OLD STATE CAPITOL

Wednesday, April 6…continued – After the great tour of the Dana-Thomas house, in Springfield, IL, we then drove over to the Old State Capitol.

Beautiful wooden staircases.

The building served as the seat of state government from 1839-1876. President Lincoln delivered his “House Divided” speech, “A house divided against itself cannot stand...,” in the Representatives Hall. On May 3-4, 1865, Mr. Lincoln’s body lay in state in Representatives Hall as a crowd estimated at 75,000 filed past to pay their last respects.

House of Representatives.

The Senate.

President Lincoln used the governor's rooms as a headquarters during his 1860 presidential campaign.

He tried several hundred cases in the Supreme Court. During this time period, there were only four judges on the Supreme Court.

He borrowed books from the state library, and read and swapped stories with other lawyers and politicians in the law library.

Law Library.

State Library.

This flag was carried during the Civil War by the 95th Illinois Infantry Regiment Volunteers. Ignore all the glare in the picture from the glass….it’s the meaning that matters.

Ladies Occupy the Senate Chambers

Beautiful ceilings.

Visitors are free to roam throughout the building at their leisure. The rooms are full of displays and pictures are permitted at any time. You should allow about an hour to tour the building.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!