Highlights of Topeka, Kansas History Tour

Entries on This Tour

1. Kansas State Historical Society Museum and Archives

The state museum includes Santa Fe's oldest surviving locomotive, the first Kansas-made aircraft, John Brown's pike, a flag from Quantrill's raid, Civil War weapons and flags, and other artifacts related to Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War. It also displays Carry Nation's hammer and other artifacts related to prohibition. One of the favorite displays is a 1950s diner, complete with a lot of artifacts from that era.

2. Cedar Crest

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.

3. The Pioneers Who Founded Topeka

1931 relief of a frontier farm, with a log cabin, covered wagon, and a pioneer plowing by unknown artist. Copper or bronze plaque set on iron footings cast by Deggingers Foundry attached to boulder. Dedicated in 1931 by Shawnee County Old Settlers Society. Originally mounted on the archway entrance of the "Old Settlers Memorial Grounds" in Gage Park.

4. Kansas Childrens Discovery Center

Located in the southwest corner of the beautiful Gage Park, the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center seeks to enhance the lives of children through creative inspiration and educational enhancement. The Discover Center dates back to 2011, and since it opened to the public with a 15,708-square-foot building nestled within 4.5 wooded acres, it has attracted tens of thousands of children from Topeka and throughout the nation. Younger visitors to the Discover Center explore nine indoor exhibits that cover science, gardening, money, art, careers, and other subjects, all of which the Center presents in a fun, interactive, and engaging manner. Outside of the Center, the 4.5 acres of wooded land in Gage Park hosts hiking and biking trails, and families can rent bicycles, visit a butterfly garden, or play within a two-story treehouse designed by local architect, Chris Yorke. The Discover After Dark events, for adults aged 21 and older, give local parents a chance to learn about science, beer, and other subjects interesting among adults.

5. Munn Pioneer Memorial

Located in Gage Park, the Munn Pioneer Memorial commemorates the men, women and children who traveled to Kansas to settle and start a new life. It features a bronze statue of Lillie Gordon Munn and a young man, and a large 45-foot bas-relief carving depicting the "movement of civilizations from east to west." Figures depicted include Native Americans, pioneer families, Spaniards led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, Buffalo Bill, priests, farmers, cattlemen, scouts, and cattle pulling a wagon. The memorial was created by artist Fred Torrey (1884-1967) in 1939.

6. Anton-Woodring House

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.

7. Abraham Lincoln Memorial, Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka

Situated on the grounds of the Mount Hope Cemetery is a memorial to one of the country's most beloved presidents, Abraham Lincoln. It consists of a statue of him seated on a large chair (it appears to be a replica of the statue at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.) and a short marker with a plaque with the words of the Gettysburg Address on it and a stone from the Gettysburg battlefield that was given to the cemetery in 1959.

8. Mulvane Art Museum

The Mulvane Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums west of the Mississippi River. It is home to a collection of over 4000 works of art and is located on the north end of the Washburn University. There is a parking lot complex just west of the Mulvane that offers free parking.

9. Evel Knievel Museum

Located next to a historic building on the former Kansas State Fair complex, this museum is home to the world's largest collection of historic memorabilia, jump bikes, and performance leathers of daredevil Evel Knievel. The museum offers interactive exhibits where one can feel what it was like to fly through the air on his motorcycle, jumping over Greyhound buses, sharks, or seemingly whatever else he could dream up. The museum was built in 2016 by the adjacent motorcycle dealership's owner, Mike Patterson.

10. Monroe Elementary, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site

Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site commemorates the history of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declared "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and violated the equality of citizens under the 14th Amendment. Members of the local NAACP and thirteen parents representing twenty children filed the lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education in 1951. Some of these children attended Monroe Elementary, one of the four Black schools at the time. Monroe Elementary is now the headquarters National Historic Site, established in 1992. As part of the National Park Service, the site offers programs and exhibits that explore the legal and social history of Brown v. Board.

11. John Ritchie Homestead

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.

12. Bowker House

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.

13. GAR Memorial Hall, (The Memorial Building) Topeka

Known formally as the Memorial Building, the GAR Memorial Hall is a historic building located in downtown Topeka near the State Capitol. Although the building currently houses the State of Kansas Office of the Secretary State, Memorial Hall is significant as its construction was a dedication to the soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War. The building itself dates back to 1914, though movements to build a memorial began in 1908 by the Grand Army of the the Republic (GAR). It also stands as an excellent example of French Renaissance style architecture that was favored among government buildings during the early 20th century. From its construction in 1914 until 1995, Memorial Hall’s main purpose was to house the Kansas State Historical Society. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

14. Pioneer Mother Memorial

Located on the southwest quadrant of the stunning Kansas State Capitol’s grounds, the Pioneer Women Memorial pays an essential tribute to an often overlooked facet of westward expansion in the United States: the woman, mother, and pioneer. Women pioneers were central to the success of westward settlement, and without these courageous women, many who held several roles in both traveling caravans and small settlements, newfound communities west of the Mississippi would have encountered eventual destruction and abandonment. The sculpture on the capitol grounds features the image of a pioneer woman, who is said to represent the artistic embodiment of all Kansas pioneer women. Aside her on the marble pedestal includes a dog by one of her feet, a pre-teen son by the other foot, a baby cradled in her arm, and a large rifle sitting across her lap. According to the statue’s inscription, the symbolic pioneer mother is too well-fed to be a pioneer woman, but it nonetheless represents the hardships, struggles, and ideals these women met settling into the Kansas territory. Sculpted by acclaimed Topeka resident, Robert Merrill Gage, the Pioneer Women Memorial was dedicated on May 11, 1937, the Mother’s Day of that year.

15. Charles Curtis House Museum

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.

16. Historical Marker: The Kansa Tribe

Kansas is named after the Kansa tribe, whose traditional territory was located in the northeast part of the state. This marker, which is located on the grounds of the State Capitol building, provides a brief description of the tribe's culture and history. The Kansa's situation slowly began to change once European traders first made contact with them in the 18th century. By the turn of the 19th century, the tribe's situation worsened. A treaty signed in 1825 decreased the size of the Kansa's territory. The tribe also suffered from disease and the constant arrival of white settlers, who often encroached on Kansa lands. The federal government relocated the Kansa to the Upper Neosho Valley in 1844 and, later in 1863, ordered all tribes to move out of the state into Oklahoma. The Kansa made this move in 1873.

17. Kansas State Capitol

As an architectural landmark that took more than 30 years to complete and cost $3,200,588.92 over a century ago, the Kansas State Capitol stands out even among state capitols. The beautiful copper dome (which is taller than the dome of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.) and the Ad Astra statue, which stands atop the dome, are visible even from distances in Topeka. Built between 1866 and 1903, visitors to the statehouse will find both a window into the past and a chance to see the current state government at work.

18. St. John AME Church, Topeka Kansas

Established in 1868 St. John AME Church remains one of the most essential institutions within Topeka’s African American community. The congregation assisted former slaves as they traveled west in search of farmland prior to and during the 'Exodus' of 1879 that saw twenty thousand African American sharecroppers abandon the South after the failure of Reconstruction. The church continues to play a central role in the community, offering everything from from religious services to a forum to address civil and social issues. Construction of the current church building began in 1908 and it was completed in 1926. The St. John AME Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

19. The Jayhawk Theatre

Completed in 1926, the Jayhawk Theatre was created to show both moving pictures and live, primarily, vaudeville shows. The Jayhawk was designed by the prominent Kansas City architectural firm of the Boller Brothers, which was responsible for designing almost 100 theaters across the country. Twenty of their theaters are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Jayhawk.

20. Thacher Building

The Thacher Building is a three-story Richardson Romanesque commercial building in downtown Topeka. Built in 1888 at a cost of about $40,000, the stone structure is a two-part commercial block form. The stone balustrade capping the building contains a nameplate inscribed "THACHER." The Thacher Building was constructed for Timothy Dwight Thacher, a local businessman, using cottonwood limestone. Thacher settled in Topeka in the 1850s and helped establish the Kansas Republican Party in 1859. The original architectural plans for the Thacher Building by John Gideon Haskell survive; Haskell also designed the Kansas Statehouse. Not many other commercial buildings downtown from the Topeka building boom era survive so intact. The building was listed on its own in the National Register in 1975 and as a contributing building in the South Kansas Avenue Commercial Historic District in 2015.

21. Mariachi Divina! - Mariachi Estrella de Topeka Musical Tribute

Topeka has long been renowned for its contributions to music in every genre. However, throughout the history of the United States as well as Kansas, few musical groups have been as influential as Mariachi Estrella de Topeka. Consisting of seven women, Mariachi Estrella de Topeka rose to Kansas statewide prominence throughout the 1970s and especially in 1980 and 1981. More importantly, this group was the first all-female mariachi group (a musical genre typically dominated by males) in not only Kansas, but quite possibly the United States. Just as the group was taking off, they met a horrible tragedy in 1981 when the walkways at the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City collapsed, killing four members and 110 other people. An eight-foot bronze statue of a female mariachi player rests in front of the Topeka Performing Arts Center, memorializing the musical pioneers. This story captures the importance of preserving Kansas’s Mexican American communities and culture, which are a crucial part of democracy in the United States.

22. Holley Museum of Military History

Holley Museum of Military History is a small but impressive, self-guided military museum in five rooms of the Ramada Inn. The basis for the museum is the collection of military model planes, boats and ships, and small dioramas created by former broadcasting executive Jerry Holley (and his son, Mark), who died in 2010. The 4,000 piece collection, which includes items gathered from other individuals, features posters, uniforms, medals, photographs, and memorabilia in addition to Holley's models and dioramas. The museum opened in 2006, fulfilling Holley's dream of opening a museum to showcase his work and love for history. Volunteers provide guided tours if available.

23. Old German-American State Bank

The old German-American State Bank building is a two-story commercial block clad in white glazed brick and terra cotta ornaments. It was built in 1910 and designed by Leeper & Smith. The longer side of the building faces south toward SW 5th Avenue and features two-story arched bays and a stepped parapet. A recessed modern, two-story addition on the building's west end contains a stairway and elevator. The building contained the bank on the first floor until the 1950s; in 1917, the bank changed its name to Guaranty State Bank. The old German-American State Bank building was listed in the Kansas Register in 1979 and in the National Register the following year.

24. Constitution Hall-The Free State Capitol

Constitution Hall was the first stone building in the city of Topeka and served as the headquarters of protest government formed by anti-slavery settlers in the early years of the Kansas Territory. Between the creation of the territory in 1854 and the start of the Civil War, Congress recognized a pro-slavery government based out of Lecompton as the legitimate government of the territory. In response, settlers representing the majority of Kansans who opposed the extension of slavery into their territory created their own government which was headquartered at this location. After statehood was granted in 1861 (without slavery) this building also served as the official meeting place of the new state government during construction of the East Wing of the Statehouse, five blocks to the south.

25. Sumner Elementary School, Topeka

The Sumner Elementary School, constructed in 1936 by the School Board of Topeka, remained in the early 1950s what it had been from the beginning: an all-white school. Oliver Brown, an African-American welder for the Santa Fe Railroad and a part-time minister at a local church, tried to enroll his daughter, Linda, in the school, but was denied because of Linda's race. He agreed to be part of a class action suit in February 1951 in the First U.S. District Court of Kansas to have the Topeka Board of Education's decision declared illegal. But in August, the judges unanimously ruled against the plaintiffs, citing a previous Supreme Court decision, Plessy v. Ferguson, which had upheld the legality of segregation. The plaintiffs took their case to the Supreme Court, along with cases from four other districts and, because Oliver Brown was the lead plaintiff, the case forever became known as Brown v. Board of Education. On May 17, 1954, the high court unanimously overturned the District Court's decision, making segregation in U.S. public schools illegal. The school was closed in 1996 and abandoned, but was purchased by a Los Angeles-based minister in April 2009, with the intention of turning it into a community center and human rights memorial. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

26. John Sargent House

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.

27. Potwin Place Historic District

Traveling northwest from the Topeka city center along SW 4th Street or SW 6th street, drivers and tourists may stumble upon Potwin Place Historic District, a neighborhood that looks entirely different from the rest of the city. As opposed to Blacktop or pavement, Potwin Place has red bricks forming the streets. Victorian, Italianate, and Queen Anne style houses are set back behind deep and expansive lawns. Roundabouts appear at nearly every intersection. Located between NW Grove Avenue and SW Willow Avenue as well as between SW Woodlawn Avenue and SW Greenwood Avenue, the Potwin Place Historic District stands out among any other district in Topeka for its architectural elegance and living history. From its 19th century designs to the overall character of the district, Potwin Place was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

28. Old Prairie Town at the Ward-Meade Historic Site

Old Prairie Town is a 6-acre historic park that aims to share the experience and history of early Kansas. Guests can tour a Victorian-era mansion that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They can also stroll through a botanical garden that features over 500 species and a large waterfall. There is also a reading garden and a replica of an early log cabin. Old Prairie Town strives to present an authentic prairie "downtown" with a main street filled with historic buildings that were moved to the area. Children can attend a session in a one-room school that was in operation in Rossville, Kansas. Families can tour the historic Everest Church, which was built in 1880 and moved to Old Prairie Town from Everest, Kansas. The Santa Fe Train Depot was also moved from its original location in Pauline. Guests to the Potwin Drug Store sit at the original marble counter and can enjoy old-time treats from the soda fountain. The Mulvane General Store features hand-made candies and gifts that are similar to those that might have been available at the turn-of-the century.

29. Great Overland Station, Topeka Kansas

The story of Topeka begins with transportation. Cyrus K. Holliday wanted to build a railroad because he saw an opportunity for greater fortune and the development of the nation. He secured the funds to begin the endeavor and chose a site on the banks of the Kansas River. The Great Overland Station fulfilled his vision when it opened as a Union Pacific Railroad passenger station in 1927. After a fire damaged the station in 1992, Railroad Heritage, Inc (RHI) agreed to renovate and rehabilitate the museum. Renovation took place between 2000 and 2002, and the station is now a public museum and tourist destination. RHI is a not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to preserve the rich railroad heritage and other significant history of Topeka and northeast Kansas. Of particular interest to lovers of food and history is the Harvey House experience, offered by RHI as both an educational service and a fundraiser. Historical Harvey House luncheons can be scheduled for groups of 25 or more Tuesday through Friday between 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

30. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

Founded in 1914, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish was started and organized because of the enthusiastic interest of twenty families who migrated from Mexico to escape poverty or the Revolution of 1910. The movement was influenced by the growth of railroads and the need for labor during and after World War I. Throughout the history of the parish, no matter the challenges that were faced, the parishioners maintained their faith and strengthened their efforts to keep the parish open. The parishioners have contributed generously to its growth and progress.

31. Topeka Tornado Victims Memorial

Ever since the Wizard of Oz, the connection between tornados and Kansas became a fairly common stereotype. On June 8th, 1966, a massive F5 tornado struck Topeka, Kansas, and showed the entire nation the true destructive power of these deadly storms. At the time, the destruction of this tornado cost $250 million (equivalent to about $727 million in 2015), making it one of costliest tornados in U.S. history. Furthermore, around 820 homes were destroyed and 3,000 were damaged, mostly in residential areas on the east side of town. The destruction also included 250 businesses (with 2,390 damaged). In the aftermath of the tornado, 17 people had died. The tornado began developing at 6:55 p.m. on June 8th, traveled about 22 miles in a northeast direction, and then dissipated at about 7:29 p.m. Reports stated that if the tornado had struck during school and work hours, the death toll would be close to 5,000. The tornado also upgraded rules and regulations, and the effective governmental and media response to the tornado served as a model for other cities.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Highlights of Topeka, Kansas History Tour

Created by Clio Admin on May 14th 2018, 3:29:48 pm.

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Description

This tour is designed to include as many historical sites and museums as possible in a relatively short drive throughout the northern half of the city of Topeka. The tour starts at the Kansas State Historical Society and concludes at Topeka's Great Overland Station. Highlights include the state capitol, Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, and Constitution Hall. Those who enjoy military history will also want to visit the Combat Air Museum and the Museum of the Kansas National Guard just south of the city limits at Forbes Field.

Entries on This Tour

Highlights of Topeka, Kansas History Tour

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