Old State Capitol State Historic Site

Visited in 2019, It was very cool to see the former capitol building of illinois and to see the desk that Abraham Lincoln would have sat at.

Cute little town. Lots of stores along main Street. Copper penny across the street from the capital is charter's patio where you can enjoy lunch. Bring your own and sit outside or copper. Penny will serve you if weather is nice.

Great knowledgeable staff is very helpful. Interesting history with well presented tours. FREE! They ask for donations, and it is worth it! Good displays, very thorough. The only original part of the building is the outer wall stonework. Everything else is reconstruction, but beautifully done.

Beautiful Halloween event at the Old State Capitol. My nephew and I were downtown to grab dinner and dessert but the roads were closed for the Halloween Parade. It was so nice to have the streets closed. It was quiet and peaceful.

I’d recommend visiting because this building is a snapshot in time. It was used for only a short period before the “new” state house was built. Also, it was built before electric or gas light, which is interesting to see from an architectural point of view (the windows are incredible).
There’s a lot of interesting memorabilia and the staff is friendly.
It would probably benefit from better signage but the staff is happy to answer questions and give the rundown on the building.

This place was gorgeous. I want to point out that sometimes people hold meetings there. We didn't know that so we didn't try to keep our 3 year old quiet. So just something to be aware of. Time needed for the self guided tour is maybe 30 minutes.

This lovely old building is steeped in history and they let you wander freely! Head upstairs to take in the stately Supreme Court chamber where Lincoln himself argued cases and later laid in state. Gorgeous!

Review Date: April 11th, 2012

No no, Springfield is still the capital of Illinois. This is just the old capitol building

The confusion between capital and capitol is one that confuses many people. Truth be told, I had to double-check to make sure I was using the right one while typing this post. I will remember it for awhile until the proper spelling fades to the unused parts of my memory and I will inevitable use the wrong spelling in the future. Then I will be back to looking up the proper spelling again and I can go through all this over again. Do you forget which spelling is which for this?

Matt and I hit up a bunch of the big things to do in Springfield over a few different visits. It’s only natural to visit the old capitol building if you are exploring the capital. As with most kids who grew up in Illinois, the Old Capitol Building was probably one of your destinations during a trip to see the capital. I know it was a tradition for my school to come here during our grade school (3rd-5th grade) days. It was only fitting to return here as an adult during my traveling days.

We had to park a bit away and hoof it to the building. Despite this place being a tourist attraction in this day and age, the area surrounding it is still busy with businesses and other government facilities. . We were able to explore the building at our own leisure. There is staff on hand if you have any questions, but Matt and I were comfortable with exploring the place at our own pace. You don’t need to be a government history buff to enjoy this place. It’s cool to walk past rooms to see where history was made and see how things operated in the past. I’m sure if these walls could take, they would have a ton of stories to tell.

That’s about it. This is one of those places that is better to visit yourself or see a video of. Words just don’t really do it justice. It’s an experience that is more visual than anything and one you should experience if you visit Springfield. It won’t take up your entire afternoon. A simple stroll through it is more than enough.

This place is amazing. Have a free tour and check out the indoor scenery :) they do tours every half hour... or if it's slow.. the minute you turn up :) incredible artwork throughout and plaster art.

The Old Capitol Building in Springfield Illinois is beautiful! It is really worth your time. We didn't know a free ticket from an online source would give us a guided tour. We will be sure to do that when we go back. Enjoy your tour.

Very interesting and educational visit. Staff was available to answer any questions we might have and were very friendly. The building was very well-maintained in Era. I could almost feel of the aura of the time while visiting this beautiful building.
I would definitely recommend visiting while in the area.

This is a beautiful historic place to visit if you happen to be in Springfield, Illinois.

Wonderful tour of House and Senate chambers during Lincoln's time. Governor's reception room used by Lincoln for 1860 presidential campaign. Interesting seeing Public Instruction office.

Beautiful artwork. Incredible architecture. They offer a free tour every half hour. The tour guides are pleasant and extremely knowledgeable. They don't just point out rooms they know dates and facts and names and so much more. It was a wonderful experience and a very fun way to learn a little history.

Absolutely Beautiful Building...I highly recommend everyone to visit the old State Capitol...❤❤

Just a drive through the old capital area truly a well preserved downtown area. The Old Capital is currently under some preservation and remodel.

This building is definitely old looking from the outside with its rough hewn columns. Inside is a wealth of history meticulously preserved. Various rooms are available for browsing and the squeaky stairs leading up to the second floor speaks to the age of the building. Amazing to think you are walking in the very footsteps of our (IL) founding fathers. A great must stop location.

The most beautiful state Capitol I've been to. Ive been to about 10 others and none compare to the size, intricacy, ornateness and luxury of the Illinois capitol. Daily tours dip a good job describing just how grandiose it really is. Wish there was a tour up into the dome

This is a hidden gem. Lincoln spent a lot of time here and the inside is kept up to look like it did in his time. There are guided tours that are very informational and fun. Check it out while in Springfield.

A must for anyone interested in our 16th President. See where Lincoln delivered his House Divided speech, had his office as President Elect, and laid in state after his assassination.