Skip to main content
Shedd Aquarium

Things To Do

Places To Go in Illinois

Plan Your Trip

Accessibility in Illinois

Vachel Lindsay Home

603 S. 5th St., Springfield, IL 62703

Historic Sites

In the heart of our country stands the home of Vachel Lindsay - poet, illustrator, and pioneering film critic. From this lifelong base, Lindsay travelled America, thrilling early twentieth-century audiences with his powerful spoken-word performances.

Now Open. Reservations required for your visit. Book your reservation here.

Nicholas Vachel Lindsay is considered a founder of modern singing poetry, as he referred to it, in which verses are meant to be sung or chanted.  Vachel Lindsay became famous in the early 20th century as a traveling bard whose dramatic delivery of public readings helped keep appreciation for poetry as a spoken art alive in the American Midwest.  Now you can visit his home in Springfield, IL.

The house was built in the late 1840s; one of the first owners of the home was C.M. Smith, whose wife, Ann, was the sister of Mary Todd Lincoln. Both Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln were frequent visitors. The house was purchased in 1878 by Lindsay's parents and remained in the Lindsay family for 80 years.

How to find us?

Back to Listings

What's happening nearby...

The Questioneers at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Musuem •  Feb 16 – May 05 @ 9AM

Read. Question. Think. Play. The Questioneers exhibit comes to the Illinois Gallery at the ALPLM.

Read more about The Questioneers at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

Bluey's Big Play at UIS Performing Arts Center

UIS Performing Arts Center •  Apr 30 – May 01 @ 6PM

Bluey and the Heelers take the stage at UIS Performing Arts Center April 30 and May 1.

Read more about Bluey's Big Play at UIS Performing Arts Center

Chicago at UIS Performing Arts Center

University of Illinois Performing Arts Center •  May 07 @ 7:30PM

Celebrating it's 25th anniversary, Chicago takes the stage at UIS Performing Arts Center on May 7th.

Read more about Chicago at UIS Performing Arts Center

You might also be interested...

Bicentennial Plaza

Springfield

To mark Illinois' 200th birthday, the Bicentennial Plaza was developed in 2018 to create a walkway linking the Lincoln Home to the Governor's Mansion and State…

Read more about Bicentennial Plaza

Illinois Korean War Memorial

Springfield

The Memorial consists of a twelve-foot-tall bronze bell, honoring the 1,748 Illinoisans killed during the 1950-1953 Korean War. This memorial was dedicated on June 16,…

Read more about Illinois Korean War Memorial

Illinois State Capitol

Springfield

Watch Illinois politics in action, in this beautiful Renaissance Revival/Second Empire style building topped with a stunning 405-foot dome. All tours are free.

Read more about Illinois State Capitol

Share your Moments

#EnjoyIllinois

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get inspired by top travel stories, gain access to exclusive promotions and contests, and discover even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois.