Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
Nebraska State Capitol, Lincoln, NE

Photo: Hurstbergn, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFreeRainy-Day Pick

Nebraska State Capitol

1445 K St · Lincoln, NE

Why you should go…

Designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue and built from 1922 to 1932, the Nebraska State Capitol rises about 400 feet from a three-story square base to a gold-tiled dome topped by The Sower, a 19.5-foot bronze figure. Free guided tours lead you past Hildreth Meière's marble mosaic floors and tiled vaults, sculpture and murals, and the chamber of the only unicameral state legislature in the country. The tower and its observation decks are closed during HVAC construction.

  • #state capitol
  • #guided tours
  • #architecture
  • #mosaics and murals

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Nebraska State Capitol, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Lincoln

    Free

    Nebraska's capital city, with museums, the Haymarket district, parks and university culture.

    0.3 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Memorial Stadium

    Free

    See the home field of Nebraska Cornhuskers football, a 1923 stadium on the university campus that seats over 85,000.

    0.9 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum

    Under $25

    Walk among Cold War bombers, an SR-71 Blackbird, missiles and spacecraft in two huge buildings off I-80.

    25 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Family Favorite

    Sarpy County

    Free

    A fast-growing Omaha-area county with Fontenelle Forest, Schramm State Park, and family fun parks.

    37 mi awayMore like this

  • Shopping
    Family Favorite

    Shadow Lake Towne Center

    Free

    Open-air regional shopping center at Highway 370 and 72nd Street in Papillion, with 70-plus stores, restaurants, a splash pad and summer concerts.

    42 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium

    $25–$50

    Walk through an indoor desert, an indoor rainforest and a 70-foot shark tunnel at this Omaha zoo and aquarium.

    49 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions