The Nebraska State Fair at Lincoln: A Photographic Memoria

A photographic series focusing on the historic buildings of the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. In an unfortunate move by the Nebraska State Legislature, the State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010. Many of these buildings will likely be torn down. It is my intention to try to capture these magnificent spaces for all to enjoy and remember.

Closing Thoughts

I hope that you've enjoyed this excursion into the buildings of the former Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. Perhaps it seemed a bit repetitive or mundane, but I feel it's incredibly important to document and share these historic and even not-so-historic places. I think we will only realize the great loss of this place years in the future.

The State Fairgrounds in Lincoln holds many fond memories for me. I showed cattle there throughout most of my upper elementary and high school years. Each year during high school, our marching band would spend a day there as we entertained others and took part in entertainment ourselves.

The State Fair was a place of reunion for me. I was certain to run into 4-H'ers from all over the state with whom I had travelled with to various 4-H conferences and camps.

So, it is with a good deal of sadness that I watch the State Fair depart from its 108-year-old home; both because of my personal fondness for the place as well as the general historical loss.

I plan to make one last trip to the fairgrounds this weekend as many familiar items go to the auction block. Below are a collection of articles relating to various elements of the fair and its move to Grand Island for your further reading.

Will State Fair Travel Well?

Lincoln's Long Marriage to the Nebraska State Fair

Lincoln Bids Farewell to Nebraska State Fair

Nebraska State Fair: A Few Buildings Will Remain

Industrial Arts Building: Rehabilitation Feasibility Investigation

Innovation Campus Phase I Price Tag: $220M

State Fair Park to Host Weekend Surplus Auction

The Nebraska State Fair at Lincoln: A Photographic Memoria

A photographic series focusing on the historic buildings of the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. In an unfortunate move by the Nebraska State Legislature, the State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010. Many of these buildings will likely be torn down. It is my intention to try to capture these magnificent spaces for all to enjoy and remember.

Industrial Arts Building: Interior

The Industrial Arts Building had not been used for roughly 10 years and is falling into disrepair. There are several parts of the building with gaping holes in the roof.

As a young 4-Her, I remember the large model railroad set that occupied the upper gallery level of this building.

This building is in extreme jeopardy. Please do your part to save this historic building! For more information, see my previous post here.

A special thanks to a kind State Fair volunteer who showed me around the interior of this fantastic building!

The Nebraska State Fair at Lincoln: A Photographic Memoria

A photographic series focusing on the historic buildings of the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. In an unfortunate move by the Nebraska State Legislature, the State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010. Many of these buildings will likely be torn down. It is my intention to try to capture these magnificent spaces for all to enjoy and remember.

Industrial Arts Building: Exterior

The Industrial Arts Building is an absolutely unique and fascinating building. It was constructed in 1913 in an unusual trapezoidal shape - which is best seen from this aerial view. This building is in extreme jeopardy. Please do your part to save this historic building! For more information, see my previous post here.

Urgernt Information on the Industrial Arts Building!

I received this information today via Heritage Nebraska. Please take action on this! I called my local regent today - they need to hear from you! For a list of all UNL Regents, click here.




Contact a Regent

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents is to receive a preliminary report Friday [October 23] from consultants on the proposed Nebraska Innovation Campus which will be located on the former Nebraska State Fairgrounds. In September, the consultants recommended demolition of the Industrial Arts Building.

On October 12, Regents and UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman and University President J.B. Milliken received copies of another report from Heritage Nebraska and the Preservation Association of Lincoln dealing with the 1913 building which has played a major part in the history of Nebraska and Lincoln.

The report said the building is “a very good candidate for rehabilitation.” It further notes that “rehabilitation would be very feasible technically as well as functionally and economically.”

In preparing the report for Heritage Nebraska and PAL, Lincoln historic preservation architects Jerry Berggren and Dan Worth and Steve Kelley of Wiss Janney Elstner in Chicago, uncovered some interesting history of the 93,500 square-foot trapezoidal building which was built in 1913 at a cost of $100,000. Not only was the building, designed by prominent Omaha architect Burd F. Miller, unique among state fairs nationwide because of its design, it also served as an aircraft assembly plant for the Lincoln Standard Airplane. Aviation legend Charles Lindburgh came to Lincoln and learned to fly in a Lincoln Standard assembled at the plant.

Worth wrote that while the building has some limited areas of deterioration, it is in relatively good condition compared to many structures the consultants have seen. He noted that the Industrial Arts Building is in better shape than an old Union Pacific freight depot in Omaha was before it was converted to the Harriman National Dispatching Center for the railroad.

The report said the cost to rehabilitate the entire exterior of the building would be about the same as it would be to demolish the building and construct an empty new shell building for the Innovation campus. “Reuse of a solid building shell rather than demolition and replacement would be a more sustainable approach,” the report said. Consultants urged Heritage Nebraska and PAL to join the University in a careful study to promote rehabilitation options for the structure.


Here’s how you can help. Contact a Regent. Tell them you support saving and re-using this important building. A list of Regents and their contact information is available here. I have also included talking points.

TALKING POINTS when you call or e-mail the Regents:

1. THIS PLACE MATTERS. The Industrial Arts Building was a world-class building when it was constructed in 1913. It played a major role in the development of the Nebraska State Fair and was a showcase for agriculture and technology.

2. REUSE WOULD BE SUSTAINABLE. The cost to rehabilitate the entire exterior of the building would be about the same as it would be to demolish the building and construct an empty new shell building for the Innovation campus.

3. AREAS OF DETERIORATION CAN BE FIXED. Holes in the roof should be fixed first and the building can then be properly moth-balled until a new use is found. At 93,500 square feet, the uses are endless. In the heyday of the Fair, the railroad displayed one of the first refrigerated railcars in the building. Agricultural equipment was also displayed there. Airplanes were manufactured in the building, including the plane in which aviation pioneer Charles Lindburgh learned to fly.

4. TALK ABOUT INNOVATION. What better place to teach and use green building techniques. Replacement of the windows and the skylights that were original to the building would make it unique among such structures. Students could learn and practice the techniques while rehabilitating the building. The Industrial Arts Building would make a unique tractor/implement museum as well as a teaching facility and green building hands-on laboratory.

5. ENERGY EFFICIENCY. It takes energy to construct a new building. It saves energy to preserve an old one. That’s innovation.

6. JOBS: A million dollars spent in new construction generates 30.6 jobs. But that same million dollars in the rehabilitation of an historic building creates 35.4 jobs. –Donovan Rypkema, Principal, PlaceEconomics, Washington, DC.

SAVE THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS BUILDING | IT JUST MAKES SENSE

The Nebraska State Fair at Lincoln: A Photographic Memoria

A photographic series focusing on the historic buildings of the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. In an unfortunate move by the Nebraska State Legislature, the State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010. Many of these buildings will likely be torn down. It is my intention to try to capture these magnificent spaces for all to enjoy and remember.

4-H Youth Complex / Show Ring

The Nebraska State Fair at Lincoln: A Photographic Memoria

A photographic series focusing on the historic buildings of the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. In an unfortunate move by the Nebraska State Legislature, the State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010. Many of these buildings will likely be torn down. It is my intention to try to capture these magnificent spaces for all to enjoy and remember.

4-H Beef Barn

The Nebraska State Fair at Lincoln: A Photographic Memoria

A photographic series focusing on the historic buildings of the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. In an unfortunate move by the Nebraska State Legislature, the State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010. Many of these buildings will likely be torn down. It is my intention to try to capture these magnificent spaces for all to enjoy and remember.

4-H Sheep Barn

4-H Beef Barn on left and Sheep Barn on right

View into the 4-H Building Arena from the Sheep Barn.

The Nebraska State Fair at Lincoln: A Photographic Memoria

A photographic series focusing on the historic buildings of the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. In an unfortunate move by the Nebraska State Legislature, the State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010. Many of these buildings will likely be torn down. It is my intention to try to capture these magnificent spaces for all to enjoy and remember.

4-H Building: Arena Undercroft

The Nebraska State Fair at Lincoln: A Photographic Memoria

A photographic series focusing on the historic buildings of the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. In an unfortunate move by the Nebraska State Legislature, the State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010. Many of these buildings will likely be torn down. It is my intention to try to capture these magnificent spaces for all to enjoy and remember.

4-H Building: Arena

The Nebraska State Fair at Lincoln: A Photographic Memoria

A photographic series focusing on the historic buildings of the Nebraska State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. In an unfortunate move by the Nebraska State Legislature, the State Fair will move to Grand Island in 2010. Many of these buildings will likely be torn down. It is my intention to try to capture these magnificent spaces for all to enjoy and remember.

4-H Building: Second Floor Exhibit Area