Kevin... LOL! Actually, Blago was not even known at the time. I wish it were still the same! I did call the Old State Capitol, however, and I did get access before it opened to the public.
Lucky you! Nowadays visitors to the current Illinois capitol all have to go through detectors; handheld photo equipment was allowed the last time I was there, but I don't know about tripods. Have you tried the nearby Lincoln Library/Museum?
Being a Lincoln buff, I visited the Lincoln Library museum last spring but I did not photography that day.
I can imagine that it is much harder to get access to public places these days. I would have to look in my files, but I think I made this image about 12-15 years ago.