288 DAYSSan Francisco · 1915
Gazetteer › States & Nations
State building · States & Nations

Illinois Building

A three-story shrine to Lincoln facing the Esplanade, with a room of his portraits, letters and life mask, and a great organ.

Newspaper photograph of the Illinois Building
Newspaper photograph of the Illinois BuildingRock Island Argus, June 30, 1914, public domain

Illinois's building, by State Architect James A. Dibelka, was about 140 feet long, 100 deep and three stories high. It carried relief friezes over its main entrances and the names of great Illinoisans under the cornice. The Official Guide calls it a reproduction of the state capitol; Todd does not. In practice it was a temple to Abraham Lincoln. Its Lincoln room held about 40 portraits, facsimiles of more than 100 letters and a cast of the life mask, and as many as 500 schoolchildren a day came through.

An assembly hall had motion pictures and a grand organ, with concerts twice a week. The organist Clarence Eddy played at the dedication on February 26, 1915.

At a glance

  • About 140 by 100 feet, three stories.
  • State appropriation $300,000 (Official Guide and Todd).
  • Dedicated February 26, 1915.

Afterward

Not recorded; presumably auctioned and wrecked.

Sources