Springfield Historic Sites Programming and Special Events

At the Springfield State Historic Sites, our events are always changing and we are pleased to offer a variety of programs ranging on various topics related to our sites. Check here for our latest offerings for each site.

Dana-Thomas House

• Paint a Pot Nights, Wednesday April 1 and Sunday April 19: Sold Out!

• Specialty Tour "Attention to Detail," Saturday April 4, 10:00 AM - Expert volunteer Frank Marchant will lead you on this in-depth tour of the Dana-Thomas House. The tour, which is twice as long as a general tour, includes entering rooms that are not seen on other tours. You'll get a detailed look at the house from an architectural perspective, including some colorful stories related to the Dana House. Sign up through eventbrite here: Attention to Detail: A Dana-Thomas House Specialty Tour Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite

• Specialty Tour "Of Glass and Wood," Saturday April 4, 1:00 PM - Expert volunteer Frank Marchant will lead you on this in-depth tour of the Dana-Thomas House. The tour features an extremely extensive consideration of what is the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright furniture and art glass anywhere in the world. Architectural prospectives of the glass will be noted, and you'll hear some colorful stories about Frank Lloyd Wright. Sign up through eventbrite here: Of Glass and Wood: A Dana-Thomas House Specialty Tour Tickets, Multiple dates | Eventbrite

• April - September 2026: High School Floral Arrangement Initiative. Starting April 18, area high school students are mentored by volunteers from the Springfield Civic Garden Club and create décor to be displayed from April through September in the Dana-Thomas House. Our building and grounds team is also coordinating with the volunteer office to recruit area high school to start seeds for annuals to be used in planters at the historic sites.

Old State Capitol

• Saturday, April 11: Abraham Lincoln Half-Marathon. This iconic race between the historic sites of Springfield will both start and end at the Old State Capitol. Stronger connections between partners have enabled us to bring the event even closer this year by hosting the event Expo and Packet Pick Up on Friday from 4- 8 pm. In addition, we are partnering with UIS to present a free music performance on the early afternoon of the 11^th that will be promoted to race participants.

• Satirday, April 11 at 3:00 PM: Michael Hall: Voices Ringing with Power. New Music Springfield and IDNR present a concert by Michael Hall. For more information, check our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HuEAmBBMd/.

• Thursday, April 16 from 5:30-7:00 PM: Community Meet and Greet with Dr. Terrance Jordan. The Old State Capitol is hosting in partnership with the 186 School Board an open house for the community to meet and hear from the new District 186 Superintendent. 

• Friday April 24 - Saturday April 25 from 1:00-3:00 PM (or while supplies last): Arbor Day Tree Give Away. State Historic Sites will partner with the City of Springfield to give away 700 trees. 200 Bald Cypress, 200 Red Oaks, 200 Red Maple, 100 Red Osier Dogwood and 50 Fragrant Sumac have been ordered from Mason State Tree Nursery. Seedlings as well as small wildflower seed packets will come with planting instructions and staff will help guests select the best tree for their planting conditions and environment. Trees will be available at these locations, while supplies last: Old State Capitol - Red Oak, Red Osier Dogwood and Bald Cypress (limit 2 trees/family), Sumac Shop (Dana-Thomas House Foundation) - Fragrant Sumac (limit 1 tree/family), Kidzeum - Red Maple (limit 1 tree/family)

• Friday, April 24 at 7:30 PM: I, Too, Sing America. This event features small ensembles of the Springfield Choral Society and will take place in the Old State Capitol's historic House of Representatives. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Lincoln Tomb and State War Memorials

• Saturday, April 11 at 10:00 AM: Annual Lincoln Tomb Ceremony. All are invited to participate in the Annual Lincoln Tomb Ceremony sponsored by the SUVCW and MOLLUS, commemorating the anniversary of President Lincoln’s death. It will be held at the Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery. For more information click the link here: https://suvcw.org/lincoln-tomb-ceremony.

• Wednesday, April 15 at 11:00 AM: Annual ceremony to honor President Abraham Lincoln on the day of his death. Hosted by the Lincoln Death Day Association, at the Lincoln Tomb, this ceremony is open to the public.

• April 24: Spring Day of Action with United Way of Central Illinois. Up to 40 volunteers from area businesses will complete projects at the Lincoln Tomb and Illinois Veterans Memorials with our Building and Grounds team. Tasks include spring perennial cutbacks, planting annuals in pots and planters, and mulching garden beds for the season. Those interested in volunteering through United Way can sign up here: https://volunteer.uwcil.org/need/detail/?need_id=1218021. 

Partnership with the Lincoln Public Library

• Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16: History in Film. Enjoy a movie with digital surround sound at the Springfield Public Library. Join the Sangamon Valley Collection and the State Historic Sites of Springfield showings of two classic films this month. For more information on the films shown, click the links below:
  • April 15: Join the Sangamon Valley Collection and the State Historic Sites at Springfield for the showing of a 1959 spy thriller featuring a cross-country chase, and some history of Route 66 and travel in Springfield. https://www.lincolnlibrary.info/event/history-film-north-northwest-33443    
  • April 16: Join the Sangamon Valley Collection and the State Historic Sites at Springfield for the showing of a 1979 film about an iconic frog who journeys to Hollywood seeking success in show business (Rated G), and some history of travel in Springfield.  https://www.lincolnlibrary.info/event/history-film-muppet-movie-33442

History Comes Alive 2026 Spring Break Edition

March 21-April 4

• Full schedule of events can be found on the Visit Springfield website: https://www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/Landing/HCASeasonal.aspx.

History Comes Alive Events at the Old State Capitol

March 21

- 19th Century Toy Making Workshop, 12:30–1:15 p.m.

- Lincoln Live – Gettysburg Address, 1:30–2 p.m.

- Historical Crafts with the Springfield Art Association, 2–4 p.m.

- Live Music – Peaches & Bacon, 2–2:30 p.m.

March 24

- 19th Century Toy Making Workshop, 12:30–1:15 p.m.

- Lincoln Live – House Divided Speech, 1:30–2 p.m.

March 25

- Tales as Tall as Lincoln with Brian “Fox” Ellis, 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.

- 19th Century Toy Making Workshop, 12:30–1:15 p.m.

- Cotton & the Civil War: The Plant That Changed Everything, 3 p.m.

March 26

- 19th Century Toy Making Workshop, 12:30–1:15 p.m.

- Lincoln Live – Gettysburg Address, 1:30–2 p.m.

- Live Music – Peaches & Bacon, 2–2:30 p.m.

March 27

- Lincoln’s Love for Animals featuring a therapy mini horse, 11 a.m.–noon.

- Soldiers Aid Society, 1–4 p.m.

- Meet Mary Ann Bickerdyke: Heroic Civil War Nurse, 3–3:30 p.m.

March 28

- Summit Hill Junior High School Band performance, 10 a.m.

- 19th Century Toy Making Workshop, 12:30–1:15 p.m.

- Lincoln Live – Gettysburg Address, 1:30–2 p.m.

- Historical Crafts with the Springfield Art Association, 2–4 p.m.

- Live Music – Peaches & Bacon, 2–2:30 p.m.

- Capitol Canvas Family Paint Event featuring Studio on 6th, 1–3 p.m. ($35 per person; $65 adult and child; $120 family). For reservations, click here: https://www.allpaintshop.com/

March 31

- 19th Century Toy Making Workshop, 12:30–1:15 p.m.

- Lincoln Live – House Divided Speech, 1:30–2 p.m.

April 1

- OSC: Tales as Tall as Lincoln with Brian Fox Ellis - 12:30, 1:30, 2:30

- OSC: 19th Century Toy Making Workshop - 12:30-1:15 - Law Library 

- OSC: Cotton & the Civil War: The Plant that Changed Everything - 3:00

April 2

- OSC: 19th Century Toy Making Workshop - 12:30-1:15 - Law Library 

- OSC: Lincoln Live - Gettysburg Address - 1:30-2:00 - Rep Hall

- OSC: Live Music: Peaches & Bacon 2:00-2:30

April 3

- OSC: Lincoln's Love for Animals (Pet a Therapy Mini Horse) - 11:00-Noon

- OSC Lawn

- OSC: Soldiers Aid Society - 1:00-4:00

- OSC: Meet Mary Ann Bickerdyke: Heroic Civil War Nurse - 3:00-3:30

April 4

Last Day of Spring Break History Comes Alive
- OSC: 19th Century Toy Making Workshop - 12:30-1:15 - Law Library 

- OSC: Lincoln Live - Gettysburg Address - 1:30-2:00 - Rep Hall

- OSC: Historical Crafts with SAA - 2:00-4:00

- OSC: Live Music - Peaches & Bacon - 2:00-2:30 

Art Nights | April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 

At 5:30-7:30 PM

This month we will offer a number of art nights in partnership with Studio on 6th. Each week will be a different night from designing hats and bags to stained glass frame painting. Supplies for each of the nights are included in your ticketed admission. For more information and to sign up for the various nights, follow the links below.

• April 2: https://bit.ly/4bMYf4x
• April 9: https://bit.ly/4bMYf4x
• April 16: https://bit.ly/4bMYf4x
• April 23: https://bit.ly/4bMYf4x
• April 30:  https://bit.ly/4bMYf4x

Color, Craft, and Create Nights | April 6, 13, 20 and 27

At 5:30  - 7 p.m.

This month we'll also be offering color, craft, and create nights each week at the Dana-Thomas House. Guests will need to provide their own materials. More details can be found on our Eventbrite page for the event. Sign up on our Eventrbite page: https://DTHcolorcraftcreatenight.eventbrite.com

Game Nights | April 8, 15, 22 and 29

At 5:30 - 7 p.m.

Bring your family, friends and favorite board game to a table in one of the mansion’s historic rooms. Reservations required as tables are limited. Sign up on our Eventbrite page: https://dthgamenights.eventbrite.com/

Evening Tours of the Dana-Thomas House | Tuesdays and Fridays in April

At 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. 

Step into the Dana-Thomas house in the evenings for a different look at the house and its beautiful features as the sun goes down. Dates offered are April 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, and 28. Sign up here through Eventbrite. 

Old State Capitol Creations | April 4, 11, 18, 25

At 1:00-3:00 PM

Create something special in our historic space, guided by our partners at Studio on 6^th, the Original Art Co-Op. Each week will offer a different art creation experience. To sign up, as reservations are required, follow the links listed below:

• April 4: https://bit.ly/4c1SiPS
• April 11: https://bit.ly/4c1SiPS
• April 18: https://bit.ly/4c1SiPS
• April 25: https://bit.ly/4c1SiPS

History Nights | April 4, 11, 18, 25

At 5:00 p.m., 5:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. 

The Old State Capitol will be open for self-guided tours with short 20-minute presentations on weekly themes at the designated times. Sign up in advance on our eventbrite page: https://civilwarsaturdaysosc.eventbrite.com/