Abstract
One of the fascinating stories of our Nation's history is that of Westward expansion. The men who led this movement seem larger than life to today's student. The issues they fought for, and over, also assume magnified statures. Certainly the fierceness of their struggles made each issue appear to be a life or death matter. The sectional fight for the possession of the capital site of Nebraska was one of these struggles.|The battle to secure the capital site was waged during the thirteen years of Nebraska's territorial life. The list of early contenders for this honor contains names that today seem ludicrous. Lincoln, the eventual winner, was not even conceived when the struggle was joined. The man for whom this fine capital would be named was still an unknown back-woods lawyer. Some of the early hopefuls no longer exist.|The contention in Nebraska over the capital prize was not unique. It was a common experience of other territories or states and often was reflected in the rough and tumble fights at county level to possess the county seat. The seat of government was regarded as an important asset to a town. The tale of this one aspect of early days in Nebraska reveals both the political polemics of the mid-1800's and what was then a new trend. The story of Nebraska’s wandering capital occurs during the transition from great cities being located by an accident of nature to their deliberate selection by man. The site of the first capital was greatly influenced by natural roadways, the final capital was a barren site selected by man with disregard for natural roadways. Man would build the roads that had previously been provided by nature.