Nebraska State Capitol Restoration Effort Receives National Park Service Award

(Lincoln, Neb.) Photo Gallery - During a ceremony held in the State Capitol Rotunda today, Gov. Dave Heineman accepted an award on behalf of the Nebraska Capitol Commission from the National Park Service in recognition of the many restoration projects completed during the past decade.

The Award of Appreciation was presented by a representative of the National Park Service to the Nebraska Capitol Commission, which is chaired by the Governor. The commission advises capitol staff on the maintenance and restoration of the State Capitol and its grounds.

“Our State Capitol is the seat of state government, but it is also a destination for tourists and visitors and a symbol of the ideals and the history that make our state unique,” Gov. Heineman said. “The Capitol Commission and its staff are dedicated to maintaining and preserving this building. Their painstaking efforts have ensured our State Capitol will remain a showpiece for future generations of Nebraskans.”

The Nebraska State Capitol, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, has also been designated a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Now 85 years old, the building has undergone a variety of restoration and preservation projects in recent years, including:

• The exterior masonry project scheduled for completion in 2010.
• Cleaning and conservation of the 12 murals on the capitol’s second floor.
• Restoration of original capitol furniture.
• Cleaning and restoration of the Norris Legislative West Chamber and Lounge, including a new entrance and door system.
• Current restoration of the Elizabeth Dolan mural in the capitol Law Library.
• Ongoing restoration of capitol office spaces.
• Replanting the grounds to reflect the historic landscaping plan for the State Capitol with trees donated by fourth grade classes every Arbor Day since 1998.

To assist in the preservation and restoration, as well as overseeing the daily operation of the Capitol, the Office of the Capitol Commission (OCC) employs skilled craftspeople and professionals, including: preservation architects, an archivist, a mason, a hardware conservator, and furniture conservators.

In addition, specially trained maintenance personnel, as well as cabinetry, grounds and custodial staff provide for the daily care and maintenance of the capitol with an emphasis on preserving the historic character and finishes of the building and surrounding landscape.

OCC Director Bob Ripley said, “We are dedicated to maintaining the original character and beauty of this building so magnificently designed by architect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue in 1920. It’s our goal to ensure that the capitol stands as one of Nebraska’s most important monuments for hundreds of years to come. This recognition gives us the opportunity to recognize everyone here who works so diligently to maintain our capitol.”