zoom Out" to return to the main map.
- Zoom Out
- Zoom out
- 76. Lake Springfield
Lake SpringfieldThis 8-square-mile lake is located on the southeastern edge of the city. The southern and eastern shores of the lake are outside of the city and are still largely undeveloped. The lake is surrounded by parks, and it has beaches, a zoo, a large nature center (Lincoln Memorial Gardens), and even an outdoor theater (the Muni) along its shores. The lake is a popular recreational destination in the summer. This shot was taken from Spaulding Dam on the north shore of the lake. It was a nice day to take a picture of the lake, and I got a boater in the picture.(Click outside the image to return to map.)
If you have any suggestions, or if you find an error or a bug, or if you just like it or have an interesting observation, feel free to leave a comment! I plan on doing this again in subsequent years, including this year, and I’ll probably use the code from this to make a new tour where you can see how the city has changed over the years. I really enjoy doing the Lincoln Land 80s project each year or so, it’s a lot of fun!
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