Moving from Kansas to Nebraska was a quick drive but we did dry camp (primitive) in another Casino. We should add all of the casinos we stop at on our map (not!). Staying in a parking lot in a Casino is very easy. No hookups – just run the generator for the night – plus free. So we stayed at the Prairie Band Casino and Resort in Mayetta, KS. The parking lot was huge and we could easily pull in. The casino was small but nice. We have noticed lately that the air in the casinos is filtered nicely and there is not a lot of smoke haze in the casino.
So we moved there to the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln, Nebraska which had only electricity. When we arrived there was a horse show going on so the place was packed but not full. We tried to call the Security Office (as per the signs) but didn’t get any answers. So we pulled into a random site. We found the electric box was not locked so we plugged in and then tried to go to the Event Center to find someone. Again there was no one around. So we stayed the night for free. We were able to dump and fill fresh water when we left.
The good thing is that when we arrived on Sunday, the Capitol was open on Sundays until 5 p.m. and we had plenty of time.
Before we made it into the Capitol, we had parked across the street from the Governor’s Mansion. The house has 27 major rooms which includes 5 bedrooms, 12 bathrooms, 4 fireplaces and a 3-stall garage. Total square footage is 15,340. Unfortunately, tours are only done on Thursday and we won’t be there on Thursday.
When we arrived, we noticed that most of the windows on one side were boarded up and there was a lot of construction going on around the Capitol. We found inside they were upgrading the HVAC and windows so that was a major event. Apparently the project started as an update to the more than 50-year-old heating and cooling system, but as in most renovations, the to-do list started growing. Fire sprinklers were added to the list. And an updated fire alarm system. A new generator. And if officials were going to rip out the heating and cooling units that sit against the windows, it made sense to fix the windows, too. The project has been in the works since 2012. It has taken years to gain the political momentum to secure funding for the project and then carefully plan how the work will be done in the historic building.
Apparently State agencies moved out. State senators are moving up to the higher floors.
To start our tour, we came across this status of Lincoln. We found throughout travels that this pose is known as the Gettysburg Address pose.
There are no other statues outside of the Capitol. This was the first Capitol that didn’t have them. Usually there are many. Instead there are large grass areas around it so we moved inside.
The structure is anchored by a three-story, 437-foot (133 m) square base. This square base houses offices most frequently visited by the public. The second floor (main floor) is home to the office of the Governor of Nebraska, the Nebraska Supreme Court, the Nebraska Court of Appeals, and the Nebraska Legislature.
From the center of the base, a tower rises 362 feet (110 m), crowned by a gold-tiled dome. The finial—The Sower and its pedestal—add an additional 32 feet (9.8 m) to the building’s height. Common measurements list the capitol at 400 feet (120 m), making it the second-tallest U.S. statehouse, surpassed only by the 450-foot (140 m) Louisiana State Capitol.
In total, there are 15 stories in the capitol (three mezzanines also exist within the tower between the 3rd and 4th floors). Memorial Chamber on the 14th floor—the highest publicly accessible level—has four observation decks that offer views of Lincoln from 245 feet (75 m) above the ground.
We started our tour on the 14th floor. The central room of the 14th Floor Observation Level is the Memorial Chamber, which is “dedicated to the forms of heroism called for in the public service and in devotion to humanity”.
The dignity of the Chamber is derived from the monumental use of black marble—Black Belgian, Italian Porto Oro, and Vermont Verde Antique.
The murals were painted by Nebraska artist Stephen Roberts. The inscription beneath the murals is taken from Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address. This circle was very quiet -almost like being in a library and all that anyone could do was stare at these beautiful murals.
They had a Hall of Fame also. Some of the sculptures are obvious why we took pictures of while others are because of the workmanship.
We finally made it outside again.
After our visit to the Capitol, we decided to look for murals. First we found an alley that had sculptures instead.
We found some murals also.
The big thing in Lincoln however where the serving hands. They are full-size fiberglass sculpture for Lincoln’s next public art project – celebrating 50 years of Campus Life. Campus Life has been impacting teens in through camps, retreats and mentoring. Hands are selected to exemplify the heart of service.
What a great trip to Lincoln. It was a great city to visit. We are off to Iowa next.
