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About the cover
Artist Catherine “Cat” Clausen refers to this oil painting as “Lavender Lincoln.” Three of Clausen’s Lincoln paintings were recently on display at the Triennale Bovisa Museum in Milan, Italy. Another of her Lincoln portraits was on the cover of this publication in 2009.

Welcome to Springfield
We spent all of the year 2009 celebrating Abraham Lincoln’s 200 th birthday; it was a lot of fun and brought a great many visitors to the area. The year before that we were consumed with worldwide attention as then candidate Barack Obama announced his run for the presidency from the steps of our Old State Capitol.

Abe’s hometown
Two centuries after his birth, Springfield’s best-known resident remains a revered icon, a leader who bore the weight of destiny to his untimely demise. Born in dire poverty and selfeducated, Abraham Lincoln rose to lead our nation during its darkest time.

Illinois State Museum
People ages 1 to 101 will enjoy the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, just a few blocks west of downtown in the State Capitol complex. This free museum, which has been called “world-class” and “a gem in its own right,” tells the story of the land, life, people and art of Illinois.

The capital city
Construction began on the sixth and current Illinois Capitol in 1868 after officials determined that more space was needed for government business. The building took 20 years to complete and cost $4.5 million. The first legislative session in the new Capitol was held in 1877, but the structure wasn’t finished for another decade.

Besides Abe
The Air Combat Museum showcases the role of military aviation with an array of aviation memorabilia, including the gun sight from a Messerschmitt 109 and historical aircraft, including a Beechcraft AT-11 Kansan, used to train bombardiers in World War II; a P-51 Mustang; a Vought F4U-5 Corsair; and a Soko Galeb, Yugoslavia’s first jet.

Springfield arts
Named after the family that nurtured Family Video stores to nationwide prominence, the venue houses more than 15 arts organizations. With four performance sites, two art galleries and meeting space galore, organizations coordinate schedules so that the space is used to advantage.

Guide to galleries
Illinois State Museum Gift Shop Illinois Artisans Gallery.

Just for fun
You did the right thing, for sure. You brought them here to learn about history, Lincoln, the Civil War — yadda, yadda, yadda. But kids are kids. And it’s a fact: All Lincoln and no play make Jack and Jill dull youngsters! How’s about a wild ride down a water slide, a spin on a go-kart or a whirl on a Ferris wheel? Take heart.

The outdoors
If you need a change of pace, why not check out one of Springfield’s more natural settings? The city offers great parks, nature spots, gardens and prairie wilderness. All Springfield parks are open dawn to dusk. Take time to relax, have a picnic and freshen up for the next historic site on your agenda.

Mother Road
As a main thoroughfare for dust bowl immigrants, Route 66 saw its heyday in the 1930s. It spans more than 2,450 miles between Chicago and Los Angeles. The route is still peppered today with diners, drive-ins and many other unbeatable roadside attractions.

Heart of Illinois
Traveling from New Salem to Springfield, Abraham Lincoln often stopped at Col. Matthew Rogers’ general store and post office. Here Lincoln and eight other Illinois lawmakers celebrated the move of the state capital from Vandalia to Springfield. Because the nine legislators averaged more than 6 feet in height, the group became known as the “Long Nine.

The Nightlife
The entertainment nightlife of Springfield and surrounding communities is diverse and robust. In other words, if you want it, it’s here and it’s excellent. Blues, folk, jazz, rock, country, dance music and karaoke are all well represented on any given night in central Illinois and the capital city.

Bar & Club Directory
(793-6871) 107 W. Cook St. (679-1775) East End.

Restaurant directory
Where to go in Springfield when it’s time to eat.

Springfield calendar
A list of noteworthy events in the capital city during the year.

Living here
Springfield and Sangamon County aren’t just great places to visit; they’re also great places to live. The capital city and the nearly two dozen smaller communities around it offer many attractive reasons for you to make the Land of Lincoln your home..