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Historical Sites
Lincoln is not only Nebraska’s state capital, it is also home to many of the nation’s most prized historical monuments dating from the early 1900s to present day. Take time to visit the Germans from Russia Museum, the Home of William Jennings Bryan, the Governor’s Mansion, our Historic Haymarket, the Lincoln Statue, the Thomas P. Kennard House, or Nebraska’s State Capitol. Whatever your interests, you’ll be sure to find the perfect fit in Lincoln!
- American Historical Society of Germans from Russia Museum
In 1764, Russian Czarina Catherine the Great invited German natives to settle along the Volga River. Many responded because of the promises made to them. By 1870, many of the promises had run out or were being revoked by the Russian government, prompting a mass migration.
The Germans from Russia were attracted to Lincoln and the Great Plains because of the climate and the agricultural societies. By 1914, more than one-third of Lincoln's population was made up of these immigrants and their descendants.
This unique museum is dedicated to preserving their culture and houses the international society offices, archives and special displays, including a summer kitchen, all-faiths chapel, store and blacksmith shop. A statue depicting the typical German-Russian immigrant family as they arrived in the Americas is located at the front of the museum.
Hours: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday-Friday
Tours: 2 p.m. Monday-Friday, April-October. Group tours available.Cost: Free Admission
631 D Street
(402) 474-3363
www.ahsgr.org
ahsgr@ahsgr.org - Fairview, Home of William Jennings Bryan
William Jennings Bryan served two terms in Congress, was U.S. Secretary of State and was the Democratic nominee for President in 1896, 1900 and 1908. His historic residence has been restored to its early 1900s grandeur.The house that once sat atop a hill and offered a "fair view" of the Prairie Capital and its adjacent farms has been incorporated into the BryanLGH Medical Center campus and is located about 1 block east of 48th Street on the north side of Sumner Street. The Bryan Museum, on the lower level, includes authentic displays and recordings.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.Tours: Call to arrange tours by appointment.
Cost: No admission fee.
49th and Sumner streets
(402) 481-3032
www.bryanlgh.orgDirections: One block east of 48th Street on the north side of Sumner Street, with a statue of William Jennings Bryan in front.
- Governor's Mansion
The Nebraska Governor's residence is located just south of the Capitol. The home was built in 1957 in the Georgian Colonial-style.The home of Nebraska 's first family features a doll collection of the state's first ladies in their inaugural gowns. A superb silver service from the battleship U.S.S. Nebraska, needlepoint chair cushions, custom woven carpets and elegant reception rooms highlight the home.
Groups of 10 or more are requested to make reservations.
Hours: 1-4 p.m. Thursday
1425 H Street
(402) 471-3466 - Historic Haymarket
Great restaurants, unique shopping and fun nightspots located among restored turn-of-the-century warehouses make this area sizzle with activity. Antique shops, art galleries and the first microbrewery in Nebraska draw visitors day and night.The Historic Haymarket name comes from the original market square of 1867 where wagons, camping equipment and hay were bought and sold. In 1874 the city shifted the area a few blocks west and north and renamed it "Haymarket."
The spirit of the 1800s flows into Iron Horse Park located on the north side of the historic Burlington railroad depot. A three-dimensional brick mural, "Iron Horse Legacy," shows old locomotive Number 710 pulling the first train into Lincoln in 1870 on July 4th. A restored CB&Q steam engine originally built in the Havelock shops, an 1890s water tower fountain and reflecting pool along with a railroad-themed children's play area offer visitors a respite from the bustle of the city.
Take home a memory with a family photo of the "Watchful Citizen" sculpture on the corner of 7th and P Streets. You are invited to join this fanciful fella on his bench. The nearby Lincoln Visitors Center offers brochures and other information to help you plan a fun-filled stay in Lincoln.
Open year-round / Store hours vary
Between 7th and 9th Streets, from 0 to R Streets
(402) 435-7496
www.downtownlincoln.org - Lincoln Statue
Gettysburg Lincoln Statue
by Daniel Chester FrenchThe statue of Abraham Lincoln was sculpted by Daniel Chester French and dedicated in 1912. French later completed the statue of the seated Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The statue is one of the few remnants of the second Capitol building in Lincoln and still on its original site, located at the west entrance of the Capitol.
The Rail Joiner
by Louis SlobodkinThe original plan for the Capitol included the broad avenues that lead in all directions of the building. Facing the west entrance of the Capitol at the opposite end of Lincoln Mall is a bronze statue of a young Abraham Lincoln. The Rail Joiner welcomes visitors to the Justice and Law Enforcement Center at 575 S. 10th Street. The original was sculpted by Louis Slobodkin and completed in the 1930s and is displayed at the Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C. The Sheldon Museum of Art received a plaster cast of the sculpture and the right to reproduce it. A community-wide effort, including a "Pennies for Lincoln " campaign by Lincoln school children, funded the placement of the statue.
- Thomas P. Kennard House
This is where Lincoln started. Built in 1869, it's the home of Nebraska's first secretary of state and the oldest residence in town. It was dedicated in 1968 as the Nebraska Statehood Memorial and has been renovated to the 1870s decor. Special Victorian holiday decorations in December.Hours: By appointment only. Closed all state holidays.
Cost: $3 for adults, children under 18 free with accompanying adult
1627 H Street
(402) 471-4764 or (800) 833-6747
www.nebraskahistory.org - State CapitolThe State Capitol has been a constant in the lives of Nebraskans since it towered over Lincoln, fondly thought of as the Capital on the edge of the prairie. The Capitol is the perfect place to begin your tour of Lincoln 's attractions and learn Nebraska's story. The interior of this must-see jewel tells Nebraska 's history through carvings, mosaics, paintings, sculpture, inscriptions and inlaid wood.
Each artistic element contributes to the symbolic concept of this gem, that was voted one of the 10 most beautiful buildings in the world by a group of 100 architects. Constructed between 1922 and 1932, Nebraskans are proud that it was paid for when it was built at a cost just under $10 million. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in October 1976, it is home to the only non-partisan one-house state legislature in the United States.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
1-4 p.m. Sunday
Closed Thanksgiving and the Friday after, Christmas and New Year's.Tours: Free guided tours leave from the north entrance, on the 2nd floor on the hour, except at noon.
Wheelchair accessible
15th and K streets
(402) 471-0448
www.capitol.org
Museums
Lincoln’s museums are some of the most well-known in the nation. Check out Nebraska’s only antique tractor museum which displays over 40 historic tractors that showcase developments in the agricultural industry. Or stop by the National Roller Skating museum for a quick peak at a favorite childhood pastime!
- Lincoln Children's Museum
The Lincoln Children's Museum invites children to create, discover and learn through the power of play. Featuring three floors of highly-interactive, fun exhibits the museum offers creative, hands-on experiences that foster learning through play for children and youth. Ranked among the top 20 children's museums in the U.S., the Lincoln Children's Museum features over 40 exhibits including a three-story apple tree, full-sized airplane, kid-sized prairie dog tunnels, Lunar Lander, Nebraska Husker sports center, fire department and tot town for our smallest visitors. Make plans today to visit the Lincoln Children's Museum and discover the power of play!
Hours: 9:30 am-5pm Tuesday -Saturday; 1-5 pm Sunday; open until 7:30pm Thursday
Closed Monday and major holidaysCost: Admission charged; group rates available.
Wheelchair accessible1420 P Street
(402) 477-4000
www.LincolnChildrensMuseum.org - Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum
Experience communication antiquities and learn how the telephone transformed a segmented nation into one large community. View replicas of Alexander Graham Bell's original telephones.
See an impressive display of wooden wall and candlestick phones, as well as the colorful telephone sets of the "art deco" 50's and 60's. View the beauty and sparkle of the "Crown Jewels of the Wire" - the glass insulators. Harken back to a simpler time when the operator had to place your call and you shared your line with as many as ten other customers.
Hours: 1-4 p.m. Sunday, or by appointment. Closed all holiday weekends.
Tours: Guided tours available upon request. Call and leave a message. Someone will return a call to schedule your tour.
Cost: No fee, goodwill donations encouraged.
2047 M Street
(402) 436-4640
www.WoodsTelephonePioneers.org - International Quilt Study Center & Museum
The International Quilt Study Center & Museum is located at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Center houses the largest publically held quilt collection in the world. The 3,000+ quilts date from the early 1700s to the present and represent more than 25 countries. Enjoy the world-class collection, first-class exhibitions, a virtual gallery, and experiences for all ages. Unique shopping, easy parking, completely accessible. Visit the website for exhibition and activity schedules.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday
1-4:30 p.m. Sunday
Closed Mondays and University schedule breaks.Tours: Public guided tours FREE with admission Wednesdays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Please pre-arrange for groups by calling 472-6549.
Cost: $6 adults; $3 age 5-18; free under age 5; $12 family (up to 2 adults and their children or grandchildren)
1523 N. 33rd Street
(402) 472-6549
http://www.quiltstudy.org - Larsen Tractor Museum
Located in the world famous historic 1920 Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory. Discover the approaching 100 year history of the Nebraska Test. Over 25 tractors on display illustrating advancements in agricultural technology. Original tractor test equipment and instrumentation on display. View exhibits of early hand tools, draft animal yokes, plows and planters preceding the development of the tractor.
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; Closed Sundays and major holidays.
Tours: Tours of the operational test lab are available. Call ahead for large group tours.
Cost: Suggested Donations: $3 for adult, $1 for child, $5 for family.
UNL East Campus
(402) 472-8389
http://tractormuseum.unl.eduDirections: From 33rd and Holdrege Streets travel east 2 blocks. Turn north on East Campus Loop. Take 35th Street north to Fair Street. The Larsen Museum is on the first left. Parking is available in front of building.
- National Museum of Roller Skating
Believe it or not, inline skates are not new! Only in Lincoln will you find the world's largest collection of roller skates and roller skating memorabilia. Displays of skates, posters and other artifacts depict the sport and the industry from its past to the present. The museum is located within the headquarters of USA Roller Sports.
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Closed Saturdays, Sundays and holidaysCost: Free. Donations are appreciated.
4730 South Street
(402) 483-7551, ext. 16
www.rollerskatingmuseum.com - Nebraska History Museum
Discover Nebraska's many stories told in beaded leather and fabric quilts, a Pawnee earth lodge and a WWII living room, the music of a banjo and the sounds of a Native American drum. Visit the Investigation Station, a place where kids and grown-ups alike can learn about history hands-on. New for 2010: For the People: Nebraska's New Deal Art and Crazy Quilts. Find Nebraska products in the museum store. Call for information on programs.
Hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Tours: Self-guided tours are available during museum hours. For docent guided tours for groups of 15 to 100, please give three weeks notice, if possible.
Cost: Free admission, $2 donation encouraged.
15th & P Streets
(402) 471-4754
www.nebraskahistory.org - Red Wing Pottery Museum
The Redwing Stoneware Company started in 1877 in Red Wing, Minnesota and distributed its wares throughout the U.S. More than 5,000 pieces of the famous pottery are artfully displayed, with pieces dating from 1877 and include the earliest pieces of stoneware through dinnerware and art pottery.
The collection includes cookie jars, several pieces of Grayline or Sponge Band and a one-of-a-kind 70-gallon jug made in 1923. Representative samples of all the patterns and hundreds of examples of the different styles of art pottery and dinnerware are exhibited.
Hours: By appointment only.
Cost: Admission free.
3901 Normal Blvd, Suite 200
ldschleich@aol.com
(402) 489-6508 or
rsplittger@hotmail.com
(402) 770-7600 - University of Nebraska State Museum - Morrill Hall & Mueller PlanetariumLook for the mammoth! Early hunters prized the mammoth for food, tools and warm clothing. The life-sized bronze Columbian mammoth that embellishes the entrance of this natural history museum takes us back in time to when these huge mammals wandered the Plains.
The collections found inside include one of the world's largest collections of mammal fossils. Additionally, Elephant Hall offers a remarkable display of modern and fossil elephants along with a mural of Ice Age mammoths. Visit the Age of Dinosaurs in the interactive Mesozoic Gallery. Learn how evolution works in the new Explore Evolution Gallery. The Galleries of Ancient Life, Plains Indians and Hall of Nebraska Wildlife further interpret Nebraska's natural historic past. A hands-on Discovery Center is a favorite for kids of all ages.
Also check out the museum's Mueller Planetarium's schedule of sky shows.
Hours: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Wednesday; 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday; 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 1:30-4:30 p.m., Sunday and holidays
The Planetarium is closed on Mondays and UNL home football Saturdays.Cost: $5 for adults; $3 for children over 4 years old; $10 for families. Planetarium fulldome shows are an additional cost.
Just south of 14th and Vine Streets
(402) 472-2642
Museum Web Site: www.museum.unl.edu
Mueller Planetarium Web Site: www.spacelaser.com
Wineries
For a relaxing getaway, stop by any of Lincoln’s three prized wineries. Growers give tours of their vineyards daily. While at the wineries, be sure to visit their tasting rooms where you can enjoy the countryside as well as the exquisite taste of locally produced wines, cheeses, breads, meats, and more!
- Deer Springs Winery
The winery is located in a peaceful country setting just northeast of Lincoln. The wine tasting room inhabits the original family homestead house built in 1876. The farmhouse has been carefully renovated to reflect the charm and characteristics of the original structure while providing contemporary comfort and an atmosphere of country elegance. Sample a variety of wines made on the premises from Nebraska grown grapes and enjoy locally made breads and cheeses. The gift shop offers creative gift ideas and items for the occasional wine drinker as well as the wine connoisseur. Seating available indoors in the hearth room, picnic tables are available outdoors.
Hours: 2-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2-6 p.m. Sunday
16255 Adams Street
(402) 327-8738
www.deerspringswinery.com
info@deerspringswinery.comDirections: Eight miles east of Lincoln on the southeast corner of 162nd and Adams streets.
- James Arthur Vineyards
Located northwest of Lincoln, the vineyard is one of the finest wine production facilities in the state and welcomes visitors.While at the winery, guests can enjoy specialty wines, cheeses, meats and breads in the peaceful setting of the Nebraska countryside or in the tasting room, which features a stone fireplace and an observation deck overlooking the production facility. Tours are offered through the vineyards via the walking trail or by surrey (trolley) ride by special arrangement. The facility is handicapped accessible and offers wine and related products for sale.
Hours: April - October: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday; Noon - 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Noon - 6 p.m. Sunday
November - March: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday; Noon - 9 p.m. Saturday; Noon - 6 p.m. Sunday2001 W. Raymond Road
(402) 783-5255
www.jamesarthurvineyards.comDirections: From North 14th and Superior Streets in Lincoln take 14th Street north 7 miles, turn west on Raymond Road and continue for 2 and 1/2 miles.
- Prime Country Winery
Enjoy the view from the hilltop overlooking the beautiful Denton Hills area and the 12,000 vine vineyard. Then enter into the modern tasting room and "taste the true taste of Nebraska."All wines are produced, processed and bottled on site. All grapes are grown 100% from their chemical free vineyard. No wine is bottled until it has aged at least 24 months. Nebraska cheeses and sausages also available.
Take a walking tour of the vineyard anytime. Tours of the production facilities are available by advance reservation. For special parties, call 826-3567.
Hours: September - November: 1-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sunday;
December - March: 1-5 p.m. Friday - Sunday; April - August: 1-6 p.m. Friday - Sunday12120 SW 142nd Street
Denton, NE
(402) 826-3567
www.primecountrywinery.comDirections: Take I-80 or West O Street to Crete Exit, turn left on Nebraska 103, go 10 miles to Saltillo Road, turn left on 142nd Street (about 1/4 mile). Or from southwest Lincoln take Hwy. 77 south to Nebraska 33 (Crete exit). Take that to 142nd Street. Turn right and go 4 miles.
- WunderRosa Winery
The winery offers four wines this year - a dry red, dry white, semi-dry (sweet) white and a blush. You can enjoy wine from the deck with a great view of Lincoln's skyline and surrounding areas. Bring a picnic if you wish. Tours are available upon request.
Hours: 5-9 p.m. Friday, noon-9 p.m. Saturday; 1-8 p.m. Sunday
2361 Wittstruck Road, Roca
(402) 328-3494
www.wunderrosawinery.com
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