Springfield, United States

Springfield Travel Guide

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Facts and practical information

Alternative names: Population: 116.6 thous. (2019)Area: 66.37 mi²Elevation: 587 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 39°47'49"N, 89°38'55"W
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IllinoisUnited States

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Springfield Top Attractions

Springfield Attractions - What to See and Explore

Springfield offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Illinois State Capitol, First Presbyterian Church, Lincoln Tomb, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

  • illinois state capitol springfield
    Domed seat of state government

    Illinois State Capitol

    The Illinois State Capitol, situated in the city of Springfield, stands as a testament to the architectural grandeur of the late 19th century and the political heart of Illinois. This impressive building, which serves as the seat of government for the state, is not...

  • first presbyterian church springfield
    Church • Downtown Springfield

    First Presbyterian Church

    First Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church located in downtown Springfield, Illinois. This is the church that President Abraham Lincoln and his family attended while they lived in Springfield.

  • lincoln tomb springfield
    Memorial site • Memorial

    Lincoln Tomb

    The Lincoln Tomb is the final resting place of the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln; his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln; and three of their four sons, Edward, William, and Thomas. It is located in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.

  • abraham lincoln presidential library museum springfield
    Museum • History museum • Library

    Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

    The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum documents the life of the 16th U.S. president, Abraham Lincoln, and the course of the American Civil War.

  • old state capitol state historic site springfield
    Museum • Historical place • Greek Revival architecture

    Old State Capitol State Historic Site

    The Old State Capitol State Historic Site, in Springfield, Illinois, is the fifth capitol building built for the U.S. state of Illinois. It was built in the Greek Revival style in 1837–1840, and served as the state house from 1840 to 1876. It is the site of candidacy announcements by Abraham Lincoln in 1858 and Barack Obama in 2007.

  • lincoln home national historic site springfield
    Museum • History museum • Historical place

    Lincoln Home National Historic Site

    Lincoln Home National Historic Site preserves the Springfield, Illinois home and related historic district where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1844 to 1861, before becoming the 16th president of the United States.

  • dana thomas house springfield
    Museum • History museum • Historical place

    Dana-Thomas House

    The Dana–Thomas House is a home in Prairie School style designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Built 1902–04 for patron Susan Lawrence Dana, it is located along East Lawrence Avenue in Springfield, Illinois.

  • lincoln herndon law office springfield
    Museum • Historical place

    Lincoln-Herndon Law Office

    The Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site is a historic brick building built in 1841 in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located at 6th and Adams Streets in Springfield, Illinois.

  • oak ridge cemetery springfield
    Cemetery

    Oak Ridge Cemetery

    Oak Ridge Cemetery is an American cemetery in Springfield, Illinois. The Lincoln Tomb, where Abraham Lincoln, his wife and all but one of their children lie, is here, as are the graves of other prominent Illinois figures.

  • springfield and central illinois african american history museum
    Museum • History museum

    Springfield and Central Illinois African-American History Museum

    The Springfield and Central Illinois African-American History Museum is a museum of African-American history and culture located in Springfield in the U.S. state of Illinois. The museum was founded in 2012 by historical educator Douglas King, and moved to a permanent location adjacent to Springfield's Oak Ridge Cemetery in March 2016.

  • springfield municipal opera
    Theater

    Springfield Municipal Opera

    Originally conceived on April 21, 1950 as a not-for-profit theatrical organization, the Springfield Municipal Opera Association transformed a 55-acre wheat field into an outdoor amphitheater. On June 17, 1950, nearly 3,000 people viewed the opening night performance of its first production, The Merry Widow.

  • henson robinson zoo springfield
    Global animals in naturalistic environs

    Henson Robinson Zoo

    The Henson Robinson Zoo is a private nonprofit zoo owned and operated by the Springfield Park District. The zoo was built in 1968–1970 on the eastern shore of Lake Springfield to serve the population of Central Illinois, and opened in 1970.

  • vachel lindsay house springfield
    Museum • History museum • Historical place

    Vachel Lindsay House

    The Vachel Lindsay House is a historic house museum at 603 South 5th Street in Springfield, Illinois. Built in 1848, it was the birthplace and lifelong home of poet Vachel Lindsay. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971.

  • illinois state museum springfield
    Museum • Specialty museum • Art gallery

    Illinois State Museum

    The Illinois State Museum features the life, land, people and art of the State of Illinois. The headquarters museum is located on Spring and Edwards Streets, one block southwest of the Illinois State Capitol, in Springfield.

  • illinois executive mansion springfield
    Museum • History museum • Historical place

    Illinois Executive Mansion

    The Illinois Governor's Mansion is the official residence of the governor of Illinois. It is located in the state capital, Springfield, Illinois. The Italianate-style Mansion was designed by Chicago architect John M.

  • elijah iles house springfield
    Museum • History museum • Architecture

    Elijah Iles House

    The Elijah Iles House is a historic house at 628 S. 7th Street in Springfield, Illinois. Built circa 1837, the house has survived nearly intact for 182 years and is the oldest such structure in Springfield. Iles, who moved to Springfield in 1821, was one of the city's earliest settlers.

  • william g stratton building springfield
    39°47'55"N • 89°39'24"W

    William G. Stratton Building

    The William G. Stratton Building, known more commonly on a local level as the Stratton Building, is an eight-story office building located on the grounds of the Illinois State Capitol in downtown Springfield, Illinois.

  • camp butler national cemetery springfield
    Cemetery

    Camp Butler National Cemetery

    Camp Butler National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located a few miles northeast of Springfield and a few miles southwest of Riverton, a small town nearby to Springfield, in Sangamon County, Illinois.

  • thomas rees memorial carillon springfield
    Tower

    Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon

    The Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon is a carillon located in Washington Park in Springfield, Illinois. The brutalist tower stands 132 feet and is constructed from concrete, brick and steel. It was dedicated in 1962 and designed by Bill Turley.

Things to See and Do in Springfield by Category

Sights, interesting and unusual places and attractions valued by most tourists. See the list of places to visit in Springfield.

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Day trips

Springfield – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Springfield, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Lincoln Speedway (Lincoln), J. H. Hawes Elevator (Atlanta), Decatur Downtown Historic District (Decatur).

  • lincoln speedway28 milesNE
    Racetrack, Sport venue, Sport

    Lincoln Speedway, Lincoln

    Lincoln Speedway, located in Lincoln, Illinois on the Logan County Fairgrounds, is a 1/4 mile dirt race track that opened in 2004. Lincoln Speedway races on Friday nights. After running races sanctioning by the United Midwestern Promoters, it switched to DIRTcar sanction.

  • j h hawes elevator atlanta39 milesNE
    Historical place, Museum

    J. H. Hawes Elevator, Atlanta

    The J. H. Hawes Elevator is a historic grain elevator located on 2nd Street in Atlanta, Illinois. The elevator was built in 1903 along the Illinois Midland Railroad; it was used to store locally farmed grain before the railroad shipped it to cities such as Peoria, Decatur, and Terre Haute, Indiana.

  • decatur downtown historic district37 milesE
    Park, Romanesque architecture

    Decatur Downtown Historic District, Decatur

    The Decatur Downtown Historic District is a historic commercial district located in downtown Decatur, Illinois. The district includes 75 buildings, 61 of which are considered significant or contributing to its historic character.

  • atlanta public library39 milesNE
    Historical place, Architecture, Library

    Atlanta Public Library, Atlanta

    The Atlanta Public Library, located at the intersection of Race and Arch Streets in Atlanta, Illinois, was built in 1908 and has operated continuously as a library since. Architect Paul A.

  • allen chapel african methodist episcopal church lincoln28 milesNE
    Church

    Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Lincoln

    Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is an African Methodist Episcopal church located at 902 Broadway in Lincoln, Illinois. The church was built in 1880 to house Lincoln's African Methodist Episcopal congregation, which formed in 1868. The building has a vernacular design with Gothic arched windows and entrances.

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Best Time To Visit Springfield

Learn when is the best time to travel to Springfield weather-wise and what to expect in each season.

Popularity among visitors

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May is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Many people also choose to visit in April, June and July.

Average temperatures in °F

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The highest air temperature is in June, July and August. While the coldest is in January.

Monthly rainfall in inches

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The lowest rainfall is recorded in January and February. Most of it rains in May and June.

Length of day in hours

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We can expect the longest days in June, while the shortest in December.

Sunrise

Best Ways to Experience Springfield

cuisine

Food & drink

Cuisine

A guide to some of the best local dishes and drinks that you will meet in the region.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are the top attractions to visit in Springfield?

The top attractions to visit in Springfield are:

What is the best time to visit Springfield?

May is the most popular and therefore the most crowded month to visit this location. Many people also choose to visit in April, June and July. The highest air temperature is in June, July and August. While the coldest is in January.

Where to next? Visit illinois Illinois region page or discover the top tourist attractions in United States.

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