Simply The Best State Capitol

I love to wander historic structures and have even been honored to be Curator of a few in my day! This awesome building just happens to be in the city of my birth, Lincoln, Nebraska. (And yes, the city was named after recently assassinated President Abraham Lincoln.) The current Nebraska State capitol building is the third to be built on this site, and was the result of a nationwide design contest. You can read more about the building history here: http://capitol.nebraska.gov/building/history/nebraska-capitols

There is an intriguing, though unproven rumor that Adolph Hitler admired the Nebraska capitol building (he apparently had the blueprints for the building in his office)… and would have chosen it as his headquarters when his plan to conquer the United States came true! Thankfully, that did not come to pass and it still belongs to all of us… if you are ever in Lincoln you would do yourself a favor to visit. My brother Shannon and I were there on a rainy day recently… If you visit when the weather is clear you can still go on the outside walkway at the top of the tower and see the best views of the surrounding area.

Willa Cather

Buffalo Bill Cody

Every detail is beautiful and well made

Inner Courtyard

Red Cloud

Elevator – yes, the floor indicator still turns to show you where the car is coming from

Detail on one of the entry doors

Bas relief details on the exterior

Main entry with the tower above and behind

President Lincoln, of course

My favorite detail… a beautiful stylized bison

This particular bison bas relief is inscribed with this quote:

“ARISE WITH THE DAWN
BATHE IN THE MORNING SUN
SLEEP WHEN THE BIRDS NO LONGER FLY
AWAKE WHEN THE FIRST FAINT DAWN APPEARS”
Sioux Lore

To read more about the design and philosophy of the Nebraska State Capitol building check out this website: http://capitol.nebraska.gov/building/history/team/hartley-alexander