Childhood, youth, Maturity, and Age
These four panels represent the various stages of life and connect with other pieces in the Foyer to symbolize the course of the Life of Man.
The Activities of Society
These panels represent the activities of society and central bonds of human life. They are Labor, Law, Public Spirit, and Religion.
The Aspects of Life in Nebraska
In the ceiling arches are twelve panels representing the aspects of life in Nebraska. They include the Homebuilder, Pioneer Mother, Teacher, Pupil, Flower Girl, Ball Player, Scholar, Scientist, Architect, Artist, Statesman, and Philosopher.
Past, Present, and Future
The entire Foyer ceiling is split into three sections, representing their respective themes. “Traditions of the Past” depicts The Recorder holding a stone tablet documenting ancient wisdom. “Life of the Present” includes The Spinner who weaves the fabric of time. “Ideals of the Future” shows The Foreseer who looks expectantly forward into the future.
Spirit of Vegetation
The Spirit of Vegetation depicts a woman kneeling on the ground with her palm on the earth. Around her hand, mushrooms sprout up. At her feet, flowers are displayed in full bloom. Behind and above her, a canopy of various trees. The floor mosaics in the Nebraska State Capitol were painstakingly executed by Sunderland Brothers….
The Spirit of Animal Life
The Spirit of Animal Life depicts a woman with a large cat, goat, and a primate. The animals represent the various carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores that make up the animal kingdom. This is the last circular medalion of the vestibule as you reach the rotunda. The floor mosaics in the Nebraska State Capitol were painstakingly…
Spirit of the Soil
The Spirit of the Soil features a woman kneeling on land with her hands on cliffs that rise from the darkness below. The Spirit of the Soil is the first art-deco mosaic following the Genius of Creative Energy as you progress toward the Rotunda. The the Genius of Creative Energy kicks off the story of…
Tree Planting
Tree Planting depicts golden trees and branches rising up in the foreground behind a colorful background. Tree planting is meant to celebrate Arbor Day, a national holiday that celebrates and promotes the planting of trees. Arbor Day got its start in Nebraska.
The Building of the Capitol
The Building of the Capitol displays the construction of Nebraska’s third and final Capitol building. On the left, the second Capitol building is shown surrounded by orange, pink, and grey geometric figures representing the construction of the current Capitol around the old one while it was still standing. The blueprint is located in the top…
The Blizzard of 1888
On January 12, 1888, Nebraska was hit with a historic and unexpected blizzard of disastrous proportions. Reports state that the day started unseasonably warm. Then the wind changed, driving a massive snowstorm into the state. Temperatures plummeted to 34 degrees below zero and people and animals were suddenly trapped in a dangerous situation. The storm…
