Statue Approved for Nebraska State Capitol's Unofficial Mascot Cameron the Cat

“He’s the best cat ever,” 9-year-old Octavia told the commission during a public meeting in Lincoln.

The Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission voted 6-0 on Thursday to approve a project that will install a life-size bronze statue of Cameron, the Nebraska State Capitol’s longtime unofficial feline mascot, on the south side of the building, the Nebraska Examiner reported.

The decision changes the project's direction, which has evolved from early concepts of a large monument into a more integrated community space. The final plan features the bronze tabby resting atop granite slabs that were once curbs used on streets near the Capitol, a detail that integrates the local history of the site with the tribute to the animal that became a fixture of the legislative grounds.

For nearly a decade, Cameron served as an unofficial greeter for lawmakers and visitors alike. The tabby’s presence provided a rare point of commonality in a building often defined by intense political debate.

“Even when two parties weren’t in agreement on something, that was a moment that they could be in agreement and find something that they both liked,” Shannon Hampson said, noting that the cat often became a “fun little scavenger hunt” for children visiting the Capitol.

The design of a new green space

Rather than a traditional pedestal, the proposal focuses on a viewscape that encourages public interaction. The engineering and design firm Olsson has provided formal renderings for a plan that includes refurbishing an accessibility ramp and sprucing up the immediate green space surrounding the sculpture.

State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward, a leader in the project’s design, noted that the location will serve as a focal point for fourth graders and other students who visit the Capitol from across the state.

“It’s an awesome viewscape for photos because you’re far enough away from the Capitol that you can kind of capture the whole structure behind you,” Hughes said.

The project will be realized through private funding, with more than $6,500 collected as of Thursday morning. No public funds will be used for the creation or ongoing maintenance of the statue.

The commission also addressed practical concerns regarding the site’s upkeep. Commission Chair Kile Johnson expressed a desire to protect the future installation from local activity, stating, “I’d hate to see him clobbered by a skateboarder.”

A legacy carved in bronze

The chosen sculptor, Idaho-based Benjamin Victor, is a figure with deep ties to Nebraska’s public art. His previous works in the Capitol Environs District include bronze statues of Ponca Chief Standing Bear and Dr. Susan La Flesche Picotte. Victor has also contributed to the national landscape with four statues in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall.

A plaque will be installed on the ground in front of the statue to honor Cameron and the specific values he represented to the community. According to the project supporters, the plaque will highlight how the cat helped bring together Nebraskans and officials who might otherwise have disagreed vehemently during legislative debates.

The movement to honor Cameron gained momentum after the cat and his owner, Dianna McGinnis, moved into assisted living in May, effectively retiring the tabby from his public duties.

The Nebraska Capitol Environs Commission agenda reflects the formal approval required to move the project into its next phase of fundraising and construction.

Local youth support the Cameron statue project

The support for the statue extended beyond the legislative halls to the local youth. During the meeting, Kingstin Ferguson, a 12-year-old from Lincoln, submitted a handwritten letter of support. Ferguson argued that a statue for Cameron was a necessary way to ensure future generations understand the cat’s role in Lincoln’s history.

“I thought he was so special I made a trading card for him with some help,” Ferguson wrote, noting that the local daycare center had even used Cameron to help children learn about the Legislature and state senators.

While the project has moved past the stage of AI-generated mockups into professional engineering designs, the group will continue to provide updates to the commission as the fundraising progresses.

“When someone feels down or upset, they can go to the statue, pet Cameron and be OK,” Octavia said.

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