David Davis Mansion State Historic Site

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Illinois History — 1872 Victorian mansion of Supreme Court Justice David Davis — Lincoln’s campaign manager who masterminded the 1860 Republican nomination in Chicago! The “Clover Lawn” estate features 36 rooms with original furnishings. Bloomington, IL.

Visitor Information

About David Davis Mansion

David Davis Mansion State Historic Site in Bloomington preserves the opulent Victorian mansion of Supreme Court Justice David Davis — Abraham Lincoln’s campaign manager and close friend who Lincoln appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1862. The 36-room mansion, completed in 1872, showcases the height of Victorian-era domestic architecture.

Things to Do

Touring the magnificently restored 36-room Victorian mansion, viewing original furnishings and period artifacts, learning about the Davis-Lincoln friendship and Reconstruction-era politics, and attending seasonal events. Free admission.

About David Davis Mansion

David Davis Mansion State Historic Site in Bloomington preserves the Victorian mansion of Supreme Court Justice David Davis — Abraham Lincoln’s campaign manager and close friend who helped secure his 1860 presidential nomination. The 1872 mansion, “Clover Lawn,” is one of the finest Victorian homes in Illinois, with original furnishings and beautiful grounds.

Things to Do

Touring the lavish Victorian mansion with original furnishings, learning about David Davis’s role in Lincoln’s rise to the presidency, viewing the restored gardens, and experiencing Gilded Age life in central Illinois.

Insider Tips

Lincoln’s friend: David Davis was Abraham Lincoln’s campaign manager, close friend, and later a Supreme Court Justice appointed by Lincoln. Pro tip: The mansion (1872) in Bloomington is a stunning example of Victorian-era wealth — 36 rooms filled with original furnishings. Political connection: Davis managed Lincoln’s 1860 presidential nomination at the Chicago convention — a masterclass in political maneuvering.

Best Time to Visit

Year-round: Guided tours available most days. December: Victorian Christmas decorations. Summer: Garden tours. Spring: Combine with Bloomington’s other cultural sites.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did David Davis help Lincoln become President?

At the 1860 Republican Convention in Chicago, Davis and Lincoln’s team made strategic deals with delegations from Indiana and Pennsylvania — promising cabinet positions in exchange for votes. Lincoln won the nomination on the third ballot. Davis’s political skill was essential to Lincoln’s rise from small-town lawyer to President.

Wildlife & Nature

The David Davis Mansion — “Clover Lawn” — in Bloomington is a Victorian landmark (1872) built for Judge David Davis, Abraham Lincoln’s close friend and campaign manager who later served on the US Supreme Court (1862-1877). The mansion’s 15 acres of landscaped grounds include mature trees that support diverse urban wildlife. The Bloomington-Normal area sits at the heart of Illinois’ Grand Prairie — originally flat, treeless grassland extending hundreds of miles. The deep, black prairie soil — built over millennia by decomposing grass roots — is among the most fertile in the world, producing the corn and soybean harvests that make Illinois one of America’s agricultural powerhouses. Northern mockingbirds, Cooper’s hawks, and chimney swifts inhabit the estate grounds.

Nearby Attractions

Bloomington-Normal — the “Twin Cities” — are home to Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University. McLean County Museum of History has excellent Lincoln-era exhibits. Constitution Trail provides 45+ miles of paved trails. Funks Grove — one of the largest remaining groves of original timber in Illinois — produces pure maple sirup since 1824. Beer Nuts factory in Bloomington offers tours. Route 66 heritage runs through the area.