Vestibule

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.

Tile Vestibule Dome

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 center of Hildrethe Meiere’s Guastavino tile dome, and is surrounded by a circular mosaic representing agricultural products of Nebraska. The outer border of the dome contains the inscription: Behold they come as householders, bringing earth’s first fruits, rejoicing that the soil hath rewarded their labors with the abundance of its seasons. The pendentives surrounding the dome portray the four seasons of agriculture. The arches around the dome are filled with native fauna of Nebraska.

Seasonal Sowing of Seeds

The three large wall murals were painted by James Penney and added to the Capitol in 1964. In sunset colors Penney has painted “The Homesteader’s Campfire”, “The First Furrow” and “The House Raising”.

The Murals

The Homesteader’s Campfire

The First Furrow

The House Raising