Old State Capitol
Also known as: Sangamon County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Standing on Springfield Square, this Greek Revival building was designed in 1837 by John Rague of New York and finished in 1853. It has a dolomite limestone base, brick upper floors and a slender lantern dome. The Illinois legislature met here as the state's fifth capitol from 1839 to 1876. Abraham Lincoln served in the legislature in the building, pleaded more than 200 cases in its Supreme Court room, and gave his 'House Divided' speech in the Hall of Representatives on June 16, 1858. Stephen A. Douglas sat as a justice here and was elected to the U.S. Senate by legislators meeting in the building. Lincoln lay in state here in 1865. Sangamon County bought the building in 1869 for use as a courthouse and altered it heavily, including raising it to insert a new first floor. The State of Illinois repurchased it in 1962 and reconstructed the original design, and it opened as a museum and Lincoln memorial.
Significance in brief: It was Illinois' capitol from 1839 to 1876 and is closely tied to Abraham Lincoln, who served in the legislature here, argued cases in its Supreme Court room, and delivered the 'House Divided' speech in 1858. It is also associated with Stephen A. Douglas and Ulysses S. Grant, and Lincoln lay in state here in 1865.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000331, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by 5th, 6th, Adams, and Washington Sts., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000331 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1839-1865 |
| Architect / builder | John F. Rague |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated July 4, 1961 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Reconstructed by the State of Illinois after 1962 and opened to the public as a museum and memorial to Lincoln; listed in excellent condition and occupied. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Within district | Central Springfield Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.80110, -89.64857 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000331.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q998003
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.