| Page Views: 648 Last Visit to Springfield: April, 2009 | Capital City of Illinois: Springfield by deecat - last update: Apr 26, 2009 |
History Surrounds You in Springfield Springfield, Illinois, is the state capital; the hometown of Abraham Lincoln; it's where the largest Executive Mansion in the U.S. is located; it's a city that cherishes its past, (even old Route 66); it's where the Illinois State Fair is held each year; Springfield still has a Drive-in Theater [Route 66 Drive-in]; it's huge Lake Springfield offers a public beach, a Marina, and is partly surrounded by some great parks; Springfield is also a college & University town [Lincoln Land Community College, Robert Morris College, SIU School of Medicine, Springfield College in Illinois, and University of Illinois at Springfield], transportation in Springfield includes Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Amtrak Trains, and a Greyhound Bus Depot; and, most of all, Springfield is a city where you feel ,and actually are, surrounded by history! |
| Abraham Lincoln Parkway in Springfield, Illinois |
|  | Abraham Lincoln "rules" in Springfield, Illinois For those of you who admire our 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, Springfield is most certainly the city to visit. Here in Springfield, Abe is a "revered icon". You can visit THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM, a visit to the past via the 21st-century!
Visitors are able to tour Lincoln's home and neighborhood, his law offices, the Old State Capitol [ where he served as a state representative], The State Capitol [where he visited as President of the United States], the Lincoln family church pew, the Lincoln ledger, the Great Western Railroad Depot [where he gave his farewell speech], and, of course, Lincoln's Tomb, his final resting place.
When you think of Abraham Lincoln, think of Springfield, Illinois. |
| Shea's Gas Station Museum |
| | The Mother Road, Route 66, Prevails in Springfield Historic Route 66, The Mother Road, still plays an important role in Springfield.
Chicago's Lake Shore Drive starts Route 66 where it winds through the Loop before heading south toward Bloomington, Illinois, and then continues to SPRINGFIELD, where you'll end up at Sixth Street. Be sure to visit all the Route 66-related places and events:
1. The one and only Cozy Dog Drive-In where the Waldmire family started serving their famous Cozy Dogs in 1946.
2. The original 66 Drive-In is still around. It used to be on South Sixth Street, and has come back to life in a new location as part of Knight's Action Park off old Route 4.
3. A block south of the fairgrounds on Peoria Road, WWII veteran, Bill Shea, has converted his Marathon Station into a museum of gasoline and oil memorabilia, Shea's Gas Station Museum. He's also moved another old tin station on the grounds for more display space. He has "tons" of Route 66 memorabilia. [We visited his museum and talked to him; it was one of the highlights of our trip.
4. Springfield and the surrounding area is home to quite a few 66-related events:
a. The Route 66 Association of Illinois' annual Motor Tour event in June.
b. The Third Annual Logan County Route 66 Garage Sales in June has 37 miles of Route 66 in Logan County where garage sales, flea markets, and food vendors will abound.
d. Springfield has its own International Route 66 festival in September with classic cars, an arts fair, and where live music will be played on the city's historic downtown streets.
e. Route 66 winds around the three sides of the State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
It's obvious that Springfield, Illinois is Route 66 Territory! |
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| Pros: | "Mid-sized city that is clean, has plenty of parking, quite historic with beautiful architecture" | | Cons: | "Because of 2009 economy, some sites are closed" | | In A Nutshell: | "A friendly midwestern city that is rich in history." |
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 Comments for deecat about Springfield | | | | |
toonsarah Tue Oct 20, 2009 20:14 UTC
I love the sound of all the Rte 66 memorabilia. We drove a little of it "out west" so it would be great to see where it all started :-) The Lincoln museum sounds stunning too and I like the idea of the Mass Pass. | VeronicaG Sat Sep 19, 2009 15:24 UTC
Dee, you've done such a great job of presenting Springfield, that I would love to visit since my father's side spent some time there-we have an amusing story of one of Dad's family members meeting old Abe himself there. Someday I'd love to visit! | Sue2023 Sat Aug 15, 2009 20:29 UTC
Not at all what we expected a true "ghost tour" would be. Very historical & informative, but stories were quite lacking in anything eerie or supernatural. | travelgourmet Mon Jul 20, 2009 07:51 UTC
Dee, Ah Springfield, my mother's hometown. My grandfather once owned candy stores in Springfield. It was a surprise to see the Pease's Candy Store tip, as I met the Pease's as a child in 1948, when my grandfather sold them chocolate coating. Thanks |
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