The Nebraska State Capitol is one of the finest pieces of civic architecture in the United States, and most people drive past it on the interstate without stopping. That is their loss. The building is an art deco masterpiece — a soaring 400-foot tower rising from a low cruciform base, clad in Indiana limestone, decorated with extraordinary mosaics, sculptures, and carved reliefs that tell the story of civilization, law, and Nebraska itself.
The interior is what justifies the visit. The rotunda mosaics by Hildreth Meière depict the history of Nebraska in brilliant color, and the legislative chamber — Nebraska is the only state with a unicameral legislature — is an intimate wood-paneled room where you can watch the state's one-house parliament in session from the public gallery. The observation deck on the fourteenth floor, accessible by elevator, gives a panoramic view of Lincoln spread across the flat land in all directions. Admission is free; guided tours run on weekdays.