Old State Capitol State Historic Site
The Old State Capitol State Historic Site is a former capitol building for the U.S. state of Illinois. This is one of the sights of Springfield. Its history begins in 1837.
A museum inside Springfield
Winters are cold
January nights drop to 19°, with about 22" of snow a year. When to go ↓
You can stay in Springfield
Old State Capitol State Historic Site is inside Springfield, which has 57 places to stay, so you won’t need a base farther out. Where to stay ↓
Established in 1837
Old State Capitol State Historic Site dates from 1837. About ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Sep and Oct
April, May, June, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 65–83°. When to go ↓
An airport 3 miles away
Abraham Lincoln Capital (SPI) has airline service, about 3 miles from Old State Capitol State Historic Site.
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
A month-by-month look
Use the months below to time a visit to Old State Capitol State Historic Site.
Old State Capitol State Historic Site
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.
- Type
- Museum
- Established
- 1837
- Listed
- National Register of Historic Places (1966) · National Historic Landmark (1961) · National Underground Railroad Network To Freedom
- Wikipedia readers
- 7.3K a year
A base for Old State Capitol State Historic Site
For a bed close by, look to Springfield (57) and Capital Township (56).
- 1Lincoln Tomb
- 2Lincoln Home
- 3Springfield 1908 Race Riot
- 4Lincoln's New Salem
- 5Illinois State Museum
- 6Museum of Funeral Customs
- 7Henson Robinson Zoo
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Old State Capitol State Historic Site | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | in town | — | 57 42 hotels · 3 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 6 campgrounds | 112,989 | $162K | D− |
| Capital Township | in town | — | 56 42 hotels · 2 motels · 5 inns & B&Bs · 1 lodge or cabins · 6 campgrounds | 111,143 | $163K | — |
| Springfield Township | 3 mi north | 5 min | 5 1 hotel · 2 motels · 1 lodge or cabins · 1 campground | 5,485 | $91K | — |
| Woodside Township | 5 mi south | 5 min | 2 1 hotel · 1 campground | 11,300 | $130K | — |
| Fancy Creek Township | 8 mi north | 10 min | 2 1 inn or B&B · 1 campground | 5,806 | $320K | — |
| Southern View | 3 mi south | 5 min | 1 1 hotel | 1,540 | $105K | D |
| Cooper Township | 12 mi east | 20 min | 2 2 campgrounds | 868 | $271K | — |
| Sherman | 6 mi north | 10 min | 1 1 inn or B&B | 4,644 | $298K | A |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
Also within reach
Other well-known places within 69 miles.
Big draw12 mi LandmarkLincoln Tomb
2in town National Historic SiteLincoln Home National Historic Site124K visitors a year3in town National MonumentSpringfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument
69 mi Ancient sitePiasa
416 mi MuseumLincoln's New Salem
5in town MuseumIllinois State Museum
6in town MuseumMuseum of Funeral Customs
76 mi Zoo & aquariumHenson Robinson ZooPhoto credits
Lincoln Tomb: David Jones, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Lincoln Home National Historic Site: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Piasa: Burfalcy, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Lincoln's New Salem: Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Illinois State Museum: Mike Linksvayer from Oakland, California, CC0 · Museum of Funeral Customs: Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.5 · Henson Robinson Zoo: Robert Lawton, CC BY-SA 2.5
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Know before you visit Old State Capitol State Historic Site
Is Old State Capitol State Historic Site in Springfield?
Yes. It’s inside Springfield, IL.
When is the best time to visit Old State Capitol State Historic Site?
April, May, June, September and October, with highs of 65–83°.
What is the closest airport to Old State Capitol State Historic Site?
Abraham Lincoln Capital (SPI), about 3 miles away. The nearest big hub is St. Louis Lambert (STL), about 82 miles.
Where should I stay near Old State Capitol State Historic Site?
Springfield (in town, 57 places to stay), Capital Township (in town, 56 places to stay) and Springfield Township (3 mi, 5 places to stay).
Ask people in Springfield
Share what you know in Springfield’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.