Located in central Illinois Springfield is the capital of the State of Illinois with a population of 116,482. It was first settled in 1820 by trappers and traders and was first called Calhoun for Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina. Renamed Springfield, it became the Illinois capital in 1837.

Abraham Lincoln's Springfield Home (Courtesy Springfield Convention and Tourism Bureau)

The early 20th century Prairie poet Vachel Lindsay once famously wrote that “Lincoln walks at midnight” through the streets of Springfield—Abraham Lincoln’s hometown. MHA members will encounter Lincoln’s ghost firsthand when they attend the 44th Annual MHA Conference to be held in Illinois’ capital city in conjunction with the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial.

For over thirty years Lincoln traversed the central Illinois region. Conference goers will have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps. Conference headquarters—the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel—is in the heart of Springfield’s historic district. Within a three-block walking radius are the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Lincoln Law Office, the Old State Capital, the Great Western Railroad Depot, and the award-winning Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum. Other sites of interest in downtown Springfield include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Dana Thomas House, the Vachel Lindsay Home, the Illinois Executive Mansion, the Illinois State Capitol complex, and the Illinois State Museum.

WHY SPRINGFIELD AND NOT NAUVOO?

MHA has not met in Illinois since 1989. Nauvoo has inadequate meeting space for our annual conference. Springfield was the site of several important events in Mormon history and there was a significant Mormon presence in the city throughout the Nauvoo era. Attendees will have opportunities to learn of these Mormon connections to Lincoln’s Springfield. And a post-conference tour along Joseph Smith’s travel route from Springfield to Nauvoo and excursions out into the hinterland of Hancock County will reveal how Lincoln history and Mormon history intersect in many surprising ways.

• 2009 Preliminary Program (downloadable pdf file)
• Conference Registration (downloadable pdf file)
• Pre-Conference Tour - THE PRE-CONFERENCE TOUR IS TOTALLY FULL- A THIRD BUS CANNOT BE ADDED
• Post-Conference Tour
• Opening Reception
• Advertisers and Exhibitors Information (coming in January)
• Map of Springfield (downloadable pdf file)

TRANSPORTATION TO SPRINGFIELD

American and United Airlines serve Springfield’s Lincoln Capital Airport. All flights connect from Chicago O’Hare Airport. Since Springfield is a regional airport allow at least ninety minutes between flights to reach your gate. It is a short flight of less than thirty minutes between Chicago and Springfield. Note parking is free at the Lincoln Capital Airport.

Springfield is well served by Amtrak. While more than a dozen trains (the Lincoln Service and the Texas Eagle) depart from St. Louis and Chicago daily, only a handful leave in the afternoon. There are only two afternoon trains departing St. Louis (3:00 and 6:30 p.m.). The fare from St. Louis is less than $20 and takes two hours. Trains from Chicago take three and half hours with the fare under $40. The Springfield depot is located just three blocks from the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel.

The MetroLink is the St. Louis light rail system. It originates at the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and connects to the St. Louis Amtrak station. It takes approximately 35 minutes and costs $3.75. You can easily plan your trip ahead on MetroLink's on-line Trip Planner.

The President Abraham Lincoln Hotel offers free shuttle service to and from Springfield's airport and train depot (call 1-217-544-8800).

Two shuttle companies provide service from the St. Louis Airport to Springfield. SmartVan and Bart Shuttle offer one-way fares between $50-60. Discounts are provided for additional passengers.

President Abraham Lincoln Hotel and Conference Center

Located in the heart of historic downtown Springfield, the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel is known for its easy access to all of the Lincoln historic sites and is the closest hotel to the new Presidential Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum. It is also the only Springfield hotel with an underground concourse leading directly into the Prairie Capital Convention Center. MHA Conference sessions will be held in both the hotel and the conference center.

Conference rate is $95 a night (single/double/triple)

	President Abraham Lincoln Hotel & Conference Center 701 East Adams Street Springfield, IL 62701 1-217-544-8800 1-866-788-1860 (toll free) www.presidentabrahamlincolnhotel.com Call today to make your reservations – On-line reservation is not currently available. Register by April 28, 2009!! Specify you are with the Mormon History Association
Hotel is pictured in the center with the Prairie Capital to the right