The Presidential Museum project was situated in Block 1 of the Original Town Plat of Springfield. In 1854, this area was improved with a series of early, presumably upscale houses. The three areas highlighted in yellow represent the areas investigated archaeologically during the multi-year Presidential Library and Museum project. From bottom to top they include the Library (Block 12), the Museum (Block 1), and the Parking Garage (Block 2; Ninian Edwards Addition to Springfield).

This picture illustrates the built-up character of the Musuem project area during the 1860s.

Phase II archaeological testing documented the presence of significant subsurface features dating from the 1830s period. As such, the site was determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and Phase III achaeological mitigation was recommened.