Diamond Jubilee: Illinois Statehouse, Springfield

July 2021

If there was one thing I liked about Springfield, it was its "low rise" skyline. The city only has two or three "tall" (not really) multi-story buildings, so the state capitol dome is visible from many places in town. I decided to enter following the tradition AQ and I had started on the trip. I missed him a lot - mainly because it ended up being the best state capitol building I had ever seen. I sorely wished he had come as far as Springfield and returned after that.

Illinois is a rich and prosperous state. Chicago is in Illinois after all. The Windy City is the economic capital of the state and Springfield, the government's. However, some of Chicago's great wealth flowed south to create a "no-expenses spared" state house building. Simply put - wow!

The Illinois Legislature authorized construction of the State Capitol Building in 1867. It is Illinois’ sixth Capitol Building and the second located in Springfield. The original design for the building was created by Chicago architect John C. Cochrane, who formed a partnership with Alfred H. Piquenard. A railroad line from the Toledo, Wabash and Western was built to

encircle the Capitol and provide easy access for building materials. The project was delayed by Piquenard’s death in 1876 and halted by a lack of funds in 1877. The project continued in 1884 with new funds and a fresh perspective from architect W.W. Boyington, who also designed Chicago’s Water Tower building. Despite the start of construction of the Capitol, Chicago almost became Illinois’ fourth capital city. The General Assembly planned to convene its fall 1871 session there until the Great Chicago Fire occurred on October 8-9. Instead, Springfield remained the capital city, and on Jan. 3, 1877, the General Assembly convened its first session in the new building. The project was completed in 1888 at a cost of $4.3 million, and a balance of $6.35 was returned to the state treasury.

https://www.ilsos.gov/content/dam/publications/pdf_publications/com18.pdf

So the capital of Illinois nearly moved to Chicago had it not been for the fire. Interesting.

Of all the capitol buildings I visited on the trip, the one in Springfield was definitely the most over-the-top. It was built to impress (and last). As they say, "they don't build 'em like that any more" - that is very true of the Illinois State Capitol.

As usual after I visit a place that is stunning, I find words fail me. Little, low-rise Springfield appears to be a retro-type city in the US. It holds a venerable historic site honoring Lincoln yet hides another landmark in plain site. I don't think most visitors even bother to walk inside the capitol. What a loss.