Attractions in and Around Topeka Kansas

I will try and give you a quick overview of 5 places you might like to visit if you came to Topeka, the capitol of Kansas.

The Kansas Capitol building features beautiful murals, wonderful architecture and breathtaking views. Visitors to the capital building can go on guided tours three times a day.

The state capitol building took 37 years to build between 1866 in 1903.

The dome tops out at 306 feet which is 11 feet higher than the US Capitol building. Unfortunately right now the dome is closed to to tours due to renovations that are underway. The building is open Monday thru Friday from 8-5 and guided tours are provided at Mon.-Fri: 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m.,

The Kansas Museum of history is located in a modern facility. The gallery is comprised of 22,000 ft.² divided into displays that are in chronological order from early Kansas history all the way up to the recent past. The grounds around the museum feature nature paths and in the state archives.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sundays they are open 1 PM to 5 PM. Admission is six dollars for adults and four dollars for students with ID. Children under five are admitted free with their family. The museum is closed on Mondays New Year's day Thanksgiving and Christmas along with state holidays.

The old prairie town in the Old Ward Meade section of Topeka is like stepping back into the 1800's. The site has 5 acres of grounds and it is a popular place for festivals such as the Tulip Time Fest in April to the annual Apple Festival in October.
This site is maintained by the city of Topeka Parks and Recreation Department and there are various venues you can rent, many people have their weddings at the old 1880 Everest church.
There are other buildings on the grounds from the 1800s including the Ward Meade Mansion, and a rock livery stable also the Potwin Drug store with the original soda fountain.
There is a summer concert series held at the site in July and August featuring local artists. In December the site hosts Holiday Happenings, which features a candlelight holiday dinner in the Ward Meade Mansion.
The site is open daily, and there are fees during festivals.

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Topeka was the subject of the historic Supreme Court ruling regarding school segregation. This ruling which is referred to as Brown versus Board of Education redefined the constitutionality of segregation and ushered in an era of desegregation of schools.

The Brown versus Board of Education National Historic Site features tours given by national park rangers. This site is very educational especially for those children who weren't alive at that time and have no concept of what people are talking about when they say segregation. It's a vital part of history that every American should see. Admission is Free, and They are open every day but Thanksgiving Christmas and New Year's.

Gage Park is a 180 acre park which located between 6th and 10th and SW Gage, and the park features several things of interest. One thing which many children remember about the park is the train. There is also the world-famous Topeka zoo which features various live animal exhibits and a tropical rain forest where you walk around in an enclosure with many animals roaming freely around you.

There is also a rose garden, a carousel, The Helen Hocker Theater, a large swimming pool and and various playgrounds and ballfields. There is also a park for 4 legged friends, at the Hill's Bark Park, where dogs can run free within the fences. In 2011 the Children's Discovery Center was added.

The Topeka Zoo is open every day of the year, except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The front gate closes for last admission at 4:30 p.m.

Adults - $5.75 Seniors (65 and over) - $4.75

Children (3-12) - $4.25 Children under 2 - free

The carousel is $1 per ride, and the train is 1.25 per rider.