Recently restored by the Shawnee County Historical Society, the John Ritchie House was home to abolitionists John and Mary Ritchie. The Ritchies supported John Brown and other militant opponents of slavery during the frontier period known as "Bleeding Kansas." They also used this home to shelter runaway slaves during Kansas's territorial period when slavery was legal and assisting runaway slaves was a capital crime according to the notorious slave codes of the Lecompton government.
The Bowker House was built in 1866 and is among the oldest continuously-inhabited residences in Topeka. The first owner of this home was Samuel Drake Bowker, a former pastor who moved to Topeka in 1864. Bowker was part of the group that organized Lincoln College. The college was formally organized on February 6th, 1865, and is the institution of higher education that grew to become Washburn University. Bowker was on the college faculty as a professor until he died of tuberculosis in 1868. Bowker designed the home to serve as a boarding house for Lincoln College students. When the college relocated further away from the center of the town in the early 1870s, this property was converted to a single family home by the late nineteenth century. The property was listed on the National Register in 2006 for its ties to the early history of Lincoln College and continues to serve as a private residence.
Charles Curtis was an influential member of Congress and Vice President under Herbert Hoover. He was the first Native American to hold the office, and also the last Vice President to remain unmarried for the entire duration of his service in the office. His home in Topeka is now a public museum that offers artifacts and displays related to his life and era.
The John Sargent House (sometimes called simply "The Sargent House"), is a single-dwelling, historical house constructed during the period 1882-1885 and located in the famous Nickel Plate district of Topeka, Kansas. It is considered one of the leading local examples of the Gothic Revival style. The building is named for prominent English-born Kansas architect John Sargent (1849-1916), who lived there until his death. The house maintains a high degree of architectural integrity and reflects all the design characteristics that are commonly found in the Gothic Revival style house. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in July 1995.
Symbols of tolerance and hate stare at each other from across the street in Topeka. One side is Westboro Baptist Church, a nationwide symbol of hate. Located across from the Westboro Baptist Church is the Equality House, a symbol of peace and positive change. Aaron Jackson purchased the house through a nonprofit progressive organization, Planting Peace. In March 2013, the house was painted the colors of the rainbow flag, and the house was renovated to become what is now known as the Equality House. This house stablished itself as one of the country’s most iconic symbols of LGBTQ advocacy, especially during the 2010s decade. -- Can you say a little more about what Equality House does? And what is its relation to Planting Peace?
The Anton-Woodring House was built from 1926 to 1927 of concrete block with a brick veneer. Frederick A. Anton (1866-1944) was a German immigrant and inventor who became an American citizen in 1911. He started the Topeka Tent and Awning Company in 1901, which later became the Anton-Ackerman Company. The Antons lived in the house until 1941 when it was purchased by Harry Hines Woodring (1887-1957), the Governor of Kansas for one term ending in 1932. While the driveway begins on SW Cambridge Avenue, the house isn't visible from the surrounding roads except for glimpses from SW Gage Boulevard due to surrounding trees and houses. The house faces north and was listed in the Kansas and National historic registers in 1991.
Now serving as the governor's mansion for the state of Kansas, Cedar Crest was built in 1929 as a private residence for Frank and Madge MacLennan. While Frank passed away four years after the completion of the home, Madge MacLennan continued to make Cedar Crest her home until her death in 1955. Mrs. MacLennan bequeathed the French Chateaux style house and twenty acres to the state for use as the governor's mansion. The rest of the farm property - over 200 acres - became MacLennan Park. In 1961, extensive remodeling of the home was complete and Cedar Crest became the home of Governor John Anderson and his family the following year. Cedar Crest on its surrounding twenty acres was listed in the state and national registers of historic places in 1982.
This Tour is a Thematic Tour or Heritage Trail.
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This trail includes historic homes from the territorial period and early statehood as well as the home of former Senator and Vice President Charles Curtis and Cedar Crest, the Governor's Mansion for the State of Kansas. The tour concludes with the preserved and restored homestead of abolitionist and town leader John Ritchie.
