Rich with history and looking to the future, Springfield is a lively Midwestern city with all of the charm of a small town and the amenities of a larger city. Its past, dating to as early as 700 B.C. with ancient First Nations settlements, is preserved in artifacts, village sites, the new Heritage Center Museum - once the Springfield City Hall - and historic buildings along the National Road. Springfield's artistic trailblazers are celebrated in the city's theaters, dance venues and galleries.