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Springfield, Illinois: Lincoln Still Lives Here
T RAV EL
JEFF AND VIRGINIA ORENSTEIN |
JE FEATURE
Note: We recommended
that travelers should continue
to follow the latest Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
guidelines, and check with
each mode of transportation
and specific venue of interest
for current information before
traveling. Check visitspringfiel-
dillinois.com/BlogDetails.aspx/ Latest_News_on_COVID-19.

SPRINGFIELD IS THE state
capital of Illinois and former
home of Abraham Lincoln. It is
a delightful medium-sized city
that looks and feels quintes-
sentially Midwestern, while it
celebrates its Lincoln heritage.

Its downtown area is compact,
walkable and full of fascinating
history and hospitality.

As Springfield’s most
famous citizen, Lincoln is
remembered and celebrated
throughout the town. The
Lincoln Presidential Library
and Museum is a not-to-be-
missed attraction that tells
the story of Lincoln and his
times with vivid sights, sounds
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is one of the
best presidential memorial and interpretive sites in the nation. It is full of
educational displays presented in modern high-tech fashion.

Photos by Jeff Orenstein
and interactive multimedia
displays. The National Park
Service also maintains a
historical site and ranger-es-
corted tours nearby at Lincoln’s
Springfield home. Numerous
other Lincoln-oriented attrac-
tions dot the region.

Historic Route
66’s original 1926 alignment came
directly through Springfield
and brought so many to and
through the city, helping to
increase interest. The Cozy
Dog Drive In and the Route
66 Motorheads Bar, Grill &
Museum are good places to
explore that celebrated road’s
history and sample some of its
kitschy delicacies like the Cozy
Dog hot dog on a stick.

Because it is home to the
Illinois state government,
today’s Springfield is dominated
by state buildings and business.

The tallest building in town
is the Illinois State Capitol
which is remarkable for its lush
furnishings and its Renaissance
Revival and Second Empire
style. Barack Obama started his
political career there. The nearby
Old State Capitol was where
Abraham Lincoln made his
famous “A house divided against
itself cannot stand” speech.

The present Illinois State Capitol dominates the Springfield skyline and
is the sixth building to house the state’s government. Tours are available.

Be sure to stop by the
downtown visitor’s center
(once home to the Lincoln-
Herndon law office) and get
your free Explorer Passport to
local attractions.

Springfield is a recom-
mended destination because
of its history and comfortable
ambiance. It’s a good place to
visit in its own right, and if your
road or train travels take you
along the path from Chicago to
St. Louis, Springfield is a worth-
while way stop that merits at
least an overnight stay.

Before You Go:
• visitspringfieldillinois.com/
• facebook.com/
VisitSpringfield/ • midwestliving.com/travel/
Jewish Springfield
SINCE SPRINGFIELD IS THE HEART of the
Land of Lincoln, it is worth noting that Lincoln
declared in a public conversation in 1863 that he
had “a high regard for the Jews” and had close and
enduring friendships and political alliances with
several Jews during his days in New Salem and
Springfield, including Abraham Jonas and Julius
Hammerslough. Springfield has almost 1,000 Jews out of a popula-
tion of about 113,000 making it a small — but active
— Jewish community. According to a history by
Rabbi Barry Marks, Springfield’s original Jewish
settlers arrived in the 1850s. The first congregation
was the Springfield Hebrew Congregation, dating
to 1858, composed of predominantly German
immigrants. The group evolved into the Reform
Temple B’rith Sholom and built a synagogue on
North Fifth Street.

Eastern European Jews began arriving in
Springfield in the 1880s. In 1895, they bought a
10 SEPTEMBER 23, 2021
former Methodist Church on the southeast corner
of Seventh and Mason streets and adapted it for use
as synagogue B’nai Abraham.

In the 20th century, many prosperous German
Jews migrated to the Aristocracy Hill neighborhood
south of downtown. Temple B’rith Sholom built a
new synagogue in 1917 in the Classical Revival style
on South Fourth Street, which it still uses. The East
European Jews lived north and east of downtown on
Jefferson, Mason, Reynolds and Carpenter streets.

Despite the Great Depression, both congregations
flourished in the 1930s when Illinois got its first
Jewish governor, Henry Horner. (Samuel Shapiro
was its second and only other.) B’nai Abraham’s
then-new synagogue was completed in the late
1930s. It is now called Temple Israel.

In 1981, the two congregations merged their
Sunday school programs and formed the Springfield
Board of Jewish Education, and Temple Israel and
Temple B’rith Sholom cooperate in other joint
JEWISH EXPONENT
endeavors. A Springfield Chabad congregation was
founded in 2016.

Most of the Jewish young men (and some women)
of service age were in the armed forces during World
War II; six were casualties. The Jewish Federation of
Springfield was founded in 1941 as the charitable,
cultural and philanthropic arm of Springfield Jewry
and represents the entire Jewish community. Other
local Jewish organizations include a chapter of
Hadassah and a B’nai B’rith lodge.

The 1970s saw growth for the Springfield Jewish
community. New universities and Illinois state
government brought many young Jewish profes-
sionals (especially from the Chicago and St. Louis
areas) to Springfield. Local Jews are prominent in
the legal and medical professions, as well as in the
leadership of local community organizations.

Today, Springfield’s Jewish community remains
small but significant to area Jews. l
— Jeff and Virginia Orenstein
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM