About Lincoln NE
Lincoln is the capital city of the state of Nebraska, which currently serves as the seat of the Lancaster County. It is the principal city of the Lincoln metropolitan area and the Lincoln – Beatrice statistical region. As the seat of the Nebraskan government, 2 of Lincoln’s biggest employers are the state and federal government. It was founded in 1856 as the then village of Lancaster, and was made the seat of the greater Lancaster County in 1859. The original site for the village laid on the eastern shore of the Salt Creek.
The very first settlers were lured here due to the abundance of salt. However, when J Sterling Morton established his salt mines in Kansas, the salt business became untenable to the villagers. In 1859, these villagers decided to form a county, and after the enactment of the Homestead Act in 1862, numerous ‘homesteaders’ moved to the area. Nebraska attained statehood recognition in 1867. At that particular moment, Omaha was serving as the capital for the Nebraska Territory. Still, the bigger portion of the state’s population resided on the southern side of the Platte River.
When much of the territory started contemplating being annexed by Kansas, the local legislature moved to relocate the capital to the south of the river. Lancaster was ultimately chosen, and was renamed Lincoln in honor of President Abraham Lincoln, who had being assassinated at that epoch. In the 1970s, Lincoln was designated as one of the ‘refugee- friendly cities in the country by the federal department of state. Refugees from all over the world then began to be re-settled here. This included those from Vietnam, Sudan and the Middle East. As of the 2017 – 2018 school year, the public schools in the city supported around 3,100 students from 100 nations who speak 50 different languages.
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Top attractions
Lincoln, as the capital of Nebraska serves as the cultural and social hub for the state. It abounds with a variety of attractions that attract diverse visitors from all over the United States. In the first place, there are plenty of performing arts centers, which offer live music including the Pinnacle Bank Arena, Duffy’s Tavern and the Bourbon Theatre. There is the Lied Center as well that is popular venue for national tours of Broadway productions and concerts. The Lied Center is home to the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra as well, which performs here on a regular basis. Lincoln also has a number of world class art galleries such as the Sheldon Museum of Art and the Noyes Art Gallery. The city also has an extensive park system that comprises of more than 125 different parks that are linked by 133 miles system of recreational trails. One of the most prominent of these trails is, without question, the MoPac Trail, which is a biking, walking and horseback riding trail.
Historic Haymarket District
The Historic Haymarket District can be the perfect setting to take leisurely strolls, dine or even simply watch people. It consists of exquisitely renovated or restored brick warehouses and brick streets that date back to the late 19th century along with a huge water tower. Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket District has a very vibrant ambience thanks to its close proximity with the University of Nebraska. One of the most notable historic buildings here is the Lincoln Station that was previously a railway depot, but now houses a visitor center and a trendy restaurant.
Nebraska State Capitol
It essentially took 3 attempts by the Nebraska state government to build a Capitol, which could stand the test of time. The one in place right now was completed in the early 20th century, 1932 to be more specific, and has the distinction of being the 2nd tallest of its kind in the country. This State Capitol is very unique in several ways. To begin with, it lacks a conventional dome. Instead it integrates a 400 feet tower that houses the state government offices. One of the highlights of a visit here is examining the building’s limestone exterior, which symbolizes 3,000 years of democracy via carvings. The interior of the Nebraska State Capitol is ornate, and features detailing like marble columns, murals and mosaic flooring.
University of Nebraska State Museum
This Lincoln museum is affiliated with Smithsonian, and is renowned for showcasing fascinating exhibits on Paleontology. Some of its top attractions are the biggest articulated mammoth in the planet together with a variety of exhibits on fossilized elephants. The University of Nebraska State Museum houses many other collections, which are associated with the state’s natural history too. It even comes complete with the Mueller Planetarium.
Sunken Gardens
The Sunken Gardens were established in 1930, and underwent renovation in 2004. The gardens occupy a very small 2 acre parcel of land, and have 3 major gardens; the Healing Garden, the Perennial Garden and the Annual Garden. In the first, all plants are noted for blooming white, while the last comprises of over 30,000 plants, which are utilized to create new designs and themes on a yearly basis.
Sheldon Museum of Art
Here is yet another top hot spot in the City of Lincoln. The Sheldon Museum of Art showcases 12,000 works of art that span numerous different media. It is located at a short walking distance from the University of Nebraska State Museum. While taking the path that connects the 2 you can view some unusual sculptures that are part of this museum’s collections. This includes the untitled ‘big head’ that was created by Jun Kaneko, which is situated at its steps. There are also over 30 more sculptures to be seen on this walkway including those of Jacques Lipchitz, William Tucker and Claes Richard Serra. Once in the Sheldon Museum of Art proper, the primary focus is on American works of art. Some of the most prominent of which are collections from artists such as Mary Cassatt, Andy Warhol and Georgia O’Keeffe.
International Quilt Study Center & Museum
The International Quilt Study Center & Museum is housed in a very distinctive modern building in the East Campus of the University of Nebraska. Its main exhibit consists of collections that exhibit 400 years of quilting, and feature 3,500 items sourced from over 30 different nations in the world. This museum also showcases traveling exhibits on a regular basis.
Pioneers Park Nature Center
This park sprawls on an impressive 668 acre piece of land, and provides up to 8 miles of hiking trails, which meander around the property. Some of the wildlife species to be encountered here include herds of bison, elk, white tailed deer, red tailed hawks, barrel owls and even wild turkey. In its impressive Nature Building, there are a number of caged animals on show that can be examined from up close. Visitors also get the opportunity to touch snakes and turtles if they wish to do so.
Lincoln Children Museum
The Lincoln Children Museum can be a breathtaking place to visit if you have kids in tow. It is set in 3 different levels and showcases a variety of intriguing exhibits and learning workshops for kids of all ages. There are several hands-on activities, which little ones can engage in. This includes the ‘Cuckoo Construction,’ which is basically a mock up building site where kids can wheel bricks about, get to hammer walls and even build their own urban clock tower. Another key attraction of the Lincoln Children Museum is ‘Tiny Town’ that is located on the main level. This is a miniature town, which comes complete with a bank, hospital, theater, TV station and more.