In 1867 Nebraska became the 37th state with Lincoln as its capital city. Two State Capitols were built prior to the current one. The two previous were replaced due poor construction and poor materials. The current Capitol was completed in 1922. It has a square base, each side over 400 feet in length. A 400 foot tower is in the center and atop the tower is the sculpture, "The Sower".
This side of the steps reads: Honour to pioneers who broke the sodes that men to come might live. The other side reads: Honour to citizens who build an house house of state where men live well.
This memorial to Abraham Lincoln stands at the South entrance of the Capitol. The Gettysburg Address is inscribed in the block of granite.
The Mansion is located on the east side of the Capitol.
One of the pieces of art on the capitol walls. Several pieces of art as this occur depicting Nebraska's pioneer history.
William F. (Buffalo Bill) Cody was born in Iowa in 1846. In his later years he traveled across the U.S. and Europe with his Wild West Show and made his home in Nebraska. In his earlier years he was a trapper, a bullwhacker, a Colorado "Fifty-Niner", Pony Express rider (1860), wagonmaster, stagecoach driver, Civil War soldier, and even hotel manager.
Another of the many busts in the halls of the Capitol is Red Cloud. As a warrior and a statesman, his success in confrontations with the United States government marked him as one of the most important Lakota leaders of the nineteenth century.
A native of Omaha, Nebraska earned his law degree from the University of Michigan, practiced law until 1885 when he entered the newspaper business. He eventually established Nebraska's Morning and Evening World Herald of which he was the editor. He then enter politics as a state representative and state senator.
One of four courtyards that I saw. This was the only one that could be viewed from a balcony on the second floor and entered from the cafe. The others did not seem to be open to the public and only viewable through windows.
Nebraska is the only state that has only one legislative body; the members are called senators. The state started with two legislative bodies but switched in 1937. There are 49 senators and each represents approximately 35,000 constituents. This particular day identity theft was on the agenda.
As I was wandering about, this office came into sight. It was more colorful than others.
There is an observation area on the 14th floor of the center tower. Here is one view of Lincoln from that area.
