Old State Capitol State Historic Site facts for kids
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Illinois State Capitol
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The Old State Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois.
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| Location | Springfield, Illinois |
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| Built | 1837 |
| Architect | John Francis Rague |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000331 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | July 4, 1961 |
The Old State Capitol State Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois, is a very important building. It was the fifth capitol building for the state of Illinois. This means it was where the state government met and made laws.
The building was constructed between 1837 and 1840. It was designed in the Greek Revival style, which looks like ancient Greek temples. It served as the state house from 1840 to 1876. Many important events happened here. For example, Abraham Lincoln announced his plan to run for the U.S. Senate in 1858. Later, Barack Obama announced his plan to run for President in 2007 at this very spot.
Because of its history, especially with Lincoln, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. This means it's a place of special historical importance to the whole country.
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Illinois' Early State House
Before Springfield, the capital of Illinois was a small town called Vandalia, Illinois. This was from 1820 to 1837. Vandalia was in the southern part of the state.
As more people moved to northern Illinois, many wanted the capital to be moved. They wanted it to be closer to the center of the state.
Moving the Capital to Springfield
A group of nine Illinois lawmakers worked hard to move the capital. One of them was a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln. He was part of the Whig Party.
Their efforts worked! In 1837, the Illinois General Assembly (the state's lawmaking body) passed a law. This law said the capital would move to Springfield by 1839.
Building the New State House
Workers built a large state office building in Springfield's central square. It was built from 1837 to 1840. The building cost $240,000, which was a lot of money back then. The city of Springfield paid $50,000 of this cost.
A local architect named John Francis Rague designed the building. It was made from yellow limestone found nearby. Inside, there were rooms for both parts of the General Assembly. There were also offices for the Governor of Illinois and other state leaders. The Illinois Supreme Court also had a room there.
Lincoln's Time in the Capitol
Abraham Lincoln spent his last term as a state lawmaker in this building. This was in 1840–41. As a lawyer, he argued cases in front of the state supreme court here from 1841 to 1860.
In June 1858, Lincoln gave his famous House Divided speech in the Illinois House chamber. In this speech, he announced he would run for the U.S. Senate.
Sadly, in May 1865, Lincoln's body was brought back to this same chamber. He lay in state here after being assassinated in Washington, D.C. His final burial was in Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Outgrowing the Building
By the 1870s, Illinois had grown a lot. This was partly because of the American Civil War and new industries. The Old State Capitol, which was the fifth capitol building, became too small.
So, Illinois built a new, sixth state capitol building. It is still used today and is located four blocks away. The state government then gave the Old State Capitol to Sangamon County. It became the county courthouse.
Serving as a Courthouse
From 1876 until 1966, the Old State Capitol was the courthouse for Sangamon County. During this time, the building changed a lot.
In 1839, the two-floor building was big enough for the whole state government. But Springfield and the surrounding areas kept growing. So, in 1898-1899, Sangamon County made big changes. They raised the historic building 11 feet (3 meters) and added a third floor underneath it. They also changed the inside to make more courtrooms and offices.
Bringing History Back
In the early 1960s, people became very interested in the Civil War and its history. This made them pay more attention to the Old State Capitol. Also, Sangamon County needed even more space. They decided to build a brand new courthouse.
So, the county gave the Old State Capitol back to the state of Illinois. This time, it would be a public place and a museum about Lincoln's history.
Restoration and Public Use
To bring the Old State Capitol back to its original look, workers took it apart. They carefully removed each stone and then rebuilt it. The public areas were made to look like they did in 1860. This was when Lincoln last saw the capitol before he left for Washington.
The state also dug under the building and around it. They built offices and a parking area there. This later became the main office for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
The rebuilding work happened from 1966 to 1969. The restored House Chamber was even used for the state's Constitutional Convention in 1970.
Today, the Old State Capitol is still used for special events. In February 2007, then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama announced his plan to run for President of the United States here. In August 2008, he introduced his vice-presidential candidate, Joe Biden, with the building in the background.
Visitors can explore the capitol on their own. They can also take a 30-minute guided tour to learn more about its history.
