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About the cover artist:
Jeff has shown his artwork at the National Art Museum of Sport (“Bicycle Racer w/Split Pea Soup”) and has a painting on long term loan at the NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis (“Boston 1969”). He has been commissioned to do paintings for Bicycle Times Magazine and the 2013 Philadelphia Bicycle Expo.

Table of contents
Take in the sights and sounds of the seat of Illinois government.

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

What the locals do for fun
The drive-in is located at 1700 Recreation Drive, right next door to Knight’s Action Park. Follow I-72 west of I-55. Exit at MacArthur Boulevard and follow the signs to Recreation Drive. Call 217-698- 0066 or visit www.route66-drivein.com.

Illinois State Museum
Not to be missed during a visit to Springfi eld is the Illinois State Museum, just a few blocks west of downtown in the State Capitol complex. People of all ages will enjoy this free museum, which has been called “world-class” and “a gem in its own right.

The capital city
Illinois State Capitol Construction began on the sixth and current Illinois Capitol in 1868 after offi cials determined that more space was needed for government business. The building took 20 years to complete and cost more than $4.5 million.

Besides Abe
AeroKnow Museum Anyone looking for a complete parts manual for a World War II Martin B-26 Marauder – or another obscure relic from the aeronautical past – should visit AeroKnow Museum.

Performing arts
Hoogland Center for the Arts The city’s premier arts venue, the Hoogland Center for the Arts, is a magnet for practitioners and supporters of the arts. Named after the family that nurtured Family Video stores to nationwide prominence, the venue houses 18 different arts organizations.

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

Downtown city map
A. Springfield and Central Illinois African-American History Museum.

The outdoors
Adams Wildlife Sanctuary This is the perfect place for a quick nature walk without driving out of town. Just off one of Springfi eld’s busiest streets, Clear Lake Avenue, the sanctuary is a hidden jewel that’s accessible in minutes.

Mother Road
Countless songs, movies, books and TV shows chronicle this section of pavement, but the reality about this piece of history is that touring Route 66 requires as much or as little time and money as you like. The journey costs only the price of gas, and even that can be omitted through use of a bicycle or a walking stick.

Heart of Illinois
Mitchell Museum in Mt. Vernon Head south for a day of art. At Cedarhurst, they have it all. Located on a 90-acre site, Cedarhurst offers exciting visual and performing arts programs for the public. In the Rolling Meadows enjoy Cedarhurst’s Sculpture Park, an outdoor gallery with more than 60 large-scale sculptures.

The nightlife
The night life of Springfi eld and surrounding communities is diverse and robust. Blues, folk, jazz, rock, country, hip-hop, dance music, open mics and karaoke are all well represented on any given night in central Illinois and the capital city. Solid local acts playing original and cover material mix with national touring bands on the road from St.

Bars and clubs with food, drink and live music
For live performances and karaoke see Pub Crawl at www.illinoistimes.com.

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

Events calendar
University Plaza, 217-206-6160. uis.edu/sangamonauditorium..

Living here
Springfi eld 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..