Illinois State Capitol, Government building in Springfield, Illinois, USA
The Illinois State Capitol is a government building in the center of Springfield, the administrative seat of the state in the Midwestern United States. Its Renaissance Revival dome rests on a foundation anchored in bedrock and rises to about 361 feet (110 meters), dominating the western skyline of the downtown area.
The sixth capitol building of Illinois was completed and opened in 1877 after two decades of construction work. It replaced earlier seats of government in Kaskaskia and Vandalia, which had previously served as state capitals.
Representatives from across Illinois gather in the two legislative chambers, with the House and Senate occupying opposite wings of the main floor. Visitors may watch proceedings from public galleries when the legislature is in session, witnessing how policies take shape through debate and voting.
Free guided tours run Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM and on Saturdays from 9 AM to 3 PM, with a lunch break between noon and 1 PM. Visitors can access all public areas more easily on weekdays, as some offices remain closed over the weekend.
The structure is recognized as the tallest non-skyscraper capitol building in the United States, surpassing even the Capitol in Washington, D.C., in total height. Its silhouette has shaped the city skyline for more than a century and remains visible from many neighborhoods.
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