About This Location
The official residence of the Governor of Illinois since 1855, this historic mansion has housed the state's leaders for over 160 years. Among its residents was a governor's wife whose spirit reportedly never left.
The Ghost Story
The Illinois Executive Mansion at Fifth and Jackson Streets in Springfield was built in 1855 and has served as the official residence of Illinois Governors and their families since Governor Joel Matteson first took residence. Now the third-oldest continuously occupied Governor's Mansion in the country, it has hosted seven Presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, and witnessed countless political gatherings, formal dinners, and social events across 170 years of state history.
The mansion's haunted reputation centers on Catherine Yates, wife of a former governor, whose mischievous spirit is said to toy with lights and smoke alarms throughout the building. Visitors and staff report unexplained electrical disturbances, with lights flickering and alarms sounding without apparent cause.
The mansion is a featured stop on "Springfield's Haunted Dead Walk," which explores the city's supernatural side. This tour includes ghostly incidents at Springfield High School, Inn at 835, and the Governor's Mansion, sometimes incorporating hands-on paranormal investigation.
Three levels of the mansion are open to the public, including four formal parlors, a state dining room, a ballroom, the library handcrafted from Native American Black Walnut, and four bedrooms—including the Lincoln bedroom. Given the building's age and the weight of history within its walls, it's perhaps unsurprising that some occupants have left permanent impressions.
Springfield itself is rich with supernatural legends, from Lincoln's ghost at his tomb and former home to the phantom funeral train that reputedly travels the rails each April on the anniversary of Lincoln's death. The Governor's Mansion adds another layer to the capital city's haunted heritage, where the boundaries between Illinois' political history and its ghost stories often blur.
Researched from 6 verified sources including historical records, local archives, and paranormal research organizations. Learn about our research process.
