Stay a Little Bit Longer

Increased Seasonal Hours Now in Effect at Historic Sites

[March 08, 2008]  SPRINGFIELD -- Longer seasonal hours of operation for state historic sites administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency began March 1, and several sites will resume seven-day-per-week operations during the spring and summer tourism season.

"The days are getting longer, and as the tourism season approaches we have traditionally expanded hours at many of our state's historic sites," said IHPA Acting Director Jennifer Tirey. "In addition, with the Lincoln Bicentennial approaching, visitors will be able to enjoy several of the state's Lincoln-related historic sites seven days per week this spring and summer."

Many historic sites that closed at 4 p.m. during the winter months will now stay open until 5 p.m. through the month of October. The Old State Capitol and Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site in Springfield and Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site at Petersburg will be open seven days per week from April 14 through Sept. 1. Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum will remain open seven days per week year-round. Most of the state's other historic sites will remain open five days per week.

2008 Illinois state historic site schedule

All sites except the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum are closed on the following holidays: Columbus Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Presidents' Day.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Springfield

Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round.
Closed only on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Apple River Fort, Elizabeth

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March-October.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Bishop Hill, Bishop Hill

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March-October.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Black Hawk, Rock Island

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March-October.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Bryant Cottage, Bement

Open Thursday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Cahokia Courthouse, Cahokia

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Cahokia Mounds, Collinsville

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Carl Sandburg Birthplace, Galesburg

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Dana-Thomas House, Springfield
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

David Davis Mansion, Bloomington

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Douglas Tomb, Chicago

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Fort de Chartres, Prairie du Rocher

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Fort Kaskaskia, Ellis Grove

Campground open daily, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., year-round.

Ulysses S. Grant Home, Galena

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March-October.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Jubilee College, Brimfield

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March-October.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Lewis and Clark, Hartford

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices, Springfield

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 1-April 13.
Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 14-Sept. 1.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 2-February.

Lincoln Log Cabin, Lerna

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March-October.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Lincoln's New Salem, Petersburg

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 1-April 13.
Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 14-Sept. 1.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 2-Oct. 31.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., November-February.

Lincoln Tomb, Springfield

Open seven days a week year-round.
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March-October, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. November-February.

Martin-Boismenue House, North Dupo

Open Saturday only, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., year-round.

Mount Pulaski Courthouse, Mount Pulaski

Open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., March-October.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Sunday and Monday.

Old Market House, Galena

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m., March-October.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Old State Capitol, Springfield

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March 1-April 13.
Open seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 14-Sept. 1.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 2-February.

Pierre Menard Home, Ellis Grove

Open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round.
Closed Monday and Tuesday.

Postville Courthouse, Lincoln

Open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m., March-October.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Sunday and Monday.

Vachel Lindsay Home, Springfield

Open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., year-round.
Closed Sunday and Monday.

Vandalia Statehouse, Vandalia

Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., March-October.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., November-February.
Closed Sunday and Monday.

Washburne House, Galena

Open on Friday only, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May-October.

[Text from Illinois Historic Preservation Agency news release received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]