Capital City Visitor

Two centuries after his birth, Springfield’s best-known resident remains a revered icon, a leader who bore the weight of destiny to his untimely demise. Born in dire poverty and self-educated, Abraham Lincoln rose to lead our nation during its darkest time. His words inspired Americans during the Civil War, and they inspire us today. Lincoln […]

DOWNTOWN AREA Dana-Thomas House – A Frank Lloyd Wright design 301 E. Lawrence Ave. 217-782-6776 dana-thomas.org Admission A visit to Springfield is not complete without touring the magnificent Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana-Thomas House, now an Illinois State Historic Site. The home contains the largest collection of site-specific, original Wright art glass and furniture and was […]

Illinois State Capitol 101 S. Second St. 217-782-2099 Illinois boasts a stunning State Capitol, and in recent years the legislative chambers and multifloor west wing were magnificently restored. It is well worth visiting this National Historic Landmark. Construction began on the sixth and current Illinois Capitol in 1868 after officials determined that more space was […]

The Springfield Art Association is at the heart of Springfield’s thriving arts and culture scene. Boasting two art galleries, an art school, a Lincoln-era historic house museum and a calendar packed with family-friendly events, there is always something to see or do at the SAA. For the art aficionado, the Springfield Art Association offers two […]

Performing arts Hoogland Center for the Arts 420 S. Sixth St. 217-523-2787 hcfta.org The Hoogland Center for the Arts is a magnet for both practitioners and supporters of the arts, housing 18 different arts organizations with four performance sites, two art galleries and meeting space galore. The Hoogland Center is also home to the Springfield […]

Haven’t you seen enough sights? How about some fun? Take it from the locals – here are many ways to have a good time in the capital city that don’t involve learning anything at all. Just enjoy. FAMILY-FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT AMF Strike N Spare Lanes 2660 W. Lawrence Ave. 217-787-6111 amf.com/strikensparelanesil Traditional bowling on 36 lanes, […]

Boating and fishing Lake Springfield 217-757-8660 x1011 cwlp.com Public boat launches are available from a variety of locations. Try your hand at fishing from the shoreline or from your boat in a private cove. Lake Springfield Marina 17 Waters Edge Blvd. 217-483-3625 lakespringfieldmarina.com Full service marina with slip rental by day, week, month or season. […]

The nightlife of Springfield and surrounding communities is diverse and robust. Blues, folk, jazz, rock, country, hip-hop, dance music, open mic events and karaoke nights are well represented on any given night in central Illinois and the capital city. Solid local acts playing original and cover material mix with national touring bands on the road […]