Illinois has had not one, not two but three different capitals! And no, none of them were Chicago…
Like many states, Illinois’ capital city has moved around a bit, three times in fact. The capital moved with the inhabitants. Illinois was first settled not from the north along Lake Michigan, but from the Mississippi River, from there the population pushed northeastward. Water being the main mode of transport during the early days of European settlement, it is not a surprise that the first capital of Illinois was on the Mississippi River.
Google Maps Kaskaskia
Kaskaskia was settled before the United States was even a country. This was French Illinois Country. Kaskaskia was a major regional center for the French along the Mississippi River. 1703 brought the first French missionaries to the area; its first church built in 1713. Kaskaskia grew from a fur trading post to a small village of farmers and miners. By 1718, the town was officially a capital, albeit the capital of French Upper Louisiana. (Check out another French colonial town on the Mississippi.)
In 1741, Kaskaskia received a nice little gift from King Louis XV, a huge bell, now called the “Liberty Bell of the West.”
French rule of Kaskaskia came to a fiery end during the French and Indian War (Seven Years War). The British invaded and didn’t leave. All territory east of the Mississippi became part of the British Empire, including Kaskaskia. That didn’t stop a bunch of the new British subjects from taking off back across the river to French territory.
Kaskaskia, after the American Revolution, became the capital of the American Illinois Territory until Illinois achieved statehood in 1818. Kaskaskia lost its title of capital of Illinois one year later in 1819, when it moved to Vandalia. The town reached its peak population in that year, topping off at 7,000. Once the capital left, the town went into a steep decline, especially after a few major floods. The situation got even worse after the Mississippi changed its course in the late 19th century, completely cutting Kaskaskia off from Illinois.
The ruined old state house of Kaskaskia, taken c. 1880.
Today, now a town of less than 20 people, Kaskaskia is only reachable by a bridge from Missouri. Its bustling city landscape turned to farm fields.
Kaskaskia may be all farm fields now, but the island is still gorgeous.
Vandalia
Vandalia was founded to be a capital city, but it never lived up to its full potential. In 1819, the capital moved from Kaskaskia eastward, closer to the center of the new state, to the center of the population at the time.
Vandalia’s second capitol building, Illinois’s fourth.
Illinois’ fourth capitol building is the oldest building still standing, but two more preceded it. The second, the first in Vandalia, burned down. Therefore, a third had to be made quickly. It was in the third capitol where famed Illinois resident and future president Abraham Lincoln did most of his work, where he served as a state representative. By the late 1830s, many plans had been made to move the capital again, one being spearheaded by Lincoln himself. Even though many towns had been suggested, it was through Lincoln’s politicking that Springfield won the day.
The House of Representatives Chamber, where Lincoln served.
Lincoln and his cronies didn’t stop the locals from making a last ditch effort in keeping Vandalia the capital. When the government was in recess in 1836, they tore down the wooden capitol building, and rebuilt one in brick, in hopes that the government would want to stick around. Their plan failed miserably. Not only was this new capitol building used for only a couple of years, the locals also were stuck with the bill for building it. The capital moved yet again.
A memorial to the Abraham Lincoln, the guy that basically ruined this town over 150 years ago.
Springfield
Springfield, Illinois is known today for its Lincoln connection. It was this city that Lincoln considered his home. His home of 17 years still graces the city. The streets he walked are still here, and the capitol building where he served his last term as a state Representative still stands.
The Old State Capitol in spring.
The building in which Lincoln served still stands today. The Old State Capitol in Springfield was used from 1840-1876. Large for the time, the entire state government could fit within its walls. Lincoln served his last term as Representative here on the second floor, as well as, argued cases in front of the Supreme Court on the first floor. He delivered his famous House Divided speech in June 1858, in the House Chamber. It was in this same chamber where Lincoln was laid in state before his burial in May 1865.
The House of Representative’s chamber. They are very proud of that George Washington portrait.
By the early 1870s, the Old State Capitol was no longer large enough to hold the state government. A new capitol building was constructed, and everyone moved to the new building 1876. The Old State Capitol was turned into the Sangamon County courthouse shortly thereafter, completely changing the look of the building, inside and out. Luckily, it was saved from the brink of destruction and was restored to it would have appeared in the time of Lincoln.
In 1867, the decision was made to build a new capitol building in Springfield and the new one was extravagant to the extreme. Ground was broken in 1869 for the new building on what is today’s Capitol Hill, later to be on original route of Route 66. The new capitol is the tallest non-skyscraper capitol, towering to the height of 361 ft (110 m), even taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The new and current State Capitol Building of Illinois.
The grandest feature of this new building is its immense dome which spans a space of 92.5 ft (28.2 m) wide. The exterior of the dome is coated with zinc, providing a silvery look. A frieze, on the interior, illustrates scenes from Illinois history. It is not bronze but rather painted to look so. The oculus is stained glass that includes the state seal, the one used before the Civil War.
Fancy ain’t it.
One may also freely explore this grand of edifice of government by themselves or join a free guided tour. Every nook and cranny will astound you.
The Senate Chamber. They really went all out on this one.
The House of Representatives chamber.
Many states have had their capital city moved at one time or another, whether it happened while it was a territory or state. The fact that Illinois still has many of these old government buildings is rather remarkable. Here in Illinois, you really can wander through yesterday, or least the yesterday of government buildings.
Check out more explorations in my Wandering series!
I never realized that the capitol moved around so much. Interesting