Edwards Place
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This stunning antebellum mansion tells the story of social and cultural life in Abraham Lincoln’s Springfield, Illinois.
Owned and operated by the Springfield Art Association. Edwards Place must-see site for anyone who loves old houses, antiques, archaeology, or Abraham Lincoln! Edwards Place was the home of attorney Benjamin Edwards, youngest son of Governor Ninian Edwards and brother-in-law of Mary Lincoln’s sister Elizabeth. In the years before the Civil War prominent citizens such as Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas were entertained at lavish dinner parties and legislative receptions. Your guided tour of Edwards Place will take you back in time to experience social and family life in 19th century Springfield. This 4500 square foot mansion features nine rooms restored to their mid-19th century appearance, complete with original and local furnishings. You’ll see historic treasures including a rare piano which belonged to a colorful early Congressman, important portraits of 19th century Springfield residents, and artifacts from Abraham Lincoln’s in-laws, including the “courting couch” on which Lincoln and Mary Todd sat during the early days of their romance.
09/22/2026
Thank you for coming to visit Edwards Place during the Fine Art Fair! If you'd like to come back for a full tour covering all floors, please come back during our regular tour times (Tuesdays-Saturdays 1&2 PM) to purchase a ticket.
Thanks to our wonderful volunteers who helped visitors by answering questions and providing friendly faces 😀
09/19/2026
Register to attend "The Unusual Suspects," our Edwards Place murder mystery for 2026. There are just two nights this year, so you'll want to get your ticket fast, before someone swipes it out from under you!
This event is ages 21+ only and you can register until October 12 at 9AM (or until tickets sell out, whichever comes first)!
09/17/2026
Our fall lecture series connects American cultural practices because of the America 250 commemoration. On October 8, our first lecture will be given by Carla Sofka and will be about American mourning customs over our history. We are so excited to learn from her expertise on this subject!
www.edwardsplace.org/upcoming-events
09/15/2026
The Edwards Place Fine Art Fair is this Saturday and Sunday! This fair brings dozens of artists to the grounds of Edwards Place. The event is totally free and includes self-guided tours of Edwards Place, glass-blowing demos, a book fair, and scavenger hunts for kids! There's so much to see and do during the Fine Art Fair; we'd love to see you this weekend!
www.springfieldart.org/fine-art-fair.html
09/12/2026
The Edwards Place Fine Art Fair is coming up on September 19-20! Edwards Place will be open during fair hours for a free open house! Stop in and grab a tour booklet and chat with one of our interpreters during these hours to get a little taste of Edwards Place!
More info about the FAF here:
Fine Art Fair at Edwards Place Edwards Place Fine Art Fair and book sale brings national artists to SAA. Shop for art and books, enjoy live music and food trucks.
09/10/2026
Today is National School Picture Day, so we thought it would be a fun exercise to bring you a special Edwards Place school picture day! 🍎✏️😀
09/08/2026
We still have space in our "Commander in Chef: Breakfast for Dinner" workshop on October 23. This cooking/history session, try out "fat rascals," a favorite of Teddy Roosevelt and calas tous chauds, a rice donut enjoyed by Zachary Taylor. This workshop includes coffee (Teddy's favorite), milk (Taylor's choice), and water.
More info and tickets here: www.edwardsplace.org/upcoming-events
09/05/2026
Happy World Beard Day! To celebrate, take a look at some of the beards of the Edwards family and friends. Which one is your favorite?
Photos:
B. H. Ferguson
B. S. Edwards
N. W. Edwards
A .G. Edwards
09/03/2026
Rehearsals have begun for The Unusual Suspects! This murder mystery will run October 17-18 at Edwards Place and will feature classic detectives as the murder suspects. We are so excited to welcome this cast of villains - tickets are on sale now!
www.edwardsplace.org/upcoming-events
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700 N 4th Street
Springfield, IL
62702