Superintendent of historic sites in Springfield announces new marker at the Old State Capitol

Posted on February 10, 2022
Blandford stresses the reason for the marker is not to endorse Obama’s policies, but to celebrate the fact that someone who spent significant time in Springfield as a state lawmaker became president. (Photo courtesy: Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Visitors to the Old State Capitol in Springfield will soon see a reminder of two times Barack Obama made history there.

In February 2007, he declared his candidacy for president. In August 2008, he introduced running mate Joe Biden. Later this year, an historical marker will stand on the lawn where those two things happened.

“To me,” said Justin Blandford, superintendent of the state historic sites in Springfield, “it’s about an opportunity to acknowledge history – and there is a history there, and when he made those announcements and won, that really highlights the importance of that history, and it deserves to be identified on the grounds.”

Blandford stresses the reason for the marker is not to endorse Obama’s policies, but to celebrate the fact that someone who spent significant time in Springfield as a state lawmaker became president.

He said the marker’s text does not mention the extreme temperatures which greeted the announcement: cold in 2007 and hot in 2008.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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