Welcome to the Illinois State Capitol

              State Capitol Facts
Building Hours
Weekdays: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Weekends: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Closed: Thanksgiving and the
day after, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday
Capitol Tours
Group tours are given by appointment only.
• Weekdays — every half hour, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Weekends — every hour, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• No tours between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
(Visitors are not allowed beyond the fourth floor.)
For more information, call the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau at 217-789-2360.
Visitor’s Center
One block west of the Capitol; closed Sundays.
Visitor Parking
Visitor’s Center, one block west of the Capitol.
House and Senate Visitor Galleries
• House — fourth floor, south wing
• Senate — fourth floor, north wing
• Legislature in session January - May; veto session November and December.
Constitutional Officers
Governor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207 Capitol
Lt. Governor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .214 Capitol
Attorney General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .500 S. Second St.
Secretary of State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213 Capitol
Comptroller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201 Capitol
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .219 Capitol
Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities
All elevators have control panels in Braille. Ramps are located where steps and curbs
may be obstacles.
• Parking: Four spaces in the Visitor’s Center parking lot.
• Entrances: South, West
• Restrooms: Nine restrooms
GOVERNOR – 207
SECRETARY OF STATE – 213
HOUSE CHAMBER
HOUSE BILL ROOM
SENATE CHAMBER
SENATE BILL ROOM
SENATE CHAMBER
SENATE GALLERY
HOUSE CHAMBER
PRESS ROOM
HOUSE GALLERY TREASURER – 219
LT. GOVERNOR – 214
COMPTROLLER – 201
INFORMATION
1ST FLOOR
2ND FLOOR
3RD FLOOR
4TH FLOOR
  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 Latin 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.
  Capitol dimensions: East-West . . . . . . . . .268 ft.
North-South . . . . . . . .379 ft.
Dome Ht. . . . . . . . . . .361 ft.
Flag Ht. . . . . . . . . . . . .405 ft.
  The statue on the first floor in the Capitol rotunda represents welcoming people to
the Columbian Exposition in 1893. Julia Bracken was the sculptor.
  The first Governor of Illinois was Shadrach Bond in 1818. Our 18th governor, Shelby
Cullom, was the first to work in the new State Capitol in 1877.
Capitol Complex & Visitor Information
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. March 2005 — 25M — COM 18.3