What are the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices?
Originally rented space in the Tinsley Merchant Block, this is the only surviving structure in which Abraham Lincoln maintained a law office!
What Makes It Historical?
Famously self-educated, Abraham Lincoln read enough books on law that he was admitted to the Illinois bar on September 9, 1836 and moved to Springfield to begin his practice as a “prairie lawyer” alongside his wife’s cousin, Stephen T. Logan! After hopping around different locations in Springfield, Misters Lincoln & Logan settled on a formal office in a freshly opened (1841) Greek Revival commercial block building. They would be located on the third floor, directly over the federal court, from 1843 to 1852. During this time, the firm argued cases involving estates, alimony, land rights, and conservatorships. One of the last cases, Davidson v. McGhilton (1852), went from a trial about unnatural relations between man and dog to one about slander!
Only a year into practice, Mr. Lincoln got tired of being the younger of two partners and dissolved his partnership with Stephen Logan! In his place, Mr. Lincoln brought on William Herndon, his debate pal from the Young Men’s Lyceum who had spent 14 hours a day after work studying law in what was then the Lincoln-Logan office! Staunchly anti-slavery, Mr. Herndon was one of the founders of the Republican Party after the dissolution of the Whigs and became mayor of Springfield in 1854! Even though he spent a great deal of time writing his former partner’s 3-volume biography, Mary Todd and Robert Lincoln never forgave him for replacing their cousin in the firm.
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Volunteer with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources!
- Donate to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
3 S Old State Capitol Plaza
Springfield, IL 62701
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The visitor center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM until 4:30 PM!