Downtown in Springfield in Sangamon County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Streetscape 1859
East Side of the Public Square
| — | Looking for Lincoln | — |
Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, June 16, 2011
1. Streetscape 1859 Marker
This is the how the east side of the public square looked from this vantage point (circa 1859), looking north along Sixth Street. The picture shows how buildings were refurbished following the great east-side fire of February 1858. but the littered, muddy streets remained unchanged.
View east from the capitol cupola
This is one of four panoramic landscapes painted from a perspective atop the Old State Capitol sometime between late 1848 and early 1854, showing buildings along the east side of the public square before the fire of 1858. The columned buildings on the left are the Sangamon County Courthouse and the Springfield Marine & Fire Insurance Company.
Erected by State of Illinois Historic Preservation Agency & Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Looking for Lincoln series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1858.
Location. 39° 48.037′ N, 89° 38.886′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Illinois, in
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Central Illinois. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Lincoln Boys in 1854 (here, next to this marker); Lincoln's Springfield (a few steps from this marker); In Their Springfield Prime (a few steps from this marker); Barack Obama Campaign Announcements (a few steps from this marker); Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices (a few steps from this marker); The Bath & Barber Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Cook's Hall (within shouting distance of this
Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, June 16, 2011
2. Streetscape 1859
Photo of 6th Street in 1859
Another marker is no longer nearby. Old State Capitol (was a few steps from this marker but has been confirmed missing).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 20, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 651 times since then and 33 times this year. Last updated on October 3, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 20, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
