Tour of the State Capitol Building in Lincoln, Nebraska

Nebraska State Capitol Building with statue of Abraham Lincoln by Daniel Chester.
Nebraska State Capitol Building with statue of Abraham Lincoln by Daniel Chester.

While visiting Nebraska in the fall of 2012, I toured the state capitol building in Lincoln, known as the Tower of the Plains. The structure bursts with symbolism and art and made me realize a tour of all 50 US state capitols might be a worthwhile quest.

The building was designed by architect Bertram Goodhue in neo-gothic or what I consider Art Deco style.  It stands on the site of the previous Capitol and features a “cross within a square” floor plan. The broad square base runs 437 feet on each side, partially underground, and rises three levels in height standing for the rolling prairie fields.  The landmark domed tower rises 400-feet and supports a 19- foot tall bronze figure of “The Sower”. The figure represents agriculture as the heart of Nebraska’s prosperity. Mosiac Thunderbirds beneath the “Sower” imply rain.

"The Sower" atop the Capitol dome.
“The Sower” atop the Capitol dome.

Construction began in 1922 around the old building and continued for ten years. Landscaping was competed in 1934 at which  time the Capitol was fully paid for at a cost of $9.8 million.

I found a plethora of art on every wall and corner, on the ceilings and the floor. Why, the place out ranks most art museums. My guide explained that each piece tells the story of Nebraskans from the Native Americans to the pioneers, to the present day.

My favorite artworks included the following areas with descriptions taken from the official website: http://capitol.org/visit.

Capitol Building-3

Vestibule
The theme of the Vestibule is “Gifts of Nature to Man on the Plains”. The sun, an important gift of nature, is represented in the top of the dome, the chandelier and the large floor mosaic. In the mosaic tile dome, surrounding the sun in a large circle are agricultural products of Nebraska, and in the corners of the dome are the four seasons of agriculture.

Floor of the Nebraska Capitol Building
Floor of the Nebraska Capitol Building

Warner Chamber Native American doors

The colorful doors to the Warner Chamber tell of Native American culture and life. Corn, the Native American’s main agricultural crop and important food source is in the center of the doorway, represented as a tree of life. The Thunderbird, a symbol of rain and life is pictured at its center. On the sides, an Indian man is standing on an otter, a symbol of medicine and an Indian woman is standing on a turtle, symbol of fertility.

Doors to the Warner Chamber
Doors to the Warner Chamber

Hildreth Meiere’s ceiling mosaics within the chamber represent the daily activities of the Native American cultures of the Plains: women hoeing corn, a war party, a tribal council, and a buffalo hunt. The mosaics and decorative borders were designed to look like Native American beadwork.

Ceiling resembling Native American beadwork.
Ceiling resembling Native American beadwork.

West Legislative Chamber doors

The leather doors of the West Chamber show the agricultural foundation of Western Civilization in the ancient middle eastern region. With the Assyrian man and woman planting a tree of life under an Egyptian sun.

West Chamber Doors
West Chamber Doors

Supreme Court

The 8000 piece carved walnut ceiling aids in the acoustical quality of the Chamber. It has coffers which along with the Guastavino Acoustic Tile walls capture sound waves and prevent echos. The public is welcome to attend the court’s sessions and enter from the rear of the Chamber.

Ceiling of the Supreme Court Chambers
Ceiling of the Supreme Court Chambers

Memorial Chamber
The central room of the 14th Floor Observation Level is the Memorial Chamber, it is “dedicated to the forms of heroism called for in the public service and in devotion to humanity”.

Memorial Chamber Dome
Memorial Chamber Dome

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www.Visit Nebraska.org
The Capitol is open 7 days a week.
445 K Street
On K, between 14th and 16th Streets
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509–4696
hello@capitol.org • (402) 471–0448

One thought on “Tour of the State Capitol Building in Lincoln, Nebraska

  1. Hello,
    My great grandfather, David Bonin did mosaic tile work in the Capitol Building in Lincoln, NE. I was wondering if this fact that my family has written in his obituary is indeed factual. Do you have a list of artists who worked on the murals in the Capitol? I have never traveled to the building to see it for myself but If he did work on the mosaics, I will.
    Thank you,
    Terri Sharkey Barresi

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