Special Issues

Illinois State Fair features animals, rides, tractors, concerts and attractions between Aug. 13-23. Photo by Ericka Hine Haven’t you seen enough sights? How about some fun? Take it from the locals – here are 17 ways to have a good time in the capital city that don’t involve learning anything at all. Just enjoy. Family-friendly […]

The square grand piano Lincoln heard many times has been restored to playable condition. PHOTO BY PATRICK YEAGLE Stepping through the front door of Edwards Place is like stepping back in time. Recently restored to the grandeur of its 1850s appearance, this gracious Italianate mansion evokes an era when hoop skirts were heard rustling in […]

Illinois State Capitol houses the executive and legislative branches of the Illinois government. Photo by David Hine Illinois State Capitol Construction began on the sixth and current Illinois Capitol in 1868 after officials determined that more space was needed for government business. The building took 20 years to complete and cost more than $4.5 million. […]

Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site 603 S. Fifth Street. Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site “Prairie troubadour” Vachel Lindsay captured the attention of audiences around the world during the early 1900s. He was born on Nov. 10, 1879, and died on Dec. 5, 1931, and both events took place in the Lindsay family home, […]

Susan Werner performs Saturday, June 25, at Sangamon Auditorium Hoogland Center for the Arts The city’s premier arts venue, the Hoogland Center for the Arts, is a magnet for practitioners and supporters of the arts. Named after the family that nurtured Family Video stores to nationwide prominence, the venue houses 18 different arts organizations. With […]

Prairie Art Alliance Gallery in the Hoogland. Photo by Patrick Yeagle DEMO Project – This alternative gallery is actually a small cottage on the grounds of the Springfield Art Association which took its name from the fact that it was originally slated for demolition. Now a fixture of the local contemporary fine arts scene, DEMO […]

Washington Park – Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon Photo by David Hine You’ve been doing a lot of walking, mostly from one historic site to the next. It’s not really the legwork that wears you out – you’ve simply taken in all the details a mind can absorb. Tourism can be exhausting. If you need a […]

Cozy Dog, famous for corn dogs, is a can’t-miss attraction Photo by Patrick Yeagle Freeways may offer easier and faster ways to travel from A to Z, but The Mother Road provides an historic and charming weekend getaway or a fun day trip. As a thoroughfare for Dust Bowl immigrants, Route 66 saw its heyday […]

One Of 60 large outdoor sculptures on display at Cedarhurst in Mt. Vernon Want to hit the road? Look no further for a great one-tank trip! These destinations are just a hop, skip and jump away – within three to four hours of Springfield. Head out to find the amazing sites in the corners and […]

Elizabeth Eckert, Springfield singer-songwriter, was an “American Idol” finalist. Photo by Casey Sheehan The nightlife of Springfield and surrounding communities is diverse and robust. Blues, folk, jazz, rock, country, hip-hop, dance music, open mics and karaoke are all well represented on any given night in central Illinois and the capital city. Solid local acts playing […]

A wax rendition of the Lincoln family at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum. Photo by Kerri Westenberg/ Tribune News Service Springfield and Sangamon County aren’t just great places to visit; they’re also great places to live. The capital city and the nearly two dozen smaller communities around it offer many attractive reasons for you to […]