Lincoln A–Z

Lincoln has its own shorthand — places, agencies and local terms you'll hear in conversation, on the news and on city signs. This A–Z collects the ones a newcomer is most likely to run into, with short plain-English definitions based on the official sources of the city, county, state, university and the institutions themselves. Hours, fees and event dates change, so check each organization's own website before you go.

Aging Partners: The City of Lincoln department that plans, coordinates and advocates for older adults across an eight-county area that includes Lancaster County. Its services include benefits counseling, home-delivered meals, transportation, fitness and nutrition programs, senior centers and caregiver support.; Related:Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD)Lancaster County
Antelope Park: A city park stretching roughly from 23rd and N streets to 33rd Street and Sheridan Boulevard. It is home to the Sunken Gardens, Veterans Memorial Garden, Hamann Rose Garden and a strolling garden, along with a golf course, a ballfield and a large playground area.; Related:Sunken Gardens Lincoln Parks and Recreation
Billy Wolff Trail: Lincoln's first trail, built in 1978 and named for Billy Wolff, a longtime downtown bicycle shop owner. It originally ran from Holmes Lake Park to downtown; today it follows Antelope Creek for 8.5 miles, from the Devaney Sports Center and the university on the north to 91st Street and Highway 2 on the south.; Related:Holmes Lake Park MoPac Trail Rock Island Trail
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs): Special benefit assessment districts in downtown Lincoln, where property owners pay for services beyond what the City provides. BIDs have been used downtown since 1979, and the current districts were established in 1989 with the Downtown Lincoln Association and the City; they fund economic development, communications and advocacy plus extra maintenance such as landscaping, trash removal and sidewalk cleaning.; Related:Downtown Lincoln Association (DLA)
Centennial Mall: A landscaped pedestrian mall along 15th Street that serves as a formal approach to the north side of the Nebraska State Capitol and connects it with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Capitol architect Bertram Goodhue proposed the idea in 1922, the mall was built by 1967 to mark Nebraska's statehood centennial, and a renovation was completed in 2017.; Related:Nebraska State Capitol University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL)
Downtown Lincoln Association (DLA): The organization that represents and supports downtown Lincoln, founded in 1967 as a merchants' association by downtown retailers. Today it supports a range of programs, including maintenance, economic development and advocacy, works with the downtown Business Improvement Districts and publishes information on the Haymarket.; Related:Business Improvement Districts (BIDs)Haymarket (Historic Haymarket)Haymarket Farmers' Market
Haymarket (Historic Haymarket): The historic warehouse district on the west side of downtown, named for the Haymarket Square near 9th and Q streets where hay, livestock and produce were weighed and sold in Lincoln's early decades. Its brick warehouses date from the city's railroad-era wholesale boom of the 1880s and the decades that followed. The City designated the Haymarket Landmark District in 1982, and the area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.; Related:Haymarket Farmers' Market Pinnacle Bank Arena Downtown Lincoln Association (DLA)
Haymarket Farmers' Market: An open-air market in the Haymarket, usually held on Saturday mornings from early May into October, with vendors selling produce, plants, flowers, meat, eggs, cheese and other local goods. Check the Downtown Lincoln Association's market page for the current season.; Related:Haymarket (Historic Haymarket)Downtown Lincoln Association (DLA)
Holmes Lake Park: A park built around a 110-acre reservoir that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built in 1962 for flood control and recreation; the Corps owns the site and Lincoln Parks and Recreation maintains it. The park has trails, a golf course, fishing, non-motorized boating and the Hyde Observatory, and is named for George Holmes, a lifelong Lincoln resident and longtime member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.; Related:Hyde Observatory Billy Wolff Trail Lincoln Parks and Recreation
Hyde Observatory: Hyde Memorial Observatory, a public astronomy observatory at Holmes Lake Park that offers views through its telescopes and astronomy presentations, usually on Saturday nights. Viewing times shift with the seasons, so check its website before going.; Related:Holmes Lake Park Morrill Hall
Jazz in June: A free outdoor jazz concert series usually held on Tuesday evenings in June in the Sheldon Sculpture Garden on the UNL campus, with a weekly food festival alongside the music. It is run as a nonprofit and is currently curated by the Lied Center for Performing Arts.; Related:Sheldon Museum of Art Lied Center for Performing Arts
Lancaster County: The county that contains Lincoln, organized by settlers who met on the banks of Salt Creek in 1859, when Nebraska was still a territory. The village they chose as county seat, Lancaster, was renamed Lincoln when it was selected as the state capital in 1867. Several local agencies, including the health and planning departments, are joint Lincoln–Lancaster County operations.; Related:Salt Creek Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD)Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department
Lancaster County Super Fair: Lancaster County's county fair, held at the Sandhills Global Event Center and usually running about ten days in late July and early August. It features 4-H and FFA exhibits, open-class competitions, grandstand events, live music and a carnival midway.; Related:Sandhills Global Event Center Lancaster County
Lied Center for Performing Arts: The performing arts center at 12th and R streets on the University of Nebraska–Lincoln campus, which opened in 1990 and was built in memory of Ernst F. Lied's parents. It presents national and international touring artists and runs statewide programs such as Arts Across Nebraska.; Related:University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL)Jazz in June Sheldon Museum of Art
Lincoln Airport (LNK): Lincoln's airport, on West Adams Street, whose history dates back to the early 1930s and which spans more than 5,000 acres serving travelers, military operations and local businesses. Its three-letter code, LNK, doubles as local shorthand for the city, showing up in names like UPLNK and VanLNK.; Related:UPLNK VanLNK
Lincoln Chamber of Commerce: Lincoln's membership organization for businesses, offering resources and connections to help local companies grow. It is a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and works closely with partner organizations, including the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development.; Related:Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED)Downtown Lincoln Association (DLA)
Lincoln Children's Zoo: A family-oriented zoo founded in 1959, when Arnott Folsom and his wife made a donation and community leaders joined in to create it. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums and sits along Capitol Parkway at one end of the Rock Island Trail.; Related:Rock Island Trail
Lincoln City Libraries: Lincoln's public library system, organized in 1875 and made a city-owned, tax-supported library in 1877. It runs the downtown Bennett Martin Public Library, seven branch libraries and a bookmobile. Bennett Martin stands on the site of Nebraska's first Carnegie library, dedicated in 1902.; Related:Lincoln Public Schools (LPS)
Lincoln Community Foundation: A Lincoln philanthropic organization, active since 1955, that holds charitable funds on behalf of donors and makes grants to local nonprofits.; Related:Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
Lincoln Electric System (LES): Lincoln's electric utility, formed on February 1, 1966. It is public power — not-for-profit and locally owned — and a board of local citizens, created after voters approved it in 1970, oversees its property, staff and finances.; Related:Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU)
Lincoln Fire & Rescue (LFR): The City of Lincoln's fire department, which staffs the city's fire stations and also provides emergency medical services and ambulance transport. Call 911 in an emergency; the department also offers community programs such as CPR classes and smoke-alarm help.; Related:Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD)
Lincoln Marathon: The Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon, a road race through the streets of Lincoln that is usually held in early May. It is organized by the Lincoln Track Club, a volunteer group that has promoted running in Lincoln since 1975.; Related:Memorial Stadium
Lincoln Parks and Recreation: The City department that runs Lincoln's park system — by its own count 168 parks, about 186 miles of trails, 97 playgrounds, nine public pools, six recreation centers, five golf courses, a nature center and public gardens. It also offers day camps, classes, adaptive programs and team sports.; Related:Pioneers Park Wilderness Park MoPac Trail
Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED): Lincoln's economic development organization, a collaboration between the city and more than 100 private partners focused on job growth, entrepreneurship, business expansion and talent. It works with companies looking to move to or expand in Lincoln and runs talent programs such as CampusLNK for college students and interns.; Related:Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC)Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC)
Lincoln Public Schools (LPS): The public school district for the city of Lincoln, governed by the Lincoln Board of Education and headquartered at 5905 O Street. Its programs include all-day kindergarten, English Language Learner and gifted programs, an International Baccalaureate program and high school focus programs.; Related:Southeast Community College (SCC)Lincoln City Libraries
Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU): The City of Lincoln department responsible for transit (StarTran and VanLNK), transportation (street maintenance, winter snow operations, traffic engineering and project delivery) and utilities (water, wastewater, watershed management and solid waste). Electricity is separate and comes from Lincoln Electric System.; Related:StarTran Snow emergency and parking bans Lincoln Electric System (LES)
Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department (LLCHD): The public health agency for Lincoln and Lancaster County. Its work ranges from animal control and pet licensing to vaccinations, reduced-fee dental care, WIC nutrition services, food safety inspections, water testing and disease surveillance.; Related:Lancaster County Aging Partners
Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Department: A joint city–county department that advises elected and appointed boards and residents on growth and development in Lincoln and Lancaster County. It maintains the Comprehensive Plan and the zoning and subdivision codes, reviews development applications and manages the City's historic preservation program.; Related:Lancaster County Haymarket (Historic Haymarket)
Memorial Stadium: The University of Nebraska–Lincoln's football stadium, home of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, or Huskers. Its capacity now tops 85,000, and the program's streak of consecutive home sellouts there dates back to 1962.; Related:University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL)Pinnacle Bank Arena
MoPac Trail: A trail that follows the abandoned Missouri Pacific Railroad corridor, starting near the UNL campus at 19th and Vine streets and heading east through Lincoln to 84th Street and the Novartis Trailhead.; Related:Billy Wolff Trail Rock Island Trail Lincoln Parks and Recreation
Morrill Hall: Home of the University of Nebraska State Museum on the UNL campus, welcoming visitors since 1927 and affiliated with the Smithsonian. It is known for Elephant Hall and "Archie," a mounted Columbian mammoth fossil, and houses the Mueller Planetarium.; Related:University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL)Sheldon Museum of Art Hyde Observatory
Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC): A statewide University of Nebraska program, hosted by the University of Nebraska at Omaha's College of Business Administration, that includes Nebraska's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) — part of a national network partially funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Its consultants give confidential, one-on-one help to entrepreneurs and business owners, and it has a center in Lincoln.; Related:Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED)Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC): A research campus next to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, built to foster partnerships between the university and private businesses. Its facilities include offices, labs, greenhouse and pilot-plant space, a conference center, a hotel and a makerspace, Nebraska Innovation Studio.; Related:University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL)Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED)
Nebraska State Capitol: Nebraska's statehouse, designed by New York architect Bertram Goodhue and built in four phases from 1922 to 1932. It is the third capitol on its Lincoln site, has a 400-foot tower topped by "The Sower," and is where the Unicameral meets.; Related:The Sower Unicameral Centennial Mall
Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU): A private university in Lincoln, founded in 1887 and affiliated with the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church. It says it welcomes students, faculty and staff of all denominations and beliefs.; Related:University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL)Southeast Community College (SCC)
Pinewood Bowl: An outdoor amphitheater in Pioneers Park that has been there since the early 1940s and was formally dedicated in 1947 to the men and women of World War II. It can accommodate up to 5,500 people for concerts and performances.; Related:Pioneers Park
Pinnacle Bank Arena: The downtown arena in the West Haymarket, approved by Lincoln voters in 2010 and opened in August 2013. It is home to Nebraska men's and women's basketball and also hosts concerts, family shows, graduations and conventions.; Related:Haymarket (Historic Haymarket)Memorial Stadium
Pioneers Park: A large city park at 3201 S. Coddington Avenue, dedicated in 1930 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Covering more than 600 acres, it includes the Pinewood Bowl, the Pioneers Park Nature Center, trails, playfields and public art such as a bronze bison placed in 1930.; Related:Pinewood Bowl Pioneers Park Nature Center Lincoln Parks and Recreation
Pioneers Park Nature Center: A City environmental education center and wildlife sanctuary in Pioneers Park, dedicated in 1963, with restored tallgrass prairie, woodlands, wetlands and a tributary of Salt Creek. It has more than ten miles of hiking trails, raptor exhibits, a small bison herd and hands-on exhibits.; Related:Pioneers Park Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center Salt Creek
Rock Island Trail: A trail built on right-of-way purchased in 1985 that connects the Lincoln Children's Zoo area along Capitol Parkway with Wilderness Park near 14th Street and Old Cheney Road.; Related:Lincoln Children's Zoo Wilderness Park MoPac Trail
Salt Creek: The creek that runs through Lincoln and shaped its history: settlers organized Lancaster County on its banks in 1859, and railroads built along its bottomlands in the 1870s and 1880s, giving rise to the warehouse district now called the Haymarket. After a deadly 1950 flood, levees and channelization followed, and the city, county and watershed district later set aside Wilderness Park along its floodplain as combined recreation and flood-control open space.; Related:Wilderness Park Haymarket (Historic Haymarket)Lancaster County
Sandhills Global Event Center: The multipurpose event venue formerly known as the Lancaster Event Center. Run as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it hosts horse shows, rodeos, trade shows and other events and is home to the Lancaster County Super Fair.; Related:Lancaster County Super Fair Lancaster County
Sheldon Museum of Art: The University of Nebraska–Lincoln's art museum, in a building designed by architect Philip Johnson that opened in 1963. It holds the collections of the Sheldon Art Association, founded in 1888, and the university, with a focus on American art, and more than thirty of its large sculptures are placed around UNL's City and East campuses.; Related:Jazz in June University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL)Morrill Hall
Snow emergency and parking bans: When heavy snow must be cleared, the City of Lincoln can declare three kinds of parking bans: a snow emergency (no parking on emergency snow routes, arterials, and school and bus routes), snow removal district bans (both sides of the street in areas such as downtown, where snow is hauled away), and residential bans. Under a residential ban, parking is banned on only one side — even-numbered sides in even-numbered years and odd-numbered sides in odd years. Bans stay in effect until the City ends them, and illegally parked vehicles can be ticketed and towed.; Related:Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU)UPLNK
Southeast Community College (SCC): A community college with campuses in Lincoln, at 8800 O Street, and in Beatrice and Milford. Its programs include academic transfer courses for students who plan to continue at another institution.; Related:Nebraska Wesleyan University (NWU)University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL)
Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center: A National Audubon Society center near Denton in southeast Nebraska that protects a 1,160-acre tallgrass prairie sanctuary with trails through native grasses, wildflowers, wetlands and wooded streams. Its focus is conserving the tallgrass prairie ecosystem and the birds that rely on it.; Related:Pioneers Park Nature Center
StarTran: Lincoln's public bus system and the only mass transit carrier in the city, fully owned and operated by the City through Lincoln Transportation and Utilities. Besides fixed-route buses, it offers paratransit for eligible riders, the VanLNK on-demand service and the RideLNK real-time bus tracker.; Related:VanLNK Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU)
Sunken Gardens: A 1.5-acre formal garden in Antelope Park, first developed in 1930 on what had been a neighborhood dump site. It is known for its large themed plantings of annuals that change each year, lily ponds, a cascading waterfall and public art.; Related:Antelope Park Lincoln Parks and Recreation
The Sower: The 19-foot bronze figure that crowns the 400-foot tower of the Nebraska State Capitol. It is the work of sculptor Lee Lawrie, whom Capitol architect Bertram Goodhue chose to create the building's sculpture.; Related:Nebraska State Capitol
Unicameral: The common name for the Nebraska Legislature, the only single-house state legislature in the United States, which meets at the State Capitol in Lincoln. Voters approved the one-house, nonpartisan system in 1934, and it first met in 1937; its members are called senators.; Related:Nebraska State Capitol
University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL): Nebraska's land-grant university, chartered on February 15, 1869, and a member of the Big Ten Conference. Its Lincoln footprint includes City Campus, East Campus and Nebraska Innovation Campus, and its athletic teams are the Nebraska Cornhuskers, or Huskers.; Related:Memorial Stadium Nebraska Innovation Campus (NIC)Sheldon Museum of Art
UPLNK: The City of Lincoln's app, built on the SeeClickFix platform, for reporting non-emergency quality-of-life problems inside city limits, such as potholes, streetlight problems, downed tree limbs or park maintenance issues. You can attach photos, track a request's status and get email updates.; Related:Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU)Snow emergency and parking bans
VanLNK: StarTran's on-demand shared-ride service, booked through its own app, which runs alongside the city's fixed bus routes.; Related:StarTran Lincoln Transportation and Utilities (LTU)
Wilderness Park: A 1,472-acre natural area in southwest Lincoln that follows the Salt Creek floodplain from Van Dorn Street south to Saltillo Road. Assembled by the Salt-Wahoo Watershed District, the City and Lancaster County as permanent open space for recreation and flood storage, it has more than 30 miles of trails shared by hikers, cyclists, skiers and, on some trails, horses.; Related:Salt Creek Rock Island Trail Lincoln Parks and Recreation