Springfield, Illinois -
Departure Point Of The Donner Party
A plaque, placed in 1957, delicately mentions the pioneers' "ill-fated trip to California." They wound up eating each other.
- Address:
- 98 S. Old State Capitol Plaza, Springfield, IL
- Directions:
- Downtown, two blocks south of Hwy 29, between 5th and 6th Sts. On a brick wall along with several other plaques on the pedestrian mall that runs along the south side of the old state capitol.
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Visitor Tips and News About Departure Point Of The Donner Party
Departure Point Of The Donner Party reports and tips from RoadsideAmerica.com visitors and Roadside America mobile tipsters. Some tips may not be verified. Submit your own tip.
Starting Spot of the Donner Party It is behind the old state capital. The plaque is facing the old capital building. The brick building behind the capital building has 2 glass doors on either side. Plaque was bigger than expected. [Steve, 05/24/2009]
1) In Springfield, Illinois, downtown on (I think) Lincoln Square, there's a plaque commemorating the starting spot of the Donner Party. Especially convenient if you're visiting the Lincoln Home or doing the walking tour of the Springfield Race Riot of 1908.
2) We hit Olney too late to see the white squirrels in person, but we did get to see the town's christmas light extravaganza which featured some impossibly cute kids and giant wooden models of the white squirrels. [Josh Lucas, 01/18/1998]
[RA: The plaque, placed in 1957, delicately mentions the pioneers' "ill-fated trip to California."]Nearby Offbeat Places
- Lincoln Ledger, Springfield, IL - < 1 mi.
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Springfield, IL - < 1 mi.
- Lincoln Funeral Train Monument, Springfield, IL - < 1 mi.
- In the region: Towering Grave of Mother Jones, Mount Olive, IL - 50 mi.
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