State Historic Sites at Springfield, IL

05/29/2026

In the next two weeks, we have several different ways for you to tour the Dana-Thomas House! Reserve your place on one or all of these amazing tours:

🦋 Daily Guided Tours last approximately one hour and can be reserved at https://danathomashousetours.eventbrite.com On Friday, May 29, tours are offered throughout the day and at 5:30 and 6:30 PM.

🦋 On Saturday, June 6, join an expert guide for an extended-length Specialty Tour.
🔎 10:00 AM - Attention to Detail: Reservations required at https://AttentionToDetailDanaThomasHouse.eventbrite.com
🔨 1:00 PM - Of Glass and Wood: Reservations required at https://OfGlassAndWoodDanaThomasHouse.eventbrite.com

🦋 On Friday, June 5, the very popular Date Night tours return for History Comes Alive. Bring your date and join us for a special evening tour and refreshments. Reservations are required at https://DateNightatDTH.eventbrite.com

If you're looking for a different type of Dana House experience, check out one of these programs:
📖 Mondays: Read, Reflect and Create Night at the Dana-Thomas House
♟️Wednesdays: Game Night at the Dana-Thomas House
🎨 Thursdays: Art Nights with Ceramics Made by Rosie and Studio on 6th, the Original Art Co-op

We hope to see you soon!

Images: Group tours the dining room of the Dana-Thomas House; Frank Lloyd Wright's free-hanging art glass in the Dana House gallery; Butterfly transom in the Dana-Thomas Hollyhock House

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

05/26/2026

Get ready to brighten your Thursday when you join us this week (May 28) for Art Night at the Dana-Thomas House. Monica Zanetti of Wild Rose will lead you in a class to create your own sunflower painting. Painters of all skill levels are welcome to join the fun! Reservations are required for this class at https://wildroseartisans.com/products/art-classes-dana-thomas-house

Images: A painting of a sunflower; Art glass window designed for the bedroom of the Dana-Thomas House by Frank Lloyd Wright

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

05/26/2026

Bring your favorite board game and your favorite people and join us for Game Night at the Dana-Thomas House this Wednesday from 5:30-7:30 pm! You're also welcome to bring light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. Be sure to reserve your table at https://DTHGameNights.eventbrite.com Not able to join us this week? Game Nights will continue throughout June and July as part of History Comes Alive - you can reserve your spots for the summer dates on Eventbrite now.

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

Bring your favorite board game and your favorite people for an evening of fun at the Dana-Thomas House!

05/25/2026

We wish everyone a peaceful and meaningful Memorial Day. Our historic sites are closed Monday, May 25 in observance of the holiday, but we look forward to seeing you later this week. This includes the Old State Capitol, Lincoln Tomb, Dana-Thomas House, and Vachel Lindsay Home. Sites will re-open for their regular hours on Tuesday.

Images: Infantry statuary group on the top of the Lincoln Tomb, featuring the figures of a Civil War Infantry officer pointing foward carrying a United States flag, flanked by a soldier holding a rifle with bayonet affixed and a drummer holding a drumstick in one hand and a pistol in the other; The Grand Army of the Repulic Mound at Oak Ridge Cemetery, which includes stones marking the graves of Civil War veterans surronding a flag pole and a statue of a canon; and the stone marking the grave of Moses Broadwell, Revolutionary War veteran.

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

05/21/2026

Spending time with loved ones this Memorial Day Weekend? Saturday evening, you can join us at the Old State Capitol for History Night, where you can explore the building together and participate in our program about the origins of the Memorial Day Holiday at 5:00, 5:45, or 6:30 pm. More information about the program is available at: https://historynightsosc.eventbrite.com

Our sites will be closed Monday, May 25 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday, but we have several ways to enjoy your weekend at our historic sites Friday-Sunday:

🦋Friday, May 22: Take a tour of the Dana-Thomas House at 5:30 or 6:30 p.m. Reservations are available at https://danathomashousetours.eventbrite.com

Saturday, May 23:
🐢10:30am-1:30pm: Join Henson Robinson Zoo at the Dana-Thomas House as they bring animals and education programs to our courtyard.

🐮1:00-3:00 pm: Paint a Country Cow during the Capitol Creations art program at the Old State Capitol, hosted by Studio on 6th, the Original Art Co-op. Reservations are required at https://square.link/u/wiLTqqso

🇺🇸1:45 or 3:00 pm: Take a tour of the Illinois Governor’s Mansion. Reservations are required at https://governorsmansion.illinois.gov/visit.html

📚3:00-4:30 pm: Bring a book and join us at the Lincoln Tomb for The Gathering of the Bookalos: A Silent Reading Club hosted by Lincoln Library, The Public Library of Springfield, IL. Reservations are required at https://www.lincolnlibrary.info/event/gathering-bookalos-historic-sites-edition-35607

Sunday, May 24:
🇺🇸1:45 pm: Take a tour of the Illinois Governor’s Mansion. Reservations are required at https://governorsmansion.illinois.gov/visit.html

🖼️3:00 pm: Take a special tour featuring the artwork in the Illinois Governor’s Mansion. Reservations are required at https://governorsmansion.illinois.gov/visit.html

Site Hours:
Lincoln Tomb: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Friday-Sunday
Old State Capitol: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Friday and Sunday; 9:00 am – 7:00 pm Saturday
Dana-Thomas House: Tours at 9:30 am, 11:00 am, 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm Friday-Sunday; 5:30 and 6:30 pm tours available Friday (visit https://danathomashousetours.eventbrite.com for available tickets)
Sites Closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day

Images: A peek into the Adjutant's Office in the Old State Capitol; Flag of the 95th Illinois Infantry Regiment, on loan from the Illinois State Military Museum

Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois State Museum Visit Springfield The Old State Capitol Foundation Dana-Thomas House Foundation Illinois Governor's Mansion Association Vachel Lindsay Association Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation My Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL Downtown Springfield, Inc. Downtown Springfield LIVE Calendar

05/21/2026

Pardon our dirt. Our building and grounds team members are repairing planters and dividing plants this week. With these steps we can fill in bare spots in our walking path and add even more beauty to our downtown square. ❤️
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois State Museum
Visit Springfield
The Old State Capitol Foundation
Downtown Springfield, Inc.
Downtown Springfield Heritage FoundationMy Heart's Downtown Springfield, IL

05/18/2026

Don’t let it rain on your parade! Join us at the Dana-Thomas House tonight for Create Night from 5:30-7:30 pm. Bring any project you’re working on for an added bit of inspiration in one of Illinois’ most inspiring mansions. See EventBrite for details or call the site at 217-782-6776.

05/15/2026

Check out Art Nights every Thursday at the Dana-Thomas House. New projects every week and new artists joining us every month!
Illinois State Museum
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Wild Rose
Dana-Thomas House Foundation
Visit Springfield
Downtown Springfield Heritage Foundation
Downtown Springfield, Inc.

05/10/2026

One of our non-profit partners hosted a special fundraising event this weekend. We’re grateful for their help! Follow them for details about upcoming special events and ways you can support history and preservation in the capital city.