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The history of Lincoln
The Haymarket's brick warehouses, the Nebraska State Capitol and the University of Nebraska campus give Lincoln a walkable core, with neighborhood main streets beyond.
People who shaped Lincoln
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Lincoln Nebraska, Lincoln History, Lincoln Geography, Lincoln Overview, Lincoln Documentary
A local history film shared by City Comely.
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Lincoln
See all 48 famous people
- 1856
The village of Lancaster
Settlers founded the village of Lancaster on Salt Creek.
City reference ↗ - 1859
County seat
Lancaster became the county seat of the newly created Lancaster County.
City reference ↗ - 1867
Nebraska's capital
The new state chose the village for its capital and renamed it Lincoln.
City reference ↗ - 1869
City and university
Lincoln incorporated as a city on April 1, and the University of Nebraska was established there.
City reference ↗ - 1932
The State Capitol
The Bertram Goodhue-designed Nebraska State Capitol was completed after a decade of construction.
City reference ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk the Haymarket to see its surviving brick warehouses, then visit the Nebraska History Museum downtown. Check current opening hours before setting out.Historical Preservation Society.
For deeper research, the Lincoln library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched October 9, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.