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The Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield is a magnificent structure. I can share some facts and points of interest, but it's really the photos that show how impressive the building is.
The building is a prime example of Renaissance Revival/Second Empire architectural styles.
The inside is grand, with marble columns, intricate woodwork (mahogany and walnut), and European crystal chandeliers in the Senate and House chambers, original to the building.
The rotunda and other public areas are adorned with statues, paintings, and bas-relief sculptures.
All visitors must pass through security upon entry and adults should have photo identification, but there is no admission fee and guided tours are free
The first legislative session was held here in 1877, after the state's growth necessitated more space than the Old State Capitol could provide.
The Old State Capitol is a short distance away, this historic building was where Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous "House Divided" speech.
It has the tallest dome in the United States, standing at 405 feet (including its flagpole). It is taller than the US Capitol building in Washington DC.
A Springfield city statute currently does not allow buildings to be constructed in the state capital city higher than the Illinois State Capitol
The Great Seal of Illinois on the Capitol Doors
The central statute in the rotunda is "Illinois Welcoming the World"
Illinois has a long history of welcoming immigrants, and it was good to see this reminder as we see ICE on the streets of Chicago.
The bronze statue is of a woman with open arms, representing the state of Illinois welcoming visitors and immigrants.
The sculpture Julia M. Bracken, created this piece for the Illinois Building at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
This painting The Discovery of the Mississippi by British artist Henry H Cross. is framed by the coffered ceiling and the stained glass skylight above, which allows natural light to illuminate the artwork.
The Rotunda Frieze is a Panorama of Illinois History. It is a continuous band of bas-relief sculpture, painted to appear to be bronze, that encircles the rotunda just above the fourth-floor columns, below the dome. It is a detailed visual narrative of the history of Illinois, from exploration to statehood.
The George Rogers Clark Mural is the largest painting in the Capitol, measuring 40 feet by 20 feet. Painted by Gustav A. Fuchs (a German immigrant from Chicago). It was completed in 1886 and depicts George Rogers Clark negotiating with Native Americans at Fort Kaskaskia in 1778 after successfully capturing Fort Kaskaskia from the British during the American Revolutionary War.
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On the second floor, you can find this plaster statue of Abraham Lincoln. While in Springfield you can the visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, his law offices and the Lincoln Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Hope you enjoyed the tour!
