Editing Springfield, Illinois (section)

===Tourism===

Springfield is known for some popular food items: the [[corn dog]] is claimed to have been invented in the city under the name "[[Cozy Dog Drive In|Cozy Dog]]", although there is some debate to the origin of the snack.<ref name=uis>{{cite web |work=Oral History Collections |url=http://library.uis.edu/archives/collections/oral/pdf/WALDMIRE.pdf |title=Interview with Edwin Waldmire – Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) |publisher=Brookens Library, University of Illinois Springfield |access-date=February 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305151833/http://library.uis.edu/archives/collections/oral/pdf/WALDMIRE.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=storch>Storch, Charles. [https://web.archive.org/web/20171205042120/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-08-16/features/0608150331_1_hot-dog-corn-dog-historic-route Birthplace (maybe) of the corn dog], ''Chicago Tribune'', August 16, 2006, Newspaper Source, ([[EBSCO Information Services|EBSCO]]). Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> The [[horseshoe sandwich]], not well known outside of central Illinois, also originated in Springfield.<ref name=hot>{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Patricia |last2=Lyon |first2=David |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2006/11/20/the_hottest_thing_in_sandwiches |title=The hottest thing in sandwiches |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=November 20, 2006 |access-date=February 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202053155/http://www.boston.com/ae/food/articles/2006/11/20/the_hottest_thing_in_sandwiches/ |archive-date=December 2, 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> Springfield was once the site of the [[Reisch Beer]] brewery, which operated for 117 years under the same name and family from 1849 to 1966.<ref name=reisch>{{cite news |url=http://www.ulib.niu.edu:2072/pqdweb?index=0&did=625286242&SrchMode=1&sid=1&Fmt=10&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=HNP&TS=1173534473&clientId=8829 |title=117-Year-Old Brewing Co. Closes |format=PDF |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 8, 1966 |page=C6 |via=ProQuest |access-date=March 10, 2007}}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[File:Lincoln's Tomb.JPG|thumb|right|[[Lincoln's Tomb]]]]
The [[Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop (Springfield, Illinois)|Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop]] in Springfield still operates what it claims as the first U.S. [[drive-thru]] window.<ref name=guide>Pearson, Rick. [https://archive.today/20090114181451/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0702080400feb09,1,316033.story "A Guide for the National Press"], ''Chicago Tribune'', February 9, 2007. Retrieved February 23, 2007.</ref> The city is also known for its [[chili con carne|chili]], or "chilli", as it is known in many chili shops throughout Sangamon County.<ref name=wills/> The unique spelling is said to have begun with the founder of the Dew Chilli Parlor in 1909, due to a spelling error in its sign.<ref name=conv>[http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/About/FunFacts.asp About the City] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070315001138/http://www.visit-springfieldillinois.com/About/FunFacts.asp |date=March 15, 2007 }}, Springfield, Illinois Convention and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved February 23, 2007.</ref> Another interpretation is that the misspelling represented the "Ill" in the word Illinois.<ref name=conv/> In 1993, the Illinois state legislature adopted a resolution proclaiming Springfield the "Chilli Capital of the Civilized World".<ref name=wills>Zimmerman-Wills, Penny. [http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A2233 "Capital City Chilli"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218172421/http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A2233 |date=February 18, 2007 }}, ''Illinois Times'', January 30, 2003, Retrieved February 23, 2007</ref>

Springfield is dotted with sites associated with U.S. President Abraham Lincoln, who started his political career there.<ref name=thomas>Thomas, Benjamin P. ''[https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=25051697 Abraham Lincoln: A Biography] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120529073359/http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=25051697 |date=May 29, 2012 }}'', Alfred Knopf: New York, (1952). Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> These include the [[Lincoln Home National Historic Site]], a [[National Historical Park]] that includes the preserved surrounding neighborhood; the [[Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site]], the [[Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site]], the [[Old State Capitol State Historic Site]], the [[Lincoln Depot]], from which Abraham Lincoln departed Springfield to be [[presidential inauguration|inaugurated]] in Washington, D.C.; the Elijah Iles House, Edwards Place and the [[Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum]]. The church that the Lincoln family belonged to, [[First Presbyterian Church (Springfield, Illinois)|First Presbyterian Church]], still has the original Lincoln family pew on display in its narthex. Near the village of [[Petersburg, Illinois|Petersburg]], is [[New Salem, Menard County, Illinois|New Salem]] State Park, a restored hamlet of log cabins. This is a reconstruction of the town where Lincoln lived as a young man. With the opening of the Presidential Library and Museum in 2004, the city has attracted numerous prominent visitors, including Presidents [[George W. Bush]] and [[Barack Obama]], the actor [[Liam Neeson]], and the [[Emir of Qatar]].<ref name=Qatar>[http://www.qatarembassy.net/The%20visit%20of%20The%20Emir%20of%20Qatar%20to%20The%20United%20States%202005.asp The visit of The Emir of Qatar to the United States (May 2005)] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502103756/http://www.qatarembassy.net/The%20visit%20of%20The%20Emir%20of%20Qatar%20to%20The%20United%20States%202005.asp |date=May 2, 2007 }}, Press Release, Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, D.C.. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref><ref name=lib>[http://www.alplm.org/home.html# Museum Dedication – A Look Back] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215200414/http://www.alplm.org/home.html |date=February 15, 2009 }}, (note:automatically plays band music), Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref>
[[File:Illinoisoldcapitol.jpg|thumb|right|[[Old State Capitol State Historic Site]]]]
The [[Donner Party]], a group of pioneers who resorted to [[Human cannibalism|cannibalism]] while snowbound during a winter in the [[Sierra Nevada]] mountains of California, began their journey West from Springfield.<ref name=donner>Reardon Patrick T. [https://archive.today/20090114193003/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0702080399feb09,1,7459474.story Donner Party began here too], ''Chicago Tribune'', February 7, 2007. Retrieved February 21, 2007.</ref> Springfield's [[Dana–Thomas House]] is among the best preserved and most complete of [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]'s early "Prairie" houses.<ref name=ihpa>[http://www.state.il.us/hpa/hs/dana_thomas.htm Dana–Thomas House] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825070830/http://www.state.il.us/hpa/hs/dana_thomas.htm |date=August 25, 2007 }}, State Historic Sites, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Retrieved March 7, 2007.</ref> It was built in 1902–1904 and has many of the furnishings Wright designed for it.<ref name=ihpa/> Springfield's [[Washington Park (Springfield, Illinois)|Washington Park]] is home to [[Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon]] and the site of a carillon festival, held annually since 1962.<ref name=carillon>[http://www.carillon-rees.org/html/festival.html The 46th Annual Carillon Festival] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319123349/http://www.carillon-rees.org/html/festival.html |date=March 19, 2007 }}, Press Release, Thomas Rees Memorial Carillon. Retrieved February 24, 2007.</ref> In August, the city is the site of the [[Illinois State Fair]] at the [[Illinois State Fairgrounds]].

Although not born in Springfield, Lincoln is the city's most famous resident. He lived there for 24&nbsp;years.<ref name=amer/> The only home he ever owned is open to the public, seven days a week, free of charge, and operated by the [[National Park Service]].<ref name=amer/>

Springfield has the area's largest amusement park, Knight's Action Park and Caribbean Water Park, which is open from May to September. The park also features and operates the city's only remaining [[drive-in theater]], the Route 66 Twin Drive-In.