The Old State Capitol State Historic Site, in downtown Springfield, Illinois, sits where the state’s fifth Capitol building once stood. Built in the Greek Revival style between 1837 and 1840, the building served as the state house from 1840 to 1876. The building was extensively altered during its life as a courthouse. So, to restore and preserve the edifice, workers dismantled and rebuilt it between 1966 and 1969. The building today resembles how it looked in 1860 when Abraham Lincoln last saw the capitol before leaving for Washington.
Old State Capitol State Historic Site
The Old State Capitol State Historic Site, in Springfield, Ill., as seen on Sept. 3, 2015. The building is the fifth capitol building built for the state of Illinois. (Photo by Todd DeFeo/The DeFeo Groupe)