The Nebraska State Capitol is the one building every Nebraskan should walk through at least once. Designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue and built from 1922 to 1932, it’s a limestone tower unlike any other statehouse in the country — part Art Deco, part Romanesque, with floor mosaics and murals that tell the story of the state’s Native American and pioneer history. The one thing to do here is take the free guided tour: the symbolism baked into every hallway is the kind of thing you’d walk right past on your own.
Locals call it the Tower on the Plains, and it’s not just a nickname — the dome and Sower are visible from all over Lincoln and work as the city’s unofficial compass. Heads up before you go: the 14th-floor observation decks have been closed for HVAC construction, so check the Capitol’s site before planning a trip around the panoramic views.
It’s open every day except a few holidays, and tours start at the north entrance on the second floor. Sundays it’s 1 to 5 p.m.; Monday through Friday 8 to 5; Saturdays 10 to 5. Give it an hour, then walk the grounds — the landscaping tells its own story about the Plains.