National Historic Landmark

Old State Capitol

Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
66000331

About this property

The Old State Capitol State Historic Site is a former capitol building for the U.S. state of Illinois. Located in Springfield, it is one of two preserved former Illinois capitol buildings (the other being in Vandalia). It was built in the Greek Revival style in 1837–1840, when Springfield became the capital city, and served as the state house from 1840 to 1876, when it was replaced by the current capitol. It is the site of candidacy announcements by Abraham Lincoln in 1858 and Barack Obama in 2007. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, primarily for its association with Lincoln and his political rival Stephen Douglas.

Location

Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois
39.80110, -89.64857

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Old State Capitol

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Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Central Springfield Historic District
Listed
0 mi
Fisher Building-Latham Block
Industrial
0.1 mi
St. Nicholas Hotel
Industrial
0.1 mi
Central Springfield Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Union Station
Civil War
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old State Capitol listed on the National Register?

Old State Capitol was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Old State Capitol?

Old State Capitol is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Old State Capitol a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Old State Capitol has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Old State Capitol?

The period of significance for Old State Capitol is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Old State Capitol?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Old State Capitol will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Sangamon County

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Illinois history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

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