Welcome to the Illinois State Capitol

              Capitol Building Hours and Free Capitol Tours
• Required check-in with Capitol Police/security officers at each entrance.
• Request a tour at the Information Desk — tours begin in Capitol rotunda.
• Weekdays: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., tours every half hour.
• Weekends: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., tours every hour.
• Closed: Thanksgiving and the Friday after, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day,
Easter Sunday.
• Group tours by appointment only. For groups of 15 or more, please call the Springfield
Convention and Visitors Bureau at 217-789-2360.
• No tours between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
• Visitors not allowed beyond fourth floor. Visitors not allowed beyond the first floor on
weekends and after 4 p.m. during the week.
• Capitol tours include the House and Senate galleries, Governor’s reception area, Hall of
Governors and Old Supreme Court room.
• Public restrooms available on first floor, north corridor (women’s), west corridor (men’s).
• Bank services available on second floor, north corridor, Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
• Nurse available for medical emergencies in Room 305.
Visitor’s Center and Parking
• Visitor’s Center, one block west of Capitol; closed Sundays.
• Picnic tables and restrooms available.
• Limited free parking, entrance to parking lot off Edwards Street.
Constitutional Offices, House and Senate Galleries
• Governor — 207 Capitol
• Lieutenant Governor — 214 Capitol
• Attorney General — 500 S. Second St.
• Secretary of State — 213 Capitol
• Comptroller — 201 Capitol
• Treasurer — 219 Capitol
• House — fourth floor, south wing; Senate — fourth floor, north wing
• Legislature in session January - May; veto session in November and December.
Access for Persons with Disabilities
• Wheelchairs available for use during tours.
• Elevators have control panels in Braille.
• Entrances: South, West — Ramps located where steps and curbs may be obstacles.
• Parking: Four spaces in Visitor’s Center parking lot.
• Nine restrooms available.
State Capitol Facts and Trivia
❒ The present Capitol Building is Illinois’ sixth and the second located in Springfield.
❒ The total cost was $4,315,591.
❒ The design is in the shape of a Greek Cross.
❒ Materials used: outer walls are limestone from Joliet and Lemont, IL; north and east portico
pillars are granite; grand staircase, second-floor columns and floors are domestic and
imported multi-colored marbles.
❒ Constructed of 750,000 cu. ft. of cut stone; 20 million bricks; 1.4 million lbs. of wrought iron;
and 3.4 million lbs. of cast iron.
❒ The Capitol’s dome foundation is 92.5 ft. in diameter, and its 17-ft.-thick limestone walls are
based on solid rock 25.5 ft. below the grade line. The foundation for the outer walls varies
from 11 to 16 ft. below the grade line. Walls are 9 ft. thick up to the first floor.
❒ There are 110 steps from the first floor to the fourth floor gallery.
❒ When the Capitol first opened, the dome was illuminated with 144 gas jets. The carbon
omitted from the gas jets made the dome black and invisible. It was cleaned in 1986 after
100 years.
❒ Every doorknob in the building is imprinted with the state seal.
❒ The bell ringing signifies the beginning of session or time to vote.
❒ Dimensions: east-west, 268 ft.; north-south, 379 ft.; dome ht., 361 ft.; flag ht., 405 ft.
❒ Shelby Cullom was the first Governor to work in the new State Capitol in 1877.
Jesse White
Secretary of State
As Secretary of State, one
of my responsibilities is to
preserve and maintain the
Capitol Complex, including
this unique building dating
back to its groundbreaking
in 1868.
I hope you will take the
opportunity to enjoy the
unique architecture,
spectacular artwork and
the many statues located
throughout the Capitol
Building and on the Capitol grounds. Many great Illinoisans are honored here for their
unwavering commitment to help make Illinois what it is today — a great place to live,
work and raise a family. Enjoy your visit to the Illinois State Capitol.
Jesse White • Secretary of State
Capitol Complex Timeline
1855 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Governor’s Executive Mansion built
1867 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Legislature authorizes 6th Capitol Building
1868 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Capitol Building groundbreaking
1877 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Legislature meets in new Capitol Building
1888 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Capitol Building construction completed
1908 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Supreme Court Building dedicated
1923 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Centennial Building completed
1934 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .State Arsenal Building burns; replaced in 1937 by the Armory
1938 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Archives Building completed
1955 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stratton Building completed
1963 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Illinois State Museum dedicated
1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Attorney General’s Building dedicated
1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Capitol Building centennial and end of 20 years of renovation
1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Illinois State Library building opened
1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Centennial Building renamed the Michael J. Howlett Building
1995 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Archives Building renamed the Margaret Cross Norton Building
2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .State Library Building renamed Illinois State Library,
Gwendolyn Brooks Building
MONROE STREET
CAPITOL AVENUE
JACKSON STREET
2nd STREET
COLLEGE ST.
STRATTON
BLDG.
VISITOR
CENTER
HOWLETT
BLDG.
NORTON BLDG.
MUSEUM
ATTORNEY
GENERAL
ILLINOIS
BAR
SUPREME
COURT
ILLINOIS
STATE
LIBRARY
ILLINOIS
STATE
CAPITOL
EDWARDS STREET
Printed by the authority of the State of Illinois. June 2006 — 25M — COM 18.4