Illinois State Capitol 401 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 needed for […]
Special Issues
Posted inCapital City Visitor
Visual and performing arts
Copper Coin Ballet Company420 S. Sixth St.coppercoinballet@gmail.comcoppercoinballet.org The goals of the Copper Coin Ballet Company are to develop collaborative projects, to support the creative efforts of the region and to provide free and open experiences in which the art of dance may be shared and improved in partnership. CCBC stages annual performances of “Rockballet” and […]
Posted inCapital City Visitor
Springfield Art Association
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 […]
Posted inCapital City Visitor
Museums and historic sites
DOWNTOWN AREA Dana-Thomas House – A Frank Lloyd Wright design301 E. Lawrence Ave.217-782-6776http://historicspringfield.dnr.illinois.gov/Facebook.com/StateHistoricSitesOfSpringfieldILDonations accepted A visit to Springfield is not complete without touring the magnificent Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana-Thomas House. The home contains the largest collection of site-specific, original Wright art glass and furniture befitting Wright’s first “blank check” commission. In 1902, Springfield socialite and […]
Posted inCapital City Visitor
Looking for Lincoln
Discover your very own Lincoln story right here in Springfield, where history isn’t just a chapter – it’s the whole book! As the proud home to a treasure trove of historic sites connected to our nation’s 16th president, Springfield is a vibrant hub that invites you to stroll down its streets, where over 50 captivating […]
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Abe’s hometown
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 […]
Posted inSpring Guide
Spring Guide 2026
Spring Guide has information on seasonal day and weekend trips, how to bring spring into your home, an expanded three-month calendar of events and more.
Posted inSpring Guide
Explore Route 66 close to home
You may not be planning to join the crowd driving Route 66 as it turns 100 this year, but you can kick off your own celebration by tooling down the road to Litchfield. The town of 6,500 is less than an hour south of Springfield and chock-full of spots for a day or weekend trip. […]
Posted inSpring Guide
Enjoy spring flowers sooner
March weather is reliably unpredictable. A day of blissful sunshine can turn cold and icy overnight, quashing dreams of cheerful blooms and lazy afternoons sprawled out on a picnic blanket. No matter what the weather’s mood, hopeful gardeners can bring a bit of spring into their homes by forcing certain spring flowering shrubs and trees […]
Posted inSpring Guide
Where to find spring flowers
While April showers traditionally have been said to bring May flowers, there are plenty of spring blooms on display beginning much before May. Whether it’s wildflowers or blossoming trees your tired winter eyes crave, there are a surprising number of opportunities to take in nature’s pretty spring flowers within easy driving distance of Springfield. For […]
Posted inSpring Guide
Voices of America Festival
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, communities across the nation are reflecting on the many stories that have shaped who we are. Some of those stories are written in textbooks. Others live in monuments and historic buildings. But many of the most enduring are carried in something less tangible and more deeply human: […]
Posted inSpring Guide
Spring guide calendar 2026
ONGOING Lilacs and Letters Through April 8. The play is set at the Armory Square Military Hospital in Washington, D.C., in 1865. Poet Walt Whitman, a hospital volunteer, sits among the sleeping wounded as he reflects on national grief and puts the finishing touches on poetry eulogizing President Abraham Lincoln. Free with museum admission. Abraham […]
