Laughs, Landmarks, and Long Roads: 10 Days Together

 Day 4 - Day 4 in Nebraska? 

🏛️ Capitol ✔️
🍔 Burgers ✔️
🧵 Quilts ✔️
🍦 Ice Cream ✔️
🌸 Blooms ✔️
🍫 Chocolate ✔️
🥧 Pie ✔️

Blog’s up now—go take a bite out of it! 😋
#RoadTripDiaries #DayFourFun #SweetToothState #MidwestMagic

We started this morning with a run to Walmart (because no matter how many lists you make, someone’s always going to need something....Michael and I needed a fan! After that, we hit the road to Lincoln, Nebraska—home of the state’s Capitol building.

Statue of Abraham Lincoln

Look at the arch above the window and see if you see the basketball player making his basket!

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Here you go now you can see it....right!

We were doubly blessed with tour guides today. Our official guide was a young woman named Allison who clearly knows her Capitol history.  But the real treat was having Larry Ruth—Mark’s sister Pat’s husband—along for the ride. Larry used to be a Page in the Nebraska Legislature during his college days, so you better believe he was full of fascinating facts and behind-the-scenes stories. It felt like getting the VIP tour with a local legend.

The Nebraska State Capitol, built between 1922 and 1932, is an architectural marvel. Standing at 400 feet tall (about 120 meters), it’s the second tallest Capitol building in the United States—just 50 feet shy of Louisiana’s, which holds the top spot.

And here’s the real kicker: it was built under budget and completely paid for upon completion. No loans, no lingering debt. Nebraska followed a “pay-as-you-go” funding approach—mandated by their state constitution—which prohibits state indebtedness. So not only is the building beautiful and historically significant, it’s also a monument to good financial sense. Somebody tell Congress.

We got to peek into the chamber where Nebraska’s lawmakers meet. The state has the only unicameral legislature in the U.S.—which means one lawmaking body instead of two. This system has been in place since 1937 and is meant to be more efficient and less partisan. The Legislature meets annually: 90 days in odd-numbered years, and 60 days in even-numbered years.

The Capitol’s interior was stunning. Towering columns of Italian marble lined the hallways, while in the rotunda, the columns were made of French marble—elegant and striking. 

Columns made with Marble from Italy

Columns made from Marble from France

Then we were invited to sit inside the Nebraska Supreme Court chamber. The room is wrapped in warm American walnut, and features three handwoven tapestries. They carry historical weight—each tapestry depicts scenes representing the early exploration and settlement of the Louisiana Territory. So they serve both form and function they help with the accosutics as well.

Larry giving us some more history of the Supreme Court chambers! You may recognize him from some of my previous blogs.  We have traveled to France and Italy with us!

We also spent time admiring the murals and floor medallions throughout the Capitol. While I can’t claim to remember every detail (you try keeping track after marble, walnut, and legislative procedures), I do remember that the murals captured Nebraska’s rich history—pioneers, Native American culture, agriculture, and more. The floor medallions were symbolic too—representing concepts like justice, nature, and time. I snapped plenty of photos, and I’ll let them do the talking.

After soaking up all that history and elegance, we figured we’d earned a bite to eat—so we headed to Honest Abe’s Burgers and Freedom. And let me tell you, this place lives up to the hype. The burgers were juicy, creative, and downright delicious. It was the perfect post-Capitol palate cleanser—freedom with a side of fries. 🍔

On the way to lunch Michael found a cat to try to chat to through the window!!

With lunch happily behind us, we made a stop at the International Quilt Museum, and what a delightful surprise that turned out to be! The collection features quilts from all over the world—some dating back centuries, others showcasing modern, vibrant designs. It was truly amazing how much story and skill can be stitched into fabric. Each piece was a work of art, and I think we all left there feeling cozy, inspired, and ready to get out our sewing machines. 😉

As we were leaving a fire truck and ambulance were returning to the station right next door to the Quilt Museum! Had to get a picture for Michael.

And since exploring beautiful quilts works up a sweet tooth, we made our way to the University of Nebraska Food Industry Complex for a stop at the legendary Dairy Store, in operation since 1917. This charming little spot has been serving up scoops for over a century, and we were more than happy to keep the tradition going. I had a scoop of raspberry lemon custard and one of what I think was called cherry munch—and yes, it was every bit as delightful as it sounds. Michael went for the blueberry cheesecake, and judging by the look on his face, it was love at first scoop. 🍦

Trying to capture a picture of a Golden walking by while we ate ice cream for Mark!

By the way please note that roads seem to be closed off whereever we go! 

Even trying to get to the Dairy Store!

Then, with our cones (and hearts) full, we headed to the Sunken Gardens, and oh my, what a beautiful way to walk off those burgers and that ice cream. This peaceful little oasis was bursting with blooms and charm. With perfectly manicured flowerbeds, soft paths, and trickling water features, it was the kind of place you could sit for hours—if you didn’t have chocolate calling your name...

They are taller than Michal 

This brings us to our final stop before heading back to Omaha: Baker’s Chocolate. Now this is how you end an afternoon. From truffles to chocolate bars to perfectly dipped treats, it was all too tempting to resist. We might have walked in saying, “just looking!” but let’s be honest—we left with bags in hand and no regrets. 🍫

And finally, after a day filled with beauty, learning, and snacks (both savory and sweet), we ended the day back at Mark’s sister Linda’s house. She set out some cold cuts, fresh fruit, dips, and the grand finale—a homemade strawberry rhubarb pie with ice cream. It was the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and home. After a day full of marble and medallions, quilts and gardens, ice cream and chocolate, ending it with good food and family made it all the more special.

Here is a group shot of most of the group today!

Stay Tuned - tomorrow will bring you more fun and adventures!