Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site
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| Location | Springfield, Illinois |
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| Built | 1822 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Part of | Central Springfield Historic District (ID78001187) |
| Added to NRHP | August 29, 1978 |
The Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site is a historic brick building in Springfield, Illinois. It was built in 1841. This important place is where Abraham Lincoln, who later became a famous U.S. President, worked as a lawyer. Today, the building has been carefully restored. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency takes care of it as a state historic site. You can visit it at 6th and Adams Streets in Springfield.
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The Tinsley Block Building
The law office is part of what was once called the Tinsley Block. This brick building was put up in 1840 and 1841. A local builder named Seth M. Tinsley created it. He wanted to offer office spaces for professionals. These professionals were moving to the new state capital city. The Illinois General Assembly, which is like the state's government, had moved the capital. It moved from Vandalia, Illinois to Springfield in late 1839. Workers in Springfield then started building a new state house. This building is now known as the Old State Capitol State Historic Site. It was just north of the Tinsley Block.
Abraham Lincoln's Law Practice
In 1843, lawyer Abraham Lincoln and his partner, Stephen T. Logan, moved their law offices. They set up on the third floor of the Tinsley Block. The Illinois Supreme Court often met across the street in the State Capitol. Lincoln and his partners frequently argued cases there. Also, the U.S. District Court rented space on the Tinsley Block's second floor. This made it a very convenient location for lawyers.
The partnership between Logan and Lincoln ended in 1844. Lincoln decided to keep his office in the Tinsley Block. He then invited a younger lawyer, William H. Herndon, to join him. Herndon became his junior partner. The law firm of Lincoln and Herndon worked from this office. They were there from 1844 until about 1852.
Lincoln's Busy Schedule
If you visited the Lincoln & Herndon office between 1844 and 1852, you might not always find Lincoln there. He was a very busy lawyer! Lincoln often had to travel around central Illinois. This was called riding the judicial circuit. He would try cases in many different county courthouses. Besides his law work, Lincoln also served in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a representative for one term, from 1847 to 1849.
The Law Office Today
Around 1852, the Lincoln & Herndon firm moved to a new office. That building is no longer standing today. In 1872, part of the Tinsley Block building was torn down. But the section that held Lincoln's law office was saved. Over the years, the building changed a lot. Then, in 1985, it became a state-owned historic site. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) manages it. The IHPA has worked hard to restore the building. They made it look like it did in the 1840s. Now, visitors can see how the federal court and the Lincoln and Herndon law office operated inside the building.
