Lincoln

Lincoln is Nebraska’s capital city. It has captured the gaze of travelers since settlers in wagons arrived here in the 1850s. It remains a shining and welcoming point of pride rising from the Nebraska prairie.

The Nebraska History Museum contains 125,000 items dating from 12,000 years ago through today. The collection includes prehistoric tools, pioneer quilts, antique farm implements and beaded Native American items. This is Nebraska’s official history museum. See p. 4 to learn more. history. nebraska.gov. 131 Centennial Mall N. (402) 471-4782

The world’s largest publicly-held collection of quilts is at the International Quilt Museum. Since its founding in 1997, the museum has collected, displayed and interpreted quilt folk art from around the world. Travelers with even a thread of time should weave their way through this cherished destination on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus. See upcoming exhibits at InternationalQuiltMuseum.org. 1523 N. 33rd St. (402) 472-6549

Located at I-80 Exit 405, Aardvark Antique Mall has 25,000 square feet of antiques curated by 250 local dealers. Visitors peruse 600 booths of glassware, coins, vintage toys, antique furniture, old tools, historic photos, man cave collectibles and she shed décor.

One corner set up as a vintage diner is a popular location for a cup of coffee and to contemplate purchases. Treasures found daily, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. 5800 Arbor Rd. (402) 464-5100

The Nebraska State Museum at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is officially known as Morrill Hall, but locals also call it Elephant Hall

CHIMNEY ROCK

LET HISTORY BE YOUR GUIDE.EST. 1867 history.nebraska.gov

because it contains the world’s premier collection of fossil elephants.

Mammoth and mastodon remains have been unearthed in 90 of Nebraska’s 93 counties. The star of the museum is Archie, who was discovered on a ranch in Western Nebraska. At 14-feet tall, Archie is the world’s tallest articulated mammoth skeleton. A life-size bronze statue of Archie greets visitors at the museum’s entrance.

The museum also is home to Mueller Planetarium, exhibits on dinosaurs, Native Americans and other archaeological, cultural and paleontological treasures. 645 N. 14th St. (402) 472-2637

No Lincoln visit is complete without stopping by the Nebraska State Capitol. Symbolism abounds in this stately statehouse where corn motifs blend into walls, woodwork and even light fixtures. Murals tell the long history of our state. “The Sower,” a sculpture by Lee Lawrie, punctuates the pinnacle of the capitol’s dome 400 feet above busy Lincoln streets. 1145 K St. (402) 471-0448

Speed demons brake for the Museum of American Speed. The museum founded in 1992 by “Speedy” Bill and Joyce Smith contains thousands of items chronicling the history of the automotive and racing industries. Some items preserved here exist nowhere else. 599 Oak Creek Dr. (402) 323-3166

Sheldon Museum of Art at 12th and R streets houses nearly 13,000 pieces of art inside a modernist building that is itself a work of art. (402) 472-2461

Great works of art are preserved and displayed at the Great Plains Art Museum in UNL’s Center for Great Plains Studies. It might be enough to encourage anyone to pick up art again. 1155 Q St. (402) 472-6220

A mass migration of more than 100,000 German Russians to North America began in the 1870s. Their history is preserved at the American Society of

Germans from Russia Museum.

631 D St. (402) 474-3363

Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket teems with unique shops, art galleries, fine