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♪ Music ♪
♪ Music ♪
Narrator: Its a capitol like no other.
Bob Ripley: Most state capitols are a variation of
the federal capitol in Washington.
And this building was the first to radically depart from
copying that design prototype.
Narrator: It's a unique tower rising above the plains.
But far from "plain," Nebraska's capitol is a masterpiece of art
and architecture and the spirit of everything Nebraskan.
Gloria Witherspoon: Everything about this building tells a
story the art on the walls, the floors, everything.
This is called "the spirit of Nebraska."
When you look at the artwork in the building,
you're taken back into history, and that history
is of the pioneers, the Indians.
You see every race there is.
It's all in here.
And it's a mixture.
Just like the building itself.
The stone, Indiana limestone, marble coming from different
places around the world.
And you look at the wood, it's coming from different
places around the world.
This is a building that is a mixture in the works,
in the art, everything.
It's a mixture.
Narrator: It was a new idea built in a novel way a
groundbreaking capitol, timeless in design and function.
Ripley: The iconography or the imagery anything from
carved inscription, lettering in the building or art work be it
in the floor, ceiling mosaic or in murals inside or out,
all of those items were carefully planned.
So that they tell a progression of the story of the development
of Nebraska as a place, it's natural and human history and
that's paralleled by the 3,000 year evolution of democracy
as a form of government.
Narrator: Nebraska's capitol was planned by a gifted
creative team, led by visionary architect Bertram good hue who
drafted the towering capitol design.
Along with artist Lee Lawrie, who devised
all sculptured features.
Muralist Hildreth Meiere, who crafted imaginative mosaics
from floor to ceiling.
And university of Nebraska philosopher
Hartley Burr Alexander, who oversaw the inscriptions and
themes for Goodhue's designs.
Narrator: Constructed from 1922-32 the capitol was crowned
by an iconic figure of plains life.
Witnessed by Lincolnite Barbara Day.
Barbara Day: The day that we came down to watch the sower
raised was pretty exciting there still was construction going on.
And it was shipped out here in an open freight car.
And he was big.
Seventeen, eighteen feet high without the stand.
So we stood and watched how they fastened ropes
and then slowly began to raise him up
the side of the building.
So it was an exciting day to be there.
Narrator: Nebraska's capitol is a revolutionary design by a
creative team that shared a single artistic vision.
Narrator: If you plan a visit, take a tour and see how the
capitol's art and architecture reflect Nebraska as a place,
its people, and the development of democracy.