Posted on 09/23/2025 10:23:59 AM PDT by MplsSteve
Next month, I'm gonna take a few days and take Amtrak down to Springfield Illinois. I wanna see Lincoln's Home, etc. Basically, everything I mostly want to do is right in downtown Springfield. I won't have a rental car.
I've heard mixed stories about crime in Springfield. Can anyone tell me if the downtown is safe? What are food options? How are the hotels? Are there any other places or things you'd recommend? Would I be better off staying on the outskirts of Springfield and taking an Uber or cab in to downtown?
I'd appreciate any advice.
I would be more worried about property crimes here. Most cities outside of Chicago and it’s burbs are “midwest safe”
the problem is the cashless bail and other lenient crime laws make young people steal around here. lock your cars at night for sure in hotels
I believe the legislature is not in session, so the bars may be safe.
A couple of decades ago, I remember a gay or bi legislator getting frisky in a restroom and getting the crap kicked out of him.
Not sure if he was Republican or Democrat not that there is much distinction between Democrats or Republicans in Illinois as RINO George Ryan was leaving Federal prison as Dem Blago was entering.
After all the greatest pervert to ever become Speaker of the House came out the Illinois Republican Party.
I grew up in IL but have not been to Springfield since I was a child.
If you can rent a car or find a tour, I suggest you find a way to get to New Salem for the historic Lincoln home.
Also, be sure to have a horseshoe sandwich somewhere.
https://visitspringfieldillinois.com/Landing/signaturehorseshoe.aspx
While it’s not within walking distance from downtown, a visit to the Cozy Dog Drive In could be fun. It’s part diner, part kitschy museum.
1. Stay out of Illinois.
2. If you must go to Illinois, look online. There are lots of Lincoln related sites to see.
3. Restaurants will advertise “the pony”. It’s a hamburger patty covered with fries and cheese whiz. I don’t recommend it, but it may sound good to you.
Excellent idea.
Springfield is not the most interesting state capital to visit. Apart from the Lincoln sites it is quite dull. The city has seen better days.
The Lincoln Library and Museum is a highlight.
My memories of Springfield are from over 20 years ago.
The first time was to visit my father-in-law, who was in the House there. We still have his red leather chair with the state embossed seal in the basement. My memory of the first trip was only of the bar that f-i-l took us to where we watched the drunken, bunny-hopping Sec of Health, Education and Welfare dancing around the room. That’s when I decided legislators should be forced to take their families with them during legislative sessions. Too many drank themselves stupid and amused themselves inappropriately with no family at home watching the clock.
The second trip was to track down 5th great grandfather’s grandchildren, one of which was Judge Sidney Breese, whose statue is in the state capitol and whose home was turned into the Clinton County Historical Society building in Carlyle IL, 100 miles from Springfield. They rebuilt his judge’s chamber in the house, which was fascinating. That trip through the capitol made a deeper impression on me and I was awed by the statuary.
Sidney was a friend of Lincoln and rode the same circuit. He became Chief Justice of the IL Supreme Court and wrote the law that started the Illinois Central Railroad, one of the fundamentals of my youth as grandfather and uncle and brother had worked for it. Sidney collected all the documents from the early court days and published the first books in IL called the Breese Reports, which documented the cases. His father had been one of the people to entertain Lafayette during his frequent American trips, and Sidney partied with him in Illinois.
Growing up in Chicago in the 50’s, I developed a tremendous love of Lincoln and the state. No matter what the governor and the mayor do to the state or the city, they can’t change my love of the land and its history. Illinois will always be synonymous in my mind with pioneers, wind whipping over flower-strewn prairies, and the courage that created the state. High school cemented that love as we sang the Illinois state song every year in concert.
By thy rivers gently flowing, Illinois, Illinois,
O’er thy prairies verdant growing, Illinois, Illinois,
Comes an echo on the breeze.
Rustling through the leafy trees,
and its mellow tones are these, Illinois, Illinois,
And its mellow tones are these, Illinois.
From a wilderness of prairies, Illinois, Illinois,
Straight thy way and never varies, Illinois, Illinois,
Till upon the inland sea,
Stands thy great commercial tree,
turning all the world to thee, Illinois, Illinois,
Turning all the world to thee, Illinois.
When you heard your country calling, Illinois, Illinois,
Where the shot and shell were falling, Illinois, Illinois,
When the Southern host withdrew,
Pitting Gray against the Blue,
There were none more brave than you, Illinois, Illinois,
There were none more brave than you, Illinois.
Not without thy wondrous story, Illinois, Illinois,
Can be writ the nation’s glory, Illinois, Illinois,
On the record of thy years,
Abraham Lincoln’s name appears,
Grant and Logan, and our tears, Illinois, Illinois,
Grant and Logan, and our tears, Illinois.
Don’t. Run. Run far, far away.
I live in IL. This place sucks.
Everything is LINCOLN in Springfield. (I’m a 2nd cousin several times removed from Mary Todd).
Things to see in Springfield. If you go to Springfield when the General Assembly is in session, it will be difficult to find parking. So, a downtown hotel to stay would be best.
President Abraham Lincoln Springfield - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is close to the attractions.
Have fun. There aren’t many people milling around downtown, so it should be safe. Not much to do at night.
Illinois State Capitol
401 S. 2nd St.
Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site
15588 History Ln. (Rt 97) Petersburg, Illinois
Lincoln Tomb
1500 Monument Ave. - Oak Ridge Cemetery
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
426 S. 7th St.
Illinois State Military Museum
1301 N. MacArthur Blvd.
Old State Capitol
1 Old State Capitol Plaza
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum
212 N. 6th St.
I try to do genealogy....a Kelly ancestor, walked from North Carolina to Springfield and built one of the first homes and apparently was involved in the court house building. A scout group later took on the job of cleaning and restoring the Kelly Cemetery in the area.
F’ anything to do with any city anywhere but even more so in a liberal state let alone taking an Amtrak.
Can you open carry on Amtrak? I’d never take public transportation anywhere either.
YES!!!! In those days, that or river travel were the options. When the Civil War ended, a lot of our ancestors walked home. Talk about courage and strength! Congratulations on the scout group. That’s phenomenal.
Your reply made my day.
Go to Lincoln’s home and the museum.
It was a nice small city, the times I went.
Part of what makes genealogy so powerful is that you can learn about your ancestors and find traits you have in common with them. That blood tie to history is overwhelming. When you’re walking somewhere, you can mentally walk alongside your ancestor and feel their ache and yet feel their determination to keep going to reach the places where their future will open up or where their loved ones are waiting.
Back in the 60’s at U of Chicago, they tried to push environment as being the main driver of personality as it was susceptible to being changed by policy. Heritage was denigrated for what we see today as political reasons. I’ve always believed in both. We start out with genes from our family and can modify those thru our environment. But the starting point is always our personal genealogy. Your research is priceless to you and to the next generation in your family. Everything you learn and pass on means they, too, can recognize the past in themselves. Pretty nifty!
“Are there any other places or things you’d recommend?”
Yeah...thousands! If you are hell-bent on going somewhere in illannoy I’d recommend the northwest corner around Galena. Unglaciated area with rugged, hilly terrain with lots of bluffs and interesting topography. Feels like out west. Galena is quaint federal era architecture...,artsy craftsy main strest, good food. Dubuque ditto. 20 minutes away. Fascinating and very quaint and scenic ancient town. On the way back, short jog across border into the United States to Monroe, Wisconsin. Terrific Swiss settlement.
The rest of state southward is pretty much the flattest, most boring, countryside and suicide inducing depressing small towns. Not on my drunkest day would I want to go to Springfield. Of course you could go all the way down to the Shawnee National Forest and hike the Snake Road. They are denning up now and there are more poisonous snakes per square yard then the Everglades crossing the road,
If you don’t have a car you are screwed but good luck and there are a lot of nice people in illannoy despite Chicago.
Restaurants will advertise “the pony”. It’s a hamburger patty covered with fries and cheese whiz. I don’t recommend it, but it may sound good to you.
I like burger, fries and cheese whiz - but not all together in one bite. I’d pass on that.
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