The 1855 Executive Mansion where Lincoln dined as a guest — now said to be haunted by Catherine Yates, wife of a Civil War-era governor, and documented for unexplained electronic incidents.
410 East Jackson Street, Springfield, IL 62701
Research updated June 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Free public tours available on scheduled dates; check website
Access
Wheelchair OK
State grounds with paved walkways; historic interior may have limited accessibility on upper floors
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1855 · Oldest continuously occupied governors' residence in Illinois · Abraham Lincoln honored guest during 1850s · Civil War-era Governor Richard Yates residence · Illinois Executive Mansion since 1855
The Executive Mansion at 410 East Jackson Street was completed in 1855 during the administration of Governor Joel Aldrich Matteson, making it one of the oldest continuously occupied governors' residences in the country. The Italianate structure replaced an earlier state house used by the governor and has housed every Illinois governor since.
Abraham Lincoln, who lived a few blocks away on Eighth Street, was a frequent visitor and honored guest during the 1850s. Governor Richard Yates served during the Civil War years — Lincoln's wartime partnership with Yates was crucial to Illinois's significant contributions to the Union Army, and the mansion served as a hub for wartime coordination.
Richard Yates's wife, Catherine Yates, lived in the mansion through the war years. She died in 1873. The mansion underwent major renovations in 2002–2003 that restored it to a 19th-century appearance, including the addition of historically appropriate furnishings and decor from the period.
The building is operated by the State of Illinois and functions as both the official governor's residence and a historic public attraction. Free public tours are offered on scheduled dates throughout the year.
Sources
Legends of America's account of haunted Springfield places the Governor's Mansion among the city's most active paranormal sites. Catherine Yates, who died in 1873, is described as the primary presence — residents and staff have reported electronics behaving erratically without power failure, smoke alarms triggering without fire or smoke, and door latches moving.
The most frequently cited specific incident involves an Illinois State Trooper assigned to mansion security who was reportedly trapped in the elevator for four hours. When maintenance inspected the elevator after the trooper was freed, no mechanical fault could be identified that would explain the malfunction.
The mansion's role as an active state residence means that current governors and their staff live there, which limits public access to the interior and restricts the amount of documented paranormal investigation that has taken place. Reports cited in Legends of America appear to come from former staff and security personnel rather than visiting ghost hunters.
Notable Entities
State-offered tours of the Executive Mansion covering its history as the official residence of Illinois governors since 1855, including its connection to Abraham Lincoln and Civil War-era governors.
View the 1855 mansion from the sidewalk on East Jackson Street; read historical markers detailing its role as a Lincoln-era landmark.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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