The city of Springfield is the Illinois state capital, and
covers an area of about 60 nearly flat square miles. The area was
originally settled in the early 1800s, about the time that Illinois
became a state. Springfield is best known as the birthplace of
President Abraham Lincoln and site of his presidential library and
museum. All around Springfield and central Illinois is the Abraham
Lincoln National Heritage Area, consisting of restored sites where
president Lincoln lived and traveled from 1837 to 1861 when he was
elected President.
Hoogland Center for the Arts in downtown Springfield hosts the
Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Springfield Ballet Company, and
the Springfield Theater Center. The Springfield Opera performs
outdoor Broadway shows during the summer. The oldest drive-through
window is still operating in Springfield, which also claims to have
invented the Corn Dog. Historic old route 66 goes through
Springfield, and Carpenter Park is the largest of several city
parks.
