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 special old brick building in Springfield, Illinois. It was built in 1841. This building is famous because Abraham Lincoln, who later became president, worked here as a lawyer.
The building is located at 6th and Adams Streets. Today, it has been carefully restored. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency takes care of it as a state historic site. This means you can visit it and learn about Lincoln's early career.
This office building is part of what was once called the Tinsley Block. A local builder named Seth M. Tinsley constructed this brick building between 1840 and 1841. He wanted to create office spaces for professionals. These professionals were moving to Springfield because it had just become the new capital city of Illinois. The Illinois General Assembly moved the capital from Vandalia, Illinois to Springfield in late 1839. Workers then started building a new state house, which is now the Old State Capitol State Historic Site, right next to the Tinsley Block.
Lawyer Abraham Lincoln and his partner, Stephen T. Logan, moved their law offices to the third floor of the Tinsley Block in 1843. This location was very convenient for them. The Illinois Supreme Court, where they often argued their cases, met in the State Capitol building across the street. Also, the U.S. District Court rented space on the second floor of the Tinsley Block.
The partnership between Logan and Lincoln ended in 1844. Lincoln decided to continue practicing law in the same Tinsley Block office. He then invited a younger lawyer, William H. Herndon, to become his new junior partner. The law firm of Lincoln and Herndon worked from this office from 1844 until about 1852.
Abraham Lincoln's Legal Work
If you had visited the Lincoln & Herndon office between 1844 and 1852, you might not always have found Abraham Lincoln there. Lincoln's job often required him to travel around central Illinois. He would ride what was called the judicial circuit. This meant he traveled to more than a dozen county courthouses to try cases.
Besides his law work, Lincoln also served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a representative from 1847 to 1849. This shows he was busy with both law and politics during this time.
The Law Office Today
Around 1852, the Lincoln & Herndon firm moved from the Tinsley Block to a new office. That new office, located on the west side of the Old State Capitol square, has since been torn down. In 1872, part of the original Tinsley Block building was demolished. However, the section that held Lincoln's law office was saved.
Over the years, the building went through many changes. 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 surviving part of the Tinsley Block. They wanted it to look like it did in the 1840s. Today, visitors can see how the federal court and the Lincoln and Herndon law office operated within the building. It's a great way to step back in time and learn about this important part of history.
