State Historic Sites at Springfield, IL

09/07/2026

Happy Labor Day! We wish everyone an enjoyable day. Please note our sites are closed today in observance of the holiday. This includes:
➡️Old State Capitol State Historic Site
➡️Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site
➡️Dana-Thomas House State Historic Site
➡️Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site

Please visit our website at https://bit.ly/4cHufYb for a list of events you can join us for later this week. We look forward to seeing you!

Images: Exteriors of the Old State Capitol, Vachel Lindsay Home, Dana-Thomas House and Lincoln Tomb

09/06/2026

Planning out your week? Here are a few ideas for you:

♟️Wednesday, September 9: Game Night at the Dana-Thomas House
🎨Thursday, September 10: Art Nights at the Dana-Thomas House with Carolyn Owen Sommer - reservations are required at https://ArtNightsDTH.eventbrite.com
🐻Friday, September 11: Zoo Booth at Springfield Historic Sites
🎨Saturday, September 12: Capitol Creations art classes at the Old State Capitol - reservations are required at https://allpaintshop.com
🦋Saturday, September 12: Route 66 Monarch Festival at the Illinois State Fairgrounds from 2:00-8:00 pm
🇺🇸Saturday, September 12: History Nights at the Old State Capitol featuring portraits of two Revolutionary leaders, Washington and Lafayette

Please note, our historic sites are closed Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day.

Images: Group enjoys a game of mahjong in the Dana-Thomas House library; Group enjoys a painting class in the Dana-Thomas House gallery; A painting of sunflowers in a bike basket, example for Saturday's Capitol Creations class; a flyer for the Route 66 Monarch Festival

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois State Museum Visit Springfield The Old State Capitol Foundation Dana-Thomas House Foundation Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL Downtown Springfield, Inc. My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL

09/04/2026

This is your reminder to come see the NOIR 6 Exhibit at the Old State Capitol before it leaves next week! Our hours for this weekend are Saturday from 9:00am to 7:00pm and Sunday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. We are closed on Monday for Labor Day.

Illinois State Museum
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Visit Springfield
The Old State Capitol Foundation
Juneteenth Inc.- Springfield, IL

It's the last weekend to see the noir 6 exhibit at the Old State Capitol! Don't miss this exhibit before it closes.

To learn more about this exhibit celebrating Black art visit: https://www.illinoisstatemuseum.org/welcome-ism-springfield/exhibitions-page/noir-6--the-truth.html

09/04/2026

Happy Friday! Our tiniest guests (some pictured below) know that it's a great day to visit the Dana-Thomas House. The insects may prefer to be outside where the plants are, but we have six tour times available for you to escape the heat and see the inside of the house today:
🐝9:30 AM
🦋11:00 AM
🐛1:30 PM
🐝3:00 PM
🦋5:30 PM
🐛6:30 PM

Reservations are suggested at https://danathomashousetours.eventbrite.com

The Old State Capitol and Lincoln Tomb are also open from 9 AM - 5 PM for you to visit today.

Images: a bumblebee visiting a sunflower; a paperwasp drinking nectar from goldenrod flowers; a swallowtail caterpillar feasting on dill plants.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois State Museum Visit Springfield Dana-Thomas House Foundation Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL

09/04/2026

"The gallery [of the Dana House] is designed as a gathering place for the artistic activities of the community..." - Frank Lloyd Wright

We enjoyed welcoming Monica Zanetti of Wild Rose and all of the participants to Art Nights at the Dana-Thomas House this evening! It was a wonderful evening and we loved seeing everyone's pumpkin paintings. Monica will return to the Dana House in a few weeks, so be sure to watch for information about her next class. We also have three classes with other artists for you to check out in September; reservations are required, so be sure to sign up soon!

🎨Thursday, September 10: Watercolor Wood Techniques with Carolyn Owen Sommer - reservations required at https://ArtNightsDTH.eventbrite.com
🌿Thursday, September 17: Make Your Own Terrarium Workshop with Mimi's Terrariums - reservations required at https://www.mimisterrariums.com/
🎨Thursday, September 24: Mixed Media Mark Making with Carolyn Owen Sommer - - reservations required at https://ArtNightsDTH.eventbrite.com

Image: An acrylic painting class in the gallery of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana-Thomas House

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois State Museum Visit Springfield Dana-Thomas House Foundation Downtown Springfield, Inc. Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL

09/03/2026

During the Illinois State Fair, State Historic Sites at Springfield Volunteer Francie Staggs was named our 2026 Volunteer of the Year. Francie has been a volunteer with the State Historic Sites of Springfield for 13 years. Over this time, she has contributed thousands of hours at 4 of our 7 locations which include the Dana-Thomas House, the Illinois Governor’s Mansion, the Old State Capitol, and the Lincoln Tomb. She has given her time in various roles from greeting and special events help, to providing educational tours. She is a wonderful ambassador for the city of Springfield and a joy to be around.
“I would like to note that she is always smiling and positive. She is very communicative and clearly very dedicated to helping preserve our history here in Springfield. I always try to say hi and have a small conversation with her whenever she is here. Her positivity is infectious, and she always puts a smile on my face.”, said Mitch Spurlock, Building and Grounds for the Lincoln Tomb.
There was never a truer statement regarding Francie’s passion for history and personality. She is constantly striving to grow her knowledge of our sites and those that impacted them through time. In addition, she makes visits memorable for all our visitors.
Justin Blandford, Site Superintendent of the Springfield Historic Sites, said, “What I appreciate most about Francie is her dedication and her sense of hospitality. Even though she is one of our longest serving volunteers, each day of service is like a new experience for her. What’s more, Francie makes each guest she interacts with feel important and valued. It can be said that she has “never met a stranger.””
All of us at the State Historic Sites of Springfield are proud to congratulate Francie Staggs on her 2026 Volunteer of the Year Award!

Images: Francie Staggs receives the 2026 Volunteer of the Year Award from IDNR staff and Smokey Bear at the Illinois State Fair.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois State Museum Visit Springfield The Old State Capitol Foundation Dana-Thomas House Foundation Vachel Lindsay Association Illinois Governor's Mansion Association Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL Looking For Lincoln Enjoy Illinois

09/03/2026

History in Film, our program series with Lincoln Library, The Public Library of Springfield, IL, returns for the autumn season. The next History in Film program will take place on Wednesday, September 16 at 5:00 pm at Lincoln Library. This month will feature a 1989 film about a boarding school teacher who inspires his students with poetry and unconventional teaching methods. We will also have a discussion about one of Springfield’s own poets, Vachel Lindsay. This program is free and open to everyone, no reservations are needed.
Other upcoming History in Film programs include:
Wednesday, October 14
Wednesday, November 18

Image: Two books written by Vachel Lindsay (The Art of the Moving Picture and The Golden Book of Springfield) sit on a desk, with an antique typewriter in the background.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois State Museum Visit Springfield Vachel Lindsay Association Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL

09/03/2026

We are sooo excited for Visit Springfield to return to our first floor space at the Lincoln Herndon Law Office. Work remains on the 2nd and 3rd Floors of the site. Look for open doors in the near future!

09/02/2026

———————————UPDATE———————————

Please check out posts, Eventbrite and My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL for future Art Night classes!

—————9/3 CLASS COMPLETELY FULL————

We’re delighted to welcome back Wild Rose this Thursday for our weekly Art Night. A few spots remain so make reservations thru the link below.

Illinois State Museum
Downtown Springfield LIVE Calendar
Downtown Springfield, Inc.
Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation
Visit Springfield

Explore your creative side with an art class at the Dana-Thomas House.

09/02/2026

This Saturday (September 5) at our historic sites, you can:

🌻Join Studio on 6th, the Original Art Co-op at the Old State Capitol from 10:00 am - noon to create your own sunflower-themed masterpiece. Reservations required at https://www.allpaintshop.com/
🦋Take an extended-length tour of the Dana-Thomas House to explore the site in depth. Reserve your spot on the 10:00 tour at https://AttentionToDetailDanaThomasHouse.eventbrite.com; Reserve your spot on the 1:00 tour at https://OfGlassAndWoodDanaThomasHouse.eventbrite.com
🎩Spend some time Saturday evening examining the depictions of Abraham Lincoln during History Nights at the Old State Capitol

If this is your first visit to our sites, or you are interested in a guided tour of our sites, you can view available tour times and make a reservation at:
🦋Dana-Thomas House: https://danathomashousetours.eventbrite.com
🎩Lincoln Tomb: https://LincolnTombTours.eventbrite.com
🇺🇸Old State Capitol: https://oldstatecapitoltours.eventbrite.com

Images: a painting of a sunflower in a teacup, with the words "Capitol Creations" printed at the bottom; a sumac-inspired Frank Lloyd Wright art glass window in the Dana-Thomas House; a portrait of Abraham Lincoln painted on a campaign banner during Lincoln's 1860 presidential campaign

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois State Museum Visit Springfield Dana-Thomas House Foundation The Old State Capitol Foundation Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL Looking For Lincoln