Welcome to the Star City!

Welcome to Lincoln, the capital city of Nebraska! With about 294,000 people, Lincoln is Nebraska's second-largest city (after Omaha). The city was named after President Abraham Lincoln, and it became the capital when Nebraska became a state in 1867.

Lincoln is called the "Star City" because of its beautiful star-shaped street pattern downtown! But what makes Lincoln really special is its amazing Capitol building - you can see its tower from TWENTY MILES away! It's like a lighthouse on the Great Plains, guiding people home.

The Skyscraper Capitol

Nebraska's State Capitol is unlike ANY other capitol building in America! While most capitols have domes, Nebraska's has a TOWER that reaches 400 feet into the sky - that's as tall as a 40-story skyscraper! You can see it from 20 miles away across the flat Nebraska prairie.

This was the FIRST state capitol in America to use a tower design instead of a dome. When architect Bertram Goodhue designed it in 1920, people thought he was crazy! But when it was finished in 1932, everyone agreed it was a masterpiece. It cost $10 million to build - and amazingly, they finished it right on budget!

At the very top of the tower sits a golden-domed chamber, and on top of THAT stands "The Sower" - a 19.5-foot bronze statue covered in gold leaf! The Sower is a farmer scattering seeds, representing how Nebraska plants ideas to grow a better society. On windy days, The Sower sways back and forth a little bit - but don't worry, it's designed to do that!

The Only One in America!

Here's something REALLY special about Nebraska: it's the ONLY state in the entire United States with a unicameral legislature! "Unicameral" means "one chamber" or "one house." Every other state has two houses (like the U.S. Congress has the Senate and the House of Representatives), but Nebraska has just one!

Nebraska's legislature has 49 senators who meet in one chamber called the Unicameral. They changed to this system in 1937 because they thought one house would be simpler, less expensive, and help laws get passed faster. And they were right! Nebraska's government saves money and gets things done more efficiently.

Go Big Red!

Lincoln LOVES the Nebraska Cornhuskers! The University of Nebraska's football team plays at Memorial Stadium, which holds almost 90,000 people. On game days, the stadium becomes the third-largest "city" in Nebraska! The sea of red is absolutely incredible - everyone wears red and cheers "GO BIG RED!"

The Cornhuskers have an amazing tradition: they've sold out EVERY home game since 1962! That's over 60 years of packed stadiums! Nebraska fans are so loyal that people say "there's nothing like Nebraska." The team has won five national championships and is famous for the "Blackshirts" defense and the "Tunnel Walk" entrance.

Gardens and Wild Places

The Sunken Gardens are one of Lincoln's most beautiful spots! This amazing garden was created during the Great Depression in the 1930s. What was once a garbage dump was transformed into a gorgeous garden with over 30,000 flowers planted fresh every year! The gardens have three sections: the Healing Garden (all white flowers), the Perennial Garden, and the Annual Garden with new designs each season.

Best of all? The Sunken Gardens are completely FREE to visit! You can walk among the beautiful flowers, sit on benches, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere. It's like stepping into a fairy tale garden right in the middle of the city!

Amazing Lincoln Facts