Lincoln Building (Champaign, Illinois)

Transcription

IN THE YEAR 1818 IN THIS RENTED BUILDING IN KASKASKIA, THE LEGISLATURE OF THE NEWLY FORMED BUILDING IN KASKASKIA, THE LEGISLATURE OF THE NEWLY FORMED STATE OF ILLINOIS MET FOR THE LEGISLATURE OF THE NEWLY FORMED STATE OF ILLINOIS MET FOR THE FIRST TIME. STATE OF ILLINOIS MET FOR THE FIRST TIME. ONE OF THEIR FIRST TASKS WAS TO FIRST TIME. ONE OF THEIR FIRST TASKS WAS TO SELECT A LOCATION TO PLAT A NEW ONE OF THEIR FIRST TASKS WAS TO SELECT A LOCATION TO PLAT A NEW TOWN THAT WOULD BECOME THE SELECT A LOCATION TO PLAT A NEW TOWN THAT WOULD BECOME THE STATE'S CAPITOL. TOWN THAT WOULD BECOME THE STATE'S CAPITOL. WHILE KASKASKIA HAD BEEN THE STATE'S CAPITOL. WHILE KASKASKIA HAD BEEN THE TERRITORIAL SEAT, IT WAS NOT WHILE KASKASKIA HAD BEEN THE TERRITORIAL SEAT, IT WAS NOT CENTRALLY LOCATED BEING 40 MILES TERRITORIAL SEAT, IT WAS NOT CENTRALLY LOCATED BEING 40 MILES SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS. CENTRALLY LOCATED BEING 40 MILES SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS. PLUS, IT WAS SURROUNDED BY TWO SOUTH OF ST. LOUIS. PLUS, IT WAS SURROUNDED BY TWO RIVERS, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE PLUS, IT WAS SURROUNDED BY TWO RIVERS, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE MISSISSIPPI MAKING THE TOWN RIVERS, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE MISSISSIPPI MAKING THE TOWN PRONE TO FLOODING. MISSISSIPPI MAKING THE TOWN PRONE TO FLOODING. HELLO, I AM JIM WILHELM. PRONE TO FLOODING. HELLO, I AM JIM WILHELM. A WOODED BLUFF ABOUT 90 MILES HELLO, I AM JIM WILHELM. A WOODED BLUFF ABOUT 90 MILES NORTHEAST OF KASKASKIA WAS A WOODED BLUFF ABOUT 90 MILES NORTHEAST OF KASKASKIA WAS CHOSEN AS A SITE OF THE NEW NORTHEAST OF KASKASKIA WAS CHOSEN AS A SITE OF THE NEW TOWN. CHOSEN AS A SITE OF THE NEW TOWN. THEY CALLED IT VANDALIA, AND TOWN. THEY CALLED IT VANDALIA, AND DURING ITS TIME AS THE STATE THEY CALLED IT VANDALIA, AND DURING ITS TIME AS THE STATE CAPITOL, IT WAS HOME TO DURING ITS TIME AS THE STATE CAPITOL, IT WAS HOME TO ILLINOIS' FIRST THREE STATEHOUSE CAPITOL, IT WAS HOME TO ILLINOIS' FIRST THREE STATEHOUSE S. THE FIRST WAS A PLAIN TWO STORY FRAME BUILDING LOCATED AT THIS CORNER. FRAME BUILDING LOCATED AT THIS CORNER. IT HAD NO SPACE SET ASIDE FOR CORNER. IT HAD NO SPACE SET ASIDE FOR THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES. IT HAD NO SPACE SET ASIDE FOR THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES. IN FACT, THE STATE TREASURER THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES. IN FACT, THE STATE TREASURER WORKED OUT OF HIS HOME. IN FACT, THE STATE TREASURER WORKED OUT OF HIS HOME. AFTER JUST FOUR YEARS OF WORKED OUT OF HIS HOME. AFTER JUST FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, THAT STATEHOUSE BURNED AFTER JUST FOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, THAT STATEHOUSE BURNED IN JANUARY OF 1823. SERVICE, THAT STATEHOUSE BURNED IN JANUARY OF 1823. THE NEXT ONE WAS HURRIEDLY IN JANUARY OF 1823. THE NEXT ONE WAS HURRIEDLY BUILT-IN SIDE A BURNED OUT BANK THE NEXT ONE WAS HURRIEDLY BUILT-IN SIDE A BURNED OUT BANK BUILDING LOCATED HERE CLOSER TO BUILT-IN SIDE A BURNED OUT BANK BUILDING LOCATED HERE CLOSER TO MAIN STREET. BUILDING LOCATED HERE CLOSER TO MAIN STREET. LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, IT, TOO, MAIN STREET. LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, IT, TOO, SERVED MAINLY AS A MEETING OUT LIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, IT, TOO, SERVED MAINLY AS A MEETING OUT FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WITH SERVED MAINLY AS A MEETING OUT FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WITH NO SPACE FOR THE EXECUTIVE FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, WITH NO SPACE FOR THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OR THE STATE SUPREME NO SPACE FOR THE EXECUTIVE OFFICES OR THE STATE SUPREME COURT. IN 1834 ON A BLUSTERY NOVEMBER DAY, MUCH LIKED TO, A FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE ARRIVED IN DAY, MUCH LIKED TO, A FRESHMAN REPRESENTATIVE ARRIVED IN VANDALIA, AFTER A 26 HOUR REPRESENTATIVE ARRIVED IN VANDALIA, AFTER A 26 HOUR STAGECOACH RIDE FROM VANDALIA, AFTER A 26 HOUR STAGECOACH RIDE FROM SPRINGFIELD. STAGECOACH RIDE FROM SPRINGFIELD. IT WAS, OF COURSE, ABRAHAM SPRINGFIELD. IT WAS, OF COURSE, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. IT WAS, OF COURSE, ABRAHAM LINCOLN. HE WORE HIS FINEST ITEM OF NEW LINCOLN. HE WORE HIS FINEST ITEM OF NEW CLOTHING, A NEW SUIT WHICH HE HE WORE HIS FINEST ITEM OF NEW CLOTHING, A NEW SUIT WHICH HE HAD BORROWED MONEY TO BUY. CLOTHING, A NEW SUIT WHICH HE HAD BORROWED MONEY TO BUY. BY THE TIME HE ARRIVED HERE, THE HAD BORROWED MONEY TO BUY. BY THE TIME HE ARRIVED HERE, THE HASTY CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND BY THE TIME HE ARRIVED HERE, THE HASTY CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND STATEHOUSE WAS EVIDENT. HASTY CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND STATEHOUSE WAS EVIDENT. THE FLOORS WERE SAGGING, THE STATEHOUSE WAS EVIDENT. THE FLOORS WERE SAGGING, THE WALLS WERE BULGING, SO MUCH SO THE FLOORS WERE SAGGING, THE WALLS WERE BULGING, SO MUCH SO IN FACT SOME FOLKS REFUSED TO WALLS WERE BULGING, SO MUCH SO IN FACT SOME FOLKS REFUSED TO EVEN END ENTERING THE BUILDING IN FACT SOME FOLKS REFUSED TO EVEN END ENTERING THE BUILDING FOR FEAR OF ITS EMINENT EVEN END ENTERING THE BUILDING FOR FEAR OF ITS EMINENT COLLAPSE. FOR FEAR OF ITS EMINENT COLLAPSE. STATE WOULDN'T SPEND THE MONEY COLLAPSE. STATE WOULDN'T SPEND THE MONEY FOR REPAIRS. STATE WOULDN'T SPEND THE MONEY FOR REPAIRS. THE POPULATION OF THE STATE WAS FOR REPAIRS. THE POPULATION OF THE STATE WAS MOVING TO THE NORTH, AND IT WAS THE POPULATION OF THE STATE WAS MOVING TO THE NORTH, AND IT WAS A MOVEMENT TO RELOCATE THE STATE MOVING TO THE NORTH, AND IT WAS A MOVEMENT TO RELOCATE THE STATE CAPITOL. A MOVEMENT TO RELOCATE THE STATE CAPITOL. ALARMED BY THIS NEWS, THE CAPITOL. ALARMED BY THIS NEWS, THE CITIZENS OF VANDALIA BUILT A NEW ALARMED BY THIS NEWS, THE CITIZENS OF VANDALIA BUILT A NEW BUILDING IN HOPES OF RETAINING CITIZENS OF VANDALIA BUILT A NEW BUILDING IN HOPES OF RETAINING THE STATE CAPITOL. COMPLETED IN 1836 AT A COST OF $20,000, IT WAS THUS FAR ILLINOIS' LARGEST STATEHOUSE. $20,000, IT WAS THUS FAR ILLINOIS' LARGEST STATEHOUSE. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE WAS ILLINOIS' LARGEST STATEHOUSE. FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE WAS NOW ROOM INSIDE FOR ALL THREE FOR THE FIRST TIME, THERE WAS NOW ROOM INSIDE FOR ALL THREE BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT TO BE NOW ROOM INSIDE FOR ALL THREE BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT TO BE LOCATED UNDER ONE ROOF. WE ARE NOW IN ILLINOIS' OLDEST IT STATE CAPITOL WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1836, A YEAR OF THE ALAMO. IT STATE CAPITOL WHICH WAS BUILT IN 1836, A YEAR OF THE ALAMO. ONE YEAR BEFORE ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN 1836, A YEAR OF THE ALAMO. ONE YEAR BEFORE ABRAHAM LINCOLN RECEIVED HIS LAW LICENSE, A ONE YEAR BEFORE ABRAHAM LINCOLN RECEIVED HIS LAW LICENSE, A PROCESS THAT ENDED IN A ROOM RECEIVED HIS LAW LICENSE, A PROCESS THAT ENDED IN A ROOM RIGHT DOWN THE HALL HERE. PROCESS THAT ENDED IN A ROOM RIGHT DOWN THE HALL HERE. THIS IS THE ROOM WHERE THE STATE RIGHT DOWN THE HALL HERE. THIS IS THE ROOM WHERE THE STATE SUPREME COURT MET WHICH AT THAT THIS IS THE ROOM WHERE THE STATE SUPREME COURT MET WHICH AT THAT TIME CONSISTED OF FOUR JUSTICES. SUPREME COURT MET WHICH AT THAT TIME CONSISTED OF FOUR JUSTICES. IT WAS ALSO HERE THAT MANY TOWNS TIME CONSISTED OF FOUR JUSTICES. IT WAS ALSO HERE THAT MANY TOWNS RECEIVED THEIR CHARTERS, IT WAS ALSO HERE THAT MANY TOWNS RECEIVED THEIR CHARTERS, INCLUDING CHICAGO. RECEIVED THEIR CHARTERS, INCLUDING CHICAGO. IT WAS HERE THAT LINCOLN'S NAME INCLUDING CHICAGO. IT WAS HERE THAT LINCOLN'S NAME WAS ENROLLED AS A PRACTICING IT WAS HERE THAT LINCOLN'S NAME WAS ENROLLED AS A PRACTICING ATTORNEY, THE LAST IT STEP IN WAS ENROLLED AS A PRACTICING ATTORNEY, THE LAST IT STEP IN RECEIVING HIS LICENSE. AT THAT TIME, THE SUPREME COURT ONLY MET WHEN THE LEGISLATURE WAS IN SESSION. ONLY MET WHEN THE LEGISLATURE WAS IN SESSION. BUT BEYOND JUST PRESIDING OVER WAS IN SESSION. BUT BEYOND JUST PRESIDING OVER CASES, THESE JUDGES WERE ALSO BUT BEYOND JUST PRESIDING OVER CASES, THESE JUDGES WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. CASES, THESE JUDGES WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. THAT'S BECAUSE ILLINOIS' FIRST INVOLVED IN LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. THAT'S BECAUSE ILLINOIS' FIRST CONSTITUTION DID NOT GIVE THE THAT'S BECAUSE ILLINOIS' FIRST CONSTITUTION DID NOT GIVE THE GOVERNOR ANY VETO POWER. CONSTITUTION DID NOT GIVE THE GOVERNOR ANY VETO POWER. BUT IT DID SET UP A COUNCIL OF GOVERNOR ANY VETO POWER. BUT IT DID SET UP A COUNCIL OF REVISION THAT COULD VETO BUT IT DID SET UP A COUNCIL OF REVISION THAT COULD VETO LEGISLATION, A COUNCIL MADE UP REVISION THAT COULD VETO LEGISLATION, A COUNCIL MADE UP OF THE GOVERNOR AND ALL FOUR LEGISLATION, A COUNCIL MADE UP OF THE GOVERNOR AND ALL FOUR JUSTICES. OF THE GOVERNOR AND ALL FOUR JUSTICES. AND SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR, JUSTICES. AND SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR, ACROSS THE HALL WAS HIS AND SPEAKING OF THE GOVERNOR, ACROSS THE HALL WAS HIS ASSISTANT'S OFFICE. ACROSS THE HALL WAS HIS ASSISTANT'S OFFICE. THIS WAS THE OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT'S OFFICE. THIS WAS THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHO BACK IN THIS WAS THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHO BACK IN THOSE DAYS WAS APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE WHO BACK IN THOSE DAYS WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND SERVED AS THOSE DAYS WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR AND SERVED AS GOVERNOR'S PERSONAL SECRETARY. GOVERNOR AND SERVED AS GOVERNOR'S PERSONAL SECRETARY. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A THUMB OF GOVERNOR'S PERSONAL SECRETARY. THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A THUMB OF CLERKS WORKING HERE, HAND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A THUMB OF CLERKS WORKING HERE, HAND COPYING DOCUMENTS FOR CLERKS WORKING HERE, HAND COPYING DOCUMENTS FOR DISTRIBUTION OR FILING. COPYING DOCUMENTS FOR DISTRIBUTION OR FILING. NOT ONLY WAS THIS OFFICE DISTRIBUTION OR FILING. NOT ONLY WAS THIS OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING RECORDS NOT ONLY WAS THIS OFFICE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING RECORDS OF LEGISLATION BEING PASSED, BUT RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING RECORDS OF LEGISLATION BEING PASSED, BUT ALSO TOOK CARE OF THE STATE'S OF LEGISLATION BEING PASSED, BUT ALSO TOOK CARE OF THE STATE'S SEAL AND CENSUS, PLUS THE ALSO TOOK CARE OF THE STATE'S SEAL AND CENSUS, PLUS THE SECRETARY WOULD CHARGED WITH SEAL AND CENSUS, PLUS THE SECRETARY WOULD CHARGED WITH OVERSEEING CUSTODIAL SERVICES SECRETARY WOULD CHARGED WITH OVERSEEING CUSTODIAL SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE OF THE OVERSEEING CUSTODIAL SERVICES AND MAINTENANCE OF THE STATEHOUSE. AND MAINTENANCE OF THE STATEHOUSE. IT IS SPECULATED THAT THIS ROOM STATEHOUSE. IT IS SPECULATED THAT THIS ROOM WAS ALSO USED BY THE GOVERNOR IT IS SPECULATED THAT THIS ROOM WAS ALSO USED BY THE GOVERNOR WHO DID NOT HAVE AN OFFICE IN WAS ALSO USED BY THE GOVERNOR WHO DID NOT HAVE AN OFFICE IN THIS BUILDING. WHO DID NOT HAVE AN OFFICE IN THIS BUILDING. BEHIND ME IS ONE OF THE FEW THIS BUILDING. BEHIND ME IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING ORIGINAL PIECES FROM BEHIND ME IS ONE OF THE FEW REMAINING ORIGINAL PIECES FROM VANDALIA'S EARLY CAPITOL DAYS. REMAINING ORIGINAL PIECES FROM VANDALIA'S EARLY CAPITOL DAYS. THIS IS THE DESK THAT WAS USED VANDALIA'S EARLY CAPITOL DAYS. THIS IS THE DESK THAT WAS USED BY ILLINOIS' FOURTH GOVERNOR, THIS IS THE DESK THAT WAS USED BY ILLINOIS' FOURTH GOVERNOR, JOHN REYNOLDS WHO SERVED FROM BY ILLINOIS' FOURTH GOVERNOR, JOHN REYNOLDS WHO SERVED FROM 1830-1834. JOHN REYNOLDS WHO SERVED FROM 1830-1834. PREVIOUSLY, HE HAD BEEN A STATE 1830-1834. PREVIOUSLY, HE HAD BEEN A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND A MEMBER OF PREVIOUSLY, HE HAD BEEN A STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND A MEMBER OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT. THIS ROOM WAS USED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHICH MET ONLY EVERY OTHER YEAR AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHICH MET ONLY EVERY OTHER YEAR AND EVEN THEN ONLY DURING THE WINTER MET ONLY EVERY OTHER YEAR AND EVEN THEN ONLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS BETWEEN HARVEST TIME AND EVEN THEN ONLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS BETWEEN HARVEST TIME AND PLANTING TIME. BUT WHILE THE FURNISHINGS IN THIS ROOM ARE REPRODUCTIONS, THERE IS ONE ORIGINAL PIECE, THIS ROOM ARE REPRODUCTIONS, THERE IS ONE ORIGINAL PIECE, THIS DESK. THERE IS ONE ORIGINAL PIECE, THIS DESK. THE REPRESENTATIVES SAT FIVE TO THIS DESK. THE REPRESENTATIVES SAT FIVE TO A DESK. THE REPRESENTATIVES SAT FIVE TO A DESK. THEY RECEIVED FOUR DOLLARS A DAY A DESK. THEY RECEIVED FOUR DOLLARS A DAY WHILE IN SESSION, PLUS A TRAVEL THEY RECEIVED FOUR DOLLARS A DAY WHILE IN SESSION, PLUS A TRAVEL ALLOWANCE OF 20 CENTS PER MILE. WHILE IN SESSION, PLUS A TRAVEL ALLOWANCE OF 20 CENTS PER MILE. ALSO, ORIGINAL TO THE BUILDING ALLOWANCE OF 20 CENTS PER MILE. ALSO, ORIGINAL TO THE BUILDING IS IS THE PRIME WOOD FLOORING ON ALSO, ORIGINAL TO THE BUILDING IS IS THE PRIME WOOD FLOORING ON THE SECOND LEVEL. IS IS THE PRIME WOOD FLOORING ON THE SECOND LEVEL. TODAY VISITORS TOURING THE THE SECOND LEVEL. TODAY VISITORS TOURING THE STATEHOUSE ARE WALKING ON THE TODAY VISITORS TOURING THE STATEHOUSE ARE WALKING ON THE SAME FLOORBOARDS AS ABRAHAM STATEHOUSE ARE WALKING ON THE SAME FLOORBOARDS AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN. SAME FLOORBOARDS AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN. IN 1836 THERE WERE 90 MEMBERS OF LINCOLN. IN 1836 THERE WERE 90 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE. IN 1836 THERE WERE 90 MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE. THE DEMOCRATS SATURDAY HERE, AND THE HOUSE. THE DEMOCRATS SATURDAY HERE, AND ON THIS SIDE, SAT THE MEMBERS OF THE DEMOCRATS SATURDAY HERE, AND ON THIS SIDE, SAT THE MEMBERS OF THE WHIG PARTY. ON THIS SIDE, SAT THE MEMBERS OF THE WHIG PARTY. REMEMBER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THE WHIG PARTY. REMEMBER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD NET YET BEEN FORMED. REMEMBER THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAD NET YET BEEN FORMED. THERE WERE NOW ASIGNED SEATS AT HAD NET YET BEEN FORMED. THERE WERE NOW ASIGNED SEATS AT THE TIME, BUT IT IS THOUGHT THERE WERE NOW ASIGNED SEATS AT THE TIME, BUT IT IS THOUGHT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WOULD HAVE SAT THE TIME, BUT IT IS THOUGHT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WOULD HAVE SAT IN THIS GENERAL AREA. ABRAHAM LINCOLN WOULD HAVE SAT IN THIS GENERAL AREA. SOMEWHERE ACROSS THE AISLE R, IN THIS GENERAL AREA. SOMEWHERE ACROSS THE AISLE R, SAT A FRESHMAN MEMBER WHO WOULD SOMEWHERE ACROSS THE AISLE R, SAT A FRESHMAN MEMBER WHO WOULD FIGURE PROMINENTLY IN LINCOLN'S SAT A FRESHMAN MEMBER WHO WOULD FIGURE PROMINENTLY IN LINCOLN'S POLITICAL CAREER, STEPHEN FIGURE PROMINENTLY IN LINCOLN'S POLITICAL CAREER, STEPHEN DOUGLAS. POLITICAL CAREER, STEPHEN DOUGLAS. IT WAS THIS THIS ROOM THAT DOUGLAS. IT WAS THIS THIS ROOM THAT LINCOLN FIRST TOOK A STAND IT WAS THIS THIS ROOM THAT LINCOLN FIRST TOOK A STAND AGAINST SLAVERY, PROTESTING A LINCOLN FIRST TOOK A STAND AGAINST SLAVERY, PROTESTING A RESOLUTION IT THAT HAD BEEN AGAINST SLAVERY, PROTESTING A RESOLUTION IT THAT HAD BEEN PASSED EARLIER. RESOLUTION IT THAT HAD BEEN PASSED EARLIER. BUT PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE PASSED EARLIER. BUT PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE HOUSE MEMBERS WERE BUT PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE HOUSE MEMBERS WERE SELECTING A NEW LOCATION FOR A FACING THE HOUSE MEMBERS WERE SELECTING A NEW LOCATION FOR A STATE CAPITOL. SELECTING A NEW LOCATION FOR A STATE CAPITOL. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR STATE CAPITOL. THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THE MOVE, FIRST, THE ACT THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR THE MOVE, FIRST, THE ACT THAT CREATED VANDALIA AS A STATE THE MOVE, FIRST, THE ACT THAT CREATED VANDALIA AS A STATE CAPITOL WAS GOOD FOR ONLY 20 CREATED VANDALIA AS A STATE CAPITOL WAS GOOD FOR ONLY 20 YEARS AND THAT TIME WAS JUST CAPITOL WAS GOOD FOR ONLY 20 YEARS AND THAT TIME WAS JUST ABOUT UP. THEN THE POPULATION YEARS AND THAT TIME WAS JUST ABOUT UP. THEN THE POPULATION OF ILLINOIS IS BEING ABOUT UP. THEN THE POPULATION OF ILLINOIS IS BEING CONCENTRATED MORE TO THE NORTH, OF ILLINOIS IS BEING CONCENTRATED MORE TO THE NORTH, PLUS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ALONG WITH CONCENTRATED MORE TO THE NORTH, PLUS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ALONG WITH EIGHT OF HIS COLLEAGUES PLUS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, ALONG WITH EIGHT OF HIS COLLEAGUES COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE "LONG EIGHT OF HIS COLLEAGUES COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE "LONG NINE" WERE AGGRESSIVELY COLLECTIVELY KNOWN AS THE "LONG NINE" WERE AGGRESSIVELY CAMPAIGNING FOR SPRINGFIELD. NINE" WERE AGGRESSIVELY CAMPAIGNING FOR SPRINGFIELD. THAT DEBATE HAD BEGUN IN THE OLD CAMPAIGNING FOR SPRINGFIELD. THAT DEBATE HAD BEGUN IN THE OLD SAGGING BUILDING, AND HAD THAT DEBATE HAD BEGUN IN THE OLD SAGGING BUILDING, AND HAD SPURRED THE CITIZENS OF VANDALIA SAGGING BUILDING, AND HAD SPURRED THE CITIZENS OF VANDALIA TO CONSTRUCT THIS STATE HAD SPURRED THE CITIZENS OF VANDALIA TO CONSTRUCT THIS STATE HAD HOUSE IN HOPES OF KEEPING THE TO CONSTRUCT THIS STATE HAD HOUSE IN HOPES OF KEEPING THE CAPITOL HERE. HOUSE IN HOPES OF KEEPING THE CAPITOL HERE. IT TOOK ONLY FOUR MONTHS TO CAPITOL HERE. IT TOOK ONLY FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE THIS BUILDING WHICH WAS IT TOOK ONLY FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE THIS BUILDING WHICH WAS FINISHED IN TIME FOR THE 1836 COMPLETE THIS BUILDING WHICH WAS FINISHED IN TIME FOR THE 1836 GENERAL ASSEMBLY. FINISHED IN TIME FOR THE 1836 GENERAL ASSEMBLY. BUT IT WAS ALL IN VAIN. GENERAL ASSEMBLY. BUT IT WAS ALL IN VAIN. BY THE PLASTER ON THESE WALLS R BUT IT WAS ALL IN VAIN. BY THE PLASTER ON THESE WALLS R WERE STILL DRYING, HOUSE VOTED BY THE PLASTER ON THESE WALLS R WERE STILL DRYING, HOUSE VOTED THAT SPRINGFIELD WOULD BECOME WERE STILL DRYING, HOUSE VOTED THAT SPRINGFIELD WOULD BECOME THE STATE'S THIRD STATE CAPITOL. THAT SPRINGFIELD WOULD BECOME THE STATE'S THIRD STATE CAPITOL. M THE MEANTIME, VANDALIA WOULD THE STATE'S THIRD STATE CAPITOL. M THE MEANTIME, VANDALIA WOULD CONTINUE TO FILL THAT FUNCTION M THE MEANTIME, VANDALIA WOULD CONTINUE TO FILL THAT FUNCTION FOR TWO MORE YEARS AFTER THE STATE CAPITOL LEFT VANDALIA, ITS POPULATION DROPPED FROM 900 TO ABOUT 200. VANDALIA, ITS POPULATION DROPPED FROM 900 TO ABOUT 200. OVER AT KASKASKIA, IN 1871, FROM 900 TO ABOUT 200. OVER AT KASKASKIA, IN 1871, AFTER DECADES OF EROSION, THE OVER AT KASKASKIA, IN 1871, AFTER DECADES OF EROSION, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FINALLY AFTER DECADES OF EROSION, THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FINALLY CLAIMED MOST OF THE TOWN AND THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FINALLY CLAIMED MOST OF THE TOWN AND THE SITE NOW LIES UNDER ITS WATERS. CLAIMED MOST OF THE TOWN AND THE SITE NOW LIES UNDER ITS WATERS. TODAY VISITORS CAN TOUR THE OLD SITE NOW LIES UNDER ITS WATERS. TODAY VISITORS CAN TOUR THE OLD STATEHOUSE AND LEARN ABOUT TODAY VISITORS CAN TOUR THE OLD STATEHOUSE AND LEARN ABOUT LINCOLN'S AND ILLINOIS' EARLY STATEHOUSE AND LEARN ABOUT LINCOLN'S AND ILLINOIS' EARLY DAYS. LINCOLN'S AND ILLINOIS' EARLY DAYS. FOR DAYS AND TIMES OF THE DAYS. FOR DAYS AND TIMES OF THE BUILDING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FOR DAYS AND TIMES OF THE BUILDING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, CALL (618)283-1161.