Springfield, Illinois, one of the most historic places in the United States, is located 300 kilometers from Chicago. And no, it’s not the Springfield from *The Simpsons*: It’s just called that because Springfield is one of the most common names for small towns in the U.S. This Springfield is, for one thing, the capital of the state of Illinois (not Chicago—who would have thought?) and, for another, the place where arguably the most significant U.S. president— Abraham Lincoln—made his mark. The historic Route 66 also runs through Springfield, so a stop in Springfield on our Route 66 road trip was an absolute must for a full dose of American history.
Springfield Illinois: The main attractions
History always sounds so dull anyway – and what’s a European to do with American history? The whole of Springfield, Illinois, revolves around Abraham Lincoln, there’s no escaping it, and at first glance, the city that is so meaningful to Americans seems only moderately interesting to us. But turns out, Springfield is so interesting!
First of all, Lincoln was a great person who changed not only America but also the world. And second, Springfield, Illinois, is a charming town and the Lincoln attractions are so wonderfully designed that even if you’re a culture vulture, you’ll be enthralled. And you also learn something along the way. (By the way, as so often on this trip, I thought that such a road trip is also a nice trip for families: many museums and sights are designed to be kid-friendly and kids are always welcome in family-oriented Illinois anyway!)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
Dedicated exclusively to the life and work of Abraham Lincoln, the museum is a mix of interactive exhibits and multimedia demonstrations. It’s very informative and people put so much detail into it!
Don’t miss the screening of “Ghosts of the Library” at the Holavision Theatre – and afterwards puzzle over whether the narrator was a hologram or actually on stage. And be sure to look out for costumed guards: they are part of the exhibition and perform pieces throughout the museum!
Old State Capitol
Abraham Lincoln was in and out of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, which served as the Illinois House of Representatives from 1840 to 1876, throughout his life as a politician and lawyer. Today, you can still visit all the halls there, including furnishings from that time. In 1858, Abraham Lincoln announced his presidential candidacy right here, and in 2007, he was followed by then Senator of Illinois: Barack Obama.
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Here, in a sort of an open-air museum, you can see the home of Abraham Lincoln, where he lived until his election as president. The residence has been extensively restored to its condition during Lincoln’s lifetime. But not only was Lincoln’s residence preserved, but so was the entire street.
And with the help of the ubiquitous actors who show life at the time, a visit to the site is like going back in time! If you’re lucky, you might even encounter a deceptively real Abraham Lincoln strolling down the street every now and then.
Lincoln’s tomb
Abraham Lincoln was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, which is one of the most visited cemeteries in the United States as a result. Don’t forget: Be sure to rub the nose of the Lincoln bust in front of the entrance to the mausoleum, it’s supposed to bring good luck! Judging by the scrubbed nose, this is probably really popular and for small people like me, there’s even a stool in front of it!
A few Lincoln Facts:
- Abraham Lincolm was President of the USA from 1861 to 1865
- the first US president to die in an assassination attempt
- Opponent of slavery, which led to the War of Secession between the liberal North and the slave-holding South
- Won the Civil War, reunited the North and South, and ensured the end of slavery in all states
- lived with his family in Springfield, Illinois, where he began his career as a lawyer and politician
Springfield also has a lot to offer outside of the Lincoln sites, so plan at least one full day for that, better yet two days! What else you should have seen:
Illinois State Capitol
Inaugurated in 1877, the Illinois State Capitol still serves as the Illinois House of Representatives. The dome, visible from a great distance, is over 100 meters high (even taller than the Capitol in Washington, D.C.!) and truly spectacular, especially against the backdrop of the low-rise buildings in the small town of Springfield. (Although Springfield is the capital of Illinois, it has a mere 115,000 residents!)
Tours are held throughout the day, allowing visitors to explore the Chamber of Deputies with its impressive crystal chandeliers—subject to availability. The huge dome is even more impressive from the inside—after experiencing so much small-town charm along Route 66, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I suddenly saw such opulent architecture. Truly impressive.
You can also find more about Illinois in my USA Blog
Dana Thomas House by Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the most famous American architects of the last century: for example, he designed the Guggenheim Museum in New York. With his “Prairie Houses,” he created the concept of “organic architecture,” where houses and buildings were meant to blend seamlessly into the landscape, art, and culture.
One of these Prairie Houses is Susan Lawrence Dana‘s house: lots of wood, unexpectedly dark, but tremendously visionary for its year of construction (1902). 35 rooms spread over 3 floors and 16 mezzanines in total. Wild parties are said to have taken place here. Oh, and there’s also a bowling alley right behind the entrance.
Eating and drinking in Springfield: The best locations
In Springfield, Illinois, there are quite a few places you absolutely shouldn’t miss on your Route 66 trip! It doesn’t get any more American than this. And just like in the rest of Illinois, you’ll find plenty of “makers” here: creative small business owners in crafts, retail, and agriculture —producing fair, local, and sustainable goods. They’re all part of a public program called Illinois Made.
On our road trip through Illinois, we met a number of people along the way—café and restaurant owners, microbrewery operators, and artisans—and it’s impressive to see the enthusiasm with which these small businesses go about their work.
Custom Cup Coffee
The coffee is roasted right here on the premises—and you can even watch it happen! If you’re interested, they’ll answer any questions you have about coffee. The owners of Custom Cup Coffee are committed to fair-trade coffee and know most of their suppliers from around the world personally. And in addition to fantastic coffee and friendly service, they serve up the most amazing apple-cinnamon-bacon pastries ever.
Route 66 Motorheads Bar
The Route 66 Motorheads Bar isn’t just a classic Route 66 trucker bar on the side of the road—it’s also a museum, with classic cars parked out front, vintage signs inside and out, and plenty of neon. In the shed next door, you can not only admire even more exhibits but also watch the restoration work in progress. By the way: It’s an absolutely fantastic spot for photos!
Cozy Dog Drive In
A real must-see on Route 66: The Cozy Dog was invented at the Cozy Dog Drive-In —it’s a hot dog on a skewer, deep-fried in a batter coating. It sounds outrageously greasy—and it is—but it’s also kind of delicious. One order with fries for two is easily enough for four—just like everywhere else. The portions are huge.
The Cozy Dog Drive-In is a Route 66 institution. People of all ages—not just tourists—have been coming here since 1949! The atmosphere is warm and family-friendly; everyone knows everyone else, and everyone knows Bob Waldmire: This Route 66 legend—who has an entire exhibit dedicated to him at the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac —is the son of the founder, Ed Waldmire. Incidentally, the Cozy Dog Drive-In is still family-owned and is now run by one of Ed’s grandsons.
Engrained Brewery & Restaurant
At Engrained, they’re brewing up a storm: If you’d like, you can order a selection of five different beers, served on a wooden board. I highly recommend it—each one is more delicious than the last. By the way, Engrained uses the leftover grains from beer production to make the dough for their flatbread pizzas—nothing goes to waste!
And here, too, you’ll find the Horseshoe Sandwich, a Springfield, Illinois, classic: a slice of toast with a juicy burger patty, piled high with endless fries, and topped with cheese sauce. The portion, as always: huge. If that’s too much for you, order a “Ponyshoe.” Not that it makes much of a difference: Either way, on Route 66, between the beer, Horseshoes, and Cozy Dogs, you’ll have to slowly say goodbye to your diet anyway.
Practical tips for visiting Springfield, Illinois
Be sure to set aside enough time for Springfield—there’s plenty to see. It’s definitely worth making a stop in Springfield and staying overnight. The city has several large hotels offering good accommodations, including the Wyndham Springfield City Centre. From the outside, it’s an eye-catching high-rise—which some Springfield residents have given a suggestive nickname—but it has one major advantage: from the upper floors, you’ll have the best view of the city and the State Capitol. Be sure to ask for a room with a view of downtown.
By the way, you can also reach Springfield from Chicago by train if you don’t want to rent a car—but once you’re there, it’s actually often easier to get around by car, since public transportation isn’t particularly well-developed and some locations are quite far apart.
This research trip was sponsored by Enjoy Illinois was supported.
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