Nebraska State Capitol

State: Nebraska. Type: state capitol building, seat of the only unicameral state legislature in the United States. Location: 1445 K Street, Lincoln (Lancaster County). Built 1922-1932; architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue. Height 400 feet, topped by the bronze sculpture 'The Sower'. National Historic Landmark (designated 1976).

The Nebraska State Capitol rises above downtown Lincoln as a 400-foot Art Deco tower topped by the bronze statue 'The Sower,' making it the second-tallest U.S. state capitol after Louisiana's. Designed by New York architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue and built between 1922 and 1932 in four phases at a cost of roughly $9.8 million, the building combines Art Deco, Neo-Byzantine and Gothic Revival elements, with sculptor Lee Lawrie and muralist Hildreth Meiere contributing extensive exterior carvings and interior murals depicting the history of law and Nebraska life. Inside, the building houses the Nebraska Legislature, the only one-house (unicameral), nonpartisan state legislature in the country, along with the Nebraska Hall of Fame and its bronze busts of notable state figures. The capitol was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, with its grounds added to that designation in 1997, and it remains both a working seat of government and one of Lincoln's principal visitor attractions.

The capitol stands at 1445 K Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68508, on K Street between 14th and 16th Streets in downtown Lincoln, Lancaster County. Lincoln is Nebraska's state capital and second-largest city, roughly 55 miles southwest of Omaha via Interstate 80.

Lincoln has a humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Because the capitol's public tour areas are indoors, weather has limited impact on a visit, though outdoor time on the surrounding grounds is most comfortable in spring and fall.

Weekday mornings when guided tours run on the hour are a good way to see the building with a knowledgeable guide; spring and fall bring milder weather for exploring the grounds afterward. The tower and observation decks were closed for HVAC construction as of research, so visitors seeking rooftop views should confirm current status before planning around them.

Nebraska's current capitol is the state's third; the legislature commissioned Goodhue's design after a competition, and construction proceeded in four phases from a groundbreaking on April 15, 1922, to completion in 1932, all while the building remained in continuous use. Sculptor Lee Lawrie created the exterior bas-relief panels tracing the history of law and the rooftop 'Sower' statue, while muralist Hildreth Meiere and thematic consultant Hartley Burr Alexander shaped the building's extensive interior artwork and inscriptions, some murals not completed until as late as 1996. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 16, 1970, and named a National Historic Landmark on January 7, 1976, with the surrounding grounds added to the landmark designation in 1997.

Visitors can join free guided tours departing from the North Entrance on the second floor, which cover the legislative chamber, the Nebraska Hall of Fame's bronze busts, and the building's extensive murals and mosaics. Self-guided exploration of the public areas, rotunda and grounds is also possible. When open, the 14th-floor Memorial Chamber and observation decks around 245 feet up offer views over Lincoln, though this area was closed for HVAC construction as of research.

Highlights include the domed rotunda, the unicameral legislative chamber, the Nebraska Hall of Fame with its 26 bronze busts of notable Nebraskans, and the building's 21 interior murals. Exterior features include Lee Lawrie's chronological bas-relief panels on the history of law and the gold-tiled dome crowned by 'The Sower.'

The capitol sits in downtown Lincoln and is reachable by car via Interstate 80, with Lincoln's StarTran public bus system also serving the area. Visitors flying in typically use Lincoln Airport or Omaha's Eppley Airfield, then drive the roughly hour-long distance between Omaha and Lincoln.

As of research: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturday and holidays 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Free guided tours run at set times (9, 10, 11 a.m. and 1, 2, 3, 4 p.m.) on varying days; confirm current schedule with the tour office before visiting.

Entry and guided tours are free of charge, per the capitol's official visitor information. No ticket purchase is required.

A guided tour plus time to view the Hall of Fame and murals typically takes about one to two hours; visitors touring independently may spend more or less time depending on interest.

Downtown Lincoln, within easy walking or short driving distance of the capitol, offers a range of hotel chains and independent properties serving both business and leisure travelers, reflecting Lincoln's role as state capital and home to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Downtown Lincoln's Haymarket District and surrounding blocks, a short distance from the capitol, have a mix of casual and sit-down restaurants, cafes and bars typical of a state capital and university city; specific establishments were not detailed in the sources consulted.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus and the historic Haymarket District are both within a short distance of the capitol in downtown Lincoln, offering additional museums, shopping and dining for visitors extending their stay.

Lincoln's StarTran bus system serves the downtown area around the capitol. Lincoln Airport and Omaha's Eppley Airfield are the nearest airports; most visitors arrive by car or rideshare rather than transit.

As a working government building, visitors should expect security screening and should follow posted rules; pets are not allowed inside, though ADA-defined service animals are permitted. For any emergency, dial 911.

Comfortable shoes for walking the building's stairs and long corridors, and a light jacket for climate-controlled interior spaces, are worth packing. A camera is useful for the murals, Hall of Fame busts and rotunda.

Call the tour office ahead of a visit to confirm the day's guided tour times, since schedules vary, and check whether the tower/observation deck area has reopened after its HVAC-related closure. Pairing a capitol visit with a walk through the nearby Haymarket District or university campus rounds out a downtown Lincoln day.

Dial 911 for any emergency. Capitol Tour Office: (402) 471-0448. Capitol main switchboard: (402) 471-2311.

Nebraska State Capitol - https://capitol.nebraska.gov/

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.