Magazine Article Review: How Lincoln Became the Nebraska State Capital

How Lincoln Became the Nebraska State Capital by David L. Bristow, Nebraska State Historical Society, Nebraskaland, Lincoln, Nebraska October 2025, pp 36-39.

When Nebraska was made a state, the populace also voted for a change of the capital site, thinking a capital south of the Platte River would be more central to all the population centers of the time.  Political bosses in Omaha, realizing they did not have the votes, added amendments to make the move less palatable.  These included that the state hospital, state university and state prison would also be included.  Another amendment to to make the move less palatable was to give it the name of Lincoln after the president.  It was thought this would be disagreeable to Democrats living south of the Platte River.  

With the votes tallied and the move pending, and location had to be found.  They chose a town, Lancaster, with a population of 30.  Everything would be new.  It was considered central to the major cities of the time.  Feelings in Omaha were against the move.  In fact it was so negative that a couple clandestine wagons were loded in the middle of the night with records and furniture and on their way to Lincoln before morning.