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Nebraska State Capitol

The Nebraska State Capitol, situated in Lincoln, Nebraska, is the most distinctive statehouse in the United States. It is the seat and capitol of the Nebraska Legislature and also houses other government offices of Nebraska. Designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, the State Capitol building is a magnificent skyscraper topped by a golden dome. The limestone structure is the second tallest U. S. State Capitol building. It features both Classical and Gothic architectural styles and is a major landmark in the surrounding area. This building is the third state capitol building of Nebraska and was constructed between 1922 and 1932. The 20-foot (6-m) statue of a farmer sowing grain on a pedestal of wheat and corn crowns the tower and represents the agricultural heritage of the state.

The Nebraska State Capitol, popularly known as ‘The Tower of the Plains’, has an intricate iconographic program. The large square base of the building symbolizes the flat plains in the state. The vertical tower, on the other hand, represents the aspirations and dreams of the pioneers. The gilded frieze over the entrance depicts the progress of the pioneers in the early days. The golden dome, the statue of ‘The Sower’ and the frieze around the drum represent the sun, agricultural productivity, and rain respectively. The bison, which prettifies the huge balustrade flanking the main stairway, is inscribed with the ritual passages of Native Americans. The exterior of the State Capitol also features a series of friezes portraying the history of law from the Ten Commandments to the commemoration of Nebraska’s statehood.

The credit of much of the original interior design of the building goes to Hildreth Meiere. There are a number of impressive paintings and iridescent murals inside the building. These murals reflect the history and culture of the early pioneers who first inhabited Nebraska and the heritage of the Native Americans. The doors of the building are a product of master craftsmanship and represent the cultural contributions of the pioneers and Native Americans. The main theme used in the interiors is the nature and cultivation of the prairie. Corn, sunflowers, wheat, wild native animals, and buffaloes’ motifs are repeated throughout the building. The tile work of the building was designed and hand-crafted by the Pewabic Pottery and Mary Chase Perry Stratton. The Nebraska State Capitol is an architectural gem and the major attraction in the city of Lincoln.

• Location: 15th and K Streets, Lincoln, NE
  
• Telephone: (402) 471-0448
• Hours: Mon - Fri, 8 AM - 5 PM; Saturdays & Holidays, 10 AM - 5 PM; Sun, 1 - 5 PM
• Website: http://www.capitol.org

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