Discover the Charm: Top 7 Must-Know Fun Facts About Springfield, Illinois

1. DrinkinFest: LincolnFest's Boozy Past

In the Land of Lincoln, where Honest Abe might have turned a blind eye to a mischievous nickname, Springfield, Illinois once hosted an annual extravaganza of patriotic revelry, merry-making, and tippling that became known as "DrinkinFest": This celebration, which lasted from 1981 to 1993 and was officially dubbed LincolnFest, boasted an impressive peak attendance of 285,000 in 1986, included parades, carnival rides, and games, and raked in a whopping $2 million for concessionaires, but eventually stumbled due to financial deficits, reduced support, and a rather boozy reputation.
Source => sangamoncountyhistory.org

2. Fancy Lamps & Urns at Dana-Thomas House

When lamps and urns are so fancy they deserve their own spotlight: Within the artistic walls of Springfield, Illinois, lie the esteemed double pedestal lamp and hand hammered copper urn, which the Dana-Thomas House Foundation procured at auctions in the late '80s and 1998, respectively. The house also boasts art glass lighting crafted by the Linden Glass Company using glass from Kokomo Opalescent Glass in Kokomo, Indiana. To top it off, don't miss the Moon Children Fountain, a lovely terra cotta sculpture by Richard W. Boch, inspired by a sketch from Marion Mahony. Talk about an artistic paradise!
Source => dana-thomas.org

Did you know that 1.5 million bats call Austin's Congress Avenue Bridge their home, creating the world's largest urban bat colony? Witness their nightly insect feast and join the delighted locals and tourists! 🦇

=> Fun Facts about Texas

3. Honest Abe's Hat Hoax?

Hold on to your hats, history buffs: Springfield, Illinois might be pulling a fast one on us! Home to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum since 2005, doubts have risen surrounding the authenticity of a beaver-skin stovepipe hat once believed to be the iconic headwear of Honest Abe himself, as no evidence could be found to verify its connection to the beloved president.
Source => npr.org

4. Zooming at Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack

In a land where horsepower reigns supreme and dirt flies faster than gossip at a hair salon, there lies a legendary track that puts the spring in Springfield: Behold the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack, one of the oldest in the US, hosting auto races since 1910 and home to five world records, making it one of the fastest dirt tracks on the entire planet.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Lincoln's Epic Funeral Train Ride

Talk about a train ride to die for: Over 300 mourners boarded the Lincoln Special funeral train, retracing Abraham Lincoln's 1861 presidential inaugural route from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois (with a few alterations), and stopping in cities like Annapolis Junction, Baltimore, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, New York, Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Chicago, giving millions of people a chance to bid adieu to the beloved top-hatted leader along the 1,654-mile journey.
Source => rogerjnorton.com

6. The Rise of Mel-O-Cream Doughnuts

In a world glazed with distractions, where breakfast usually bites the hole truth, there's one doughnut that has iced its way to the top of Springfield's food chain: Enter Mel-O-Cream, founded in 1932 by Kelly Grant Sr., the scrumptious ring of delight that not only reigns supreme in Springfield and Lincoln, Illinois but also graces grocery chains, retail bakeries, convenience stores, and restaurants throughout the Midwest United States. With Mel-O-Cream's dough-votion, it's no wonder Springfield houses a palette of bakeries and sweet shops for residents and visitors to feast upon.
Source => mel-o-cream.com

7. The Hutterite Colony: McDonald's French Fry Farmers

It's no small potatoes when it comes to farming in Southeastern Washington's Hutterite colony: Known for cultivating over 20,000 acres annually, (with potatoes as their main cash crop) these farmer-slash-fry-enablers grow none other than Russet Burbank—the same taters that make McDonald's french fries! To ensure a delicious and golden success, the colony employs modern technology such as infrared aerial photography and computerized tractors, guaranteeing a yield that's unbe-leaf-ably efficient.
Source => oregonlive.com