Historic Rooms
Take a quick tour through the most distinguished chambers in the Capitol.
Take a quick tour through the most distinguished chambers in the Capitol.
The theme of the Vestibule is “Gifts of Nature to Man on the Plains”. The sun, an important gift of nature, is represented in the top of the dome, the chandelier and the large floor mosaic. In the mosaic tile dome, surrounding the sun in a large circle are agricultural products of Nebraska, and in the corners of the dome are the four seasons of agriculture.
The theme of the Foyer is the “Life of Man”. On the floor are three mosaics which represent the Earth, “The Spirit of the Soil”, “The Spirit of Vegetation” and “The Spirit of Animal Life”. The three medallions in the ceiling represent “Traditions of the Past”, “Life of the Present” and “Ideas of the Future”.
The floor plan of the Capitol is a cross within a square and the Rotunda, 112 feet tall, is located at the intersection of the arms of the cross in the center of the building.
In the east and west arms of the cross which is centered on the Rotunda are the two chambers of Nebraska’s legislature. Nebraska had a bicameral government until 1937, when the Unicameral was formed.
The West Legislative Chamber is decorated with scenes of the westward migration of the three nations to claim political control of Nebraska, Spain, France, and the United States.
Once each month, the Nebraska Supreme Court’s seven appointed justices hear oral arguments in an acoustically perfect chamber finished with American Walnut wood.
Bertram Goodhue designed a second Court Room for the Capitol.
The Governor’s Office Suite includes the Governor’s Hearing Room, the Governor’s Reception Area and the private offices of the Governor and the Chief of Staff. The decorative style of the suite is Italian Renaissance.
The central room of the 14th Floor Observation Level is the Memorial Chamber, it is “dedicated to the forms of heroism called for in the public service and in devotion to humanity”.