Category Archives: State government

Adlai Stevenson II in Springfield

As Robert Howard pointed out in his Illinois: History of the Prairie State, most biographers of Adlai Stevenson II (1900-65) “concentrate on the presidential campaigns and United Nations career,” not Stevenson’s single term as Illinois governor. Stevenson, who grew up … Continue reading

Posted in Presidential candidates, Prominent figures, State government | 3 Comments

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Dana-Thomas House

The Dana-Thomas House, designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, was built at 301 E. Lawrence Ave. for Springfield hostess Susan Lawrence Dana. Dana gave Wright his first “open checkbook” commission, and the result, as described by the Springfield Historic Sites … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Historic Sites, Prominent figures, State government | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Illinois State Armory

The Illinois State Armory at 107-11 E. Monroe St. in Springfield was built in 1936 to replace the State Arsenal, which previously stood on the site but had been destroyed in an arson fire. The new Armory was equipped with what was … Continue reading

Posted in Buildings, Historic Sites, Illinois capital, State government | Tagged | 17 Comments

Illiopolis

The founding of Illiopolis was described in the Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois, Vol. 2  (1912): In 1834, when the question of the removal of the State Capital began to be agitated, a beautiful city was laid out by John Taylor, Eli … Continue reading

Posted in Communities, Disasters, Industry, State government | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Illinois State Arsenal (1855)

In 1855, the state of Illinois built an arsenal at 424-26 N. Fifth St., on the east side of Fifth Street between Mason and Carpenter streets. The smallish rectangular brick building, built in the Greek Revival style with a pediment on … Continue reading

Posted in Military, Presidents, State government | Tagged , | 1 Comment