Illinois Times: Back to the future (Springfield Union Station upgrade)

[Tweed]

http://www.illinoistimes.com/gbase/Gyrosite/Content?oid=oid%3A3904

"Downtown Springfield is about to resurrect a piece of its history as Union Station, the former rail depot that spans an entire block of Madison Street, undergoes a nearly $10 million makeover.

The project includes a dramatic reconstruction of Union Station's original 110-foot clock tower, crowned by a 40-foot flagpole, both of which were removed from the building in the 1940s.

"Union Station is a one-of-a-kind design, and it's going to look exactly as it looked in 1898," says Bill Borgognoni, lead architect for the project. His Carbondale-based firm also restored the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices.

Once abandoned and threatened with demolition, Union Station has since been ensured a long future as the welcome center for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum complex."

How many of you knew that they were building the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum? It's actually quite an impressive building. I have only seen it from the outside, but it really could help attract people to Springfield. The Museum is only a couple of blocks from the train station, which is only a couple of blocks from the State capitol building, Abraham Lincoln's old attorney office, the Old State capitol building, Abraham Lincoln's home and Springfield's downtown. It's cool that you could take the morning Amtrak train to Springfield on Saturday (or the 5:15 on Friday) stay overnight and take the 4:30 (or something like that) back to Chicago on Sunday. If you are looking for an inexpensive, relaxing weekend trip, I suggest that one. You don't even need a car.

[madrchsod]

1. went there as a "parent" on my daughters

6th grade field trip. hit all the highlites of springfield which was pretty cool..even got our picture taken with our representative.. several of the girls were looking for someone famous to take a picture of...they spotted a guy going into an elevator and explained-"there`s someone famous"!.it was bill kurtis,he seemed taken back but the kids to his picture and he autographed some paper they had...i shook his hand smiled said "kids"...i must say he was cool about the whole thing. it`s a interesting tour of the old section of the capital and esp. the senate or house when they are in session...