Springfield Attractions

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is located in the heart of downtown Springfield, Illinois's state capital. The library and museum are situated within a block of each other. The library is only open on weekdays and is free for public access and research. The museum is open year round. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, and $4 for children. It is preferable to purchase you tickets in advance online.

The mission of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum is to provide its visitors with interactive and informative exhibits. You enter the museum through the gateway and walk into a large central plaza. From there you can walk through historical recreations of scenes from Lincoln's life, starting with his early years in a log cabin and moving all the way up to his time in the White House. All exhibits are accompanied by descriptive plaques...

If you want small town charm, look no further than Shea's Gas Station Museum in Springfield, Illinois. The museum is one of the prime attractions on the first leg of historic Route 66, though the station is actually about a mile west of the famous highway. Travelers might it easier to access Shea's Gas Station Museum by taking the business extension of I-55 and heading toward the Illinois State Fairgrounds.

However you get there, Shea's Gas Museum is a hidden gem of Americana. Bill Shea, a lifelong Texaco gas station owner, has assembled over fifty years worth of gas station and Route 66 memorabilia in his private collection. There are antique gas pumps, a working Champion air compressor, humorous signs, historic photos, and plenty of kitsch. If you're inquisitive and lucky, Bill Shea is often available to answer questions and tell stories about his lifetime selling gas on Route 66...