A horseshoe and a cosy dog drive-in
If you’re interested in Abraham Lincoln and his role in American history, visit Springfield
YOU’RE going where?
Springfield, Illinois.
It’s been almost 10 years since I tried my first horseshoe – a hulking Springfield food assemblage that involves an open-face sandwich
(it could be beef, a buffalo chicken patty, portobello mushroom, fish or other protein or veggie option) topped with a mountain of fries and covered in Welsh rarebit sauce.
It was as decadent, delectable and nap-inducing as it sounds.
That was my first time in Illinois’ capital city, about three-and-a-half hours south of our Chicago home, past tallgrass prairies, towering grain silos and sprawling cornfields.
It was also the first time I met, over those horseshoes, the beautiful soul who is now my mother-in-law. I’ve been back dozens of times, accompanying my husband to his hometown.
Those frequent visits mean ample opportunities to sink our teeth into the horseshoe or, if we’re in the mood, a snack at Cozy Dog Drive-in, which was once a Route 66 mainstay; to check out the famous butter cow at the Illinois State Fair; to pay a visit to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana-thomas House and to tour the former haunts of Abraham Lincoln, who lived in Springfield for 24 years before becoming president and about whom the town is understandably obsessed.
A visit to Springfield is a chance to immerse yourself in history and politics, explore Americana and try a few of the local specialities, which just might make you feel like you’re at a year-round fair. Local faves
1. Dana-thomas House
The word “prairie” is used liberally around Springfield. It is the capital of the Prairie State, after all. The term takes its most artful form at the Dana-thomas House, a stunning example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie-style architecture.
Wright designed the home in 1902 for Susan Lawrence Dana, a fascinating woman who was a philanthropist and feminist known for being eccentric.
Today, the 1 115m2, with its 35 rooms (and duck-pin bowling in the basement), is owned by the state of Illinois and is known for being the most intact of all Wright homes, with its expansive collection of art glass and furniture designed by Wright. Tours offered daily shed light on Wright as well as the home’s former residents, including Dana and, later, Charles Thomas, who used the house as the office for his publishing company.
dana-thomas.org
2. Route 66 Drive-in
Vintage Americana runs deep in Springfield thanks to its location on the Mother Road and that retro pride burns especially brightly in one spot. Route 66 Drive-in is home to two screens that show double features from April to October, with a mix of new and classic movies.
Bonus: Next door is Knights Action Park, an amusement park, water park, golf range and go-kart track owned by the same family as the drive-in. Make it a heartlandof-america doubleheader and visit both, if you can. route66-drivein.com
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