Area Attractions
BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
1515 SE Monroe Street Topeka, KS 66612 785.354.4273 www.nps.gov/brvb The Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site commemorates the landmark Supreme Court decision of May 17, 1954, ending segregation in public schools, and the integral role of the Brown decision in the Civil Rights Movement. The museum and exhibits are housed in the former Monroe School, one of the schools named in the historic case.
CAPITOL COMPLEX
Capitol Tour Desk Capitol Rotunda, SW Tenth and Jackson Topeka, KS 66612 785.296.3966 www.kansastravel.org/kansasstatecapitol.htm. Within the Capitol Complex in downtown Topeka, visitors can see the Fountain of Justice where the seven sprays symbolize the seven justices of the Supreme Court, and the state capitol building featuring murals by John Steuart Curry representing Kansas’ early history, the newly renovated Memorial Hall and the Curtis Office Building. Renovation of the Capitol is expected to be complete in 2012.
CAROUSEL IN THE PARK
Gage Park
SW Sixth and Gage
Topeka, KS 66606
www.topeka.org/parksrec/gage_park.shtml
Childhood memories of a carousel ride can be remembered on the restored antique Herschell-Spillman carousel in Gage Park that is one of only 200 remaining intact today.
CASINOS
Year-round entertainment can be found at several gambling casinos in the area. Casino patrons can play slots or bingo, visit the blackjack tables or try a game of craps. There are three casinos near Topeka.
Prairie Band Casino & Resort
12305 150th Road, Mayetta, KS
785.966.7777
www.pbpgaming.com
15 miles north of Topeka
Golden Eagle
1121 Goldfinch Road, Horton, KS
1.888.GO.4.LUCK (1.888.464.5825)
www.goldeneaglecasino.com
58 miles north of Topeka
Sac & Fox Casino
1322 US Highway 75, Powhattan, KS
1.800.990.2946
www.sacandfoxcasino.com
58 miles north of Topeka
CEDAR CREST GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE
One SW Cedar Crest Road
Topeka, KS 66606
785.296.3636
www.governor.ks.gov/about-the-governor/cedar-crest
Built in 1928, this stately 12-room, French-Norman residence has been home to Kansas’ first families since 1961. More than 200 acres of nature, jogging and walking trails and ponds surrounding the home are open to the public.
COMBAT AIR MUSEUM
Forbes Field
Hangar 602, “J” Street
Topeka, KS 66619
785.862.3303
www.combatairmuseum.org
The Combat Air Museum offers an extraordinary display of combat aircraft and military artifacts dating back to 1939.
CHARLES CURTIS HOUSE & MUSEUM
1101 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS66612
785.357.1371 or 785.597.5380
www.charlescurtismuseum.com
Charles Curtis, who served as vice president under Herbert Hoover from 1929 to 1933, lived in this home. He is the only Native American to have served as U.S. Vice President.
DOWNTOWN TOPEKA
Downtown Topeka Inc.
515 S Kansas Avenue, Suite A
Topeka, KS 66603
785.234.9336
www.downtowntopekainc.com
Nineteenth century “main street” buildings co-exist with new modern structures to give downtown Topeka a character all its own. Small boutiques nestle between office buildings and restaurants along the tree-lined brick sidewalks. The State of Kansas has recently relocated many of their employees to new or remodeled space in the Capitol Area Plaza adjacent to downtown.
GAGE PARK
SW Sixth and Gage
Topeka, KS 66606
www.topeka.org/parksrec/gage_park.shtml
This 160-acre regional park is home to the Helen Hocker Theatre, mini-train, historic carousel and countless recreational facilities including the Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center, the Topeka Zoo, tennis courts, ball diamonds, Hill’s Bark Park and an outdoor amphitheater.
GRACE EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL
701 SW Eighth Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603
785.235.3457
www.gracecathedraltopeka.org/
This limestone Gothic cathedral features towers modeled after those of Magdalen College in Oxford, England.
GREAT OVERLAND STATION
701 N Kansas Avenue
Topeka, KS 66608
785.232.5533
www.greatoverlandstation.com
Formerly home to the Union Pacific Station, the Great Overland Station is a museum/education center with a focus on “people of the railroads,” bringing to life Topeka’s railroad heritage through historic photographs, costumed docents and interactive displays.
JAYHAWK STATE THEATRE OF KANSAS
720 SW Jackson
Topeka, KS 66603
785.233.4295
www.jayhawktheatre.com
Gypsy Rose Lee launched her career in the Jayhawk Theatre, the official state theatre of Kansas. This historic theatre is in the process of being returned to its original state.
KANSAS EXPOCENTRE
One SW Expocentre Drive
(SW 17 and Topeka Boulevard)
Topeka, KS 66612
785.235.1986
www.ksexpo.com
The Kansas Expocentre offers ice skating, indoor football and ice hockey, concerts, family shows, trade shows, and exhibit hall and convention space.
KANSAS HISTORY CENTER
6425 SW Sixth Avenue
Topeka, KS 66615
785.272.8681
www.kshs.org/places/museum.htm
The Kansas History Center complex in west Topeka includes the headquarters for the Kansas State Historical Society. Visitors can trace the state’s history from the Indian era to the Civil War to modern day Kansas. The Center includes the Kansas Museum of History with 22,000 square feet of national award-winning exhibits, the Potawatomi Mission, the Stach School, the Research Center Library and a Nature Trail. The Museum Store, featuring Kansas books and gifts, and Discovery Place, with hands-on exhibits for children, are located within the Museum.
LAKE SHAWNEE
3137 SE 29 Street
Topeka, KS 66605
785.267.1156
www.snco.us/parksandrec/lake_shawnee.asp
Lake Shawnee offers fishing, boating, sailing and swimming. Within the 1,100-acre park surrounding the 400-acre lake are foot trails, fish hatcheries, a golf course, a marina, tennis courts, shelter houses, horseback trails, ball diamonds and gardens.
MULVANE ART MUSEUM
SW 17 and Jewell Avenue
Topeka, KS 66621
785.670.1124
www.washburn.edu/mulvane/
The Mulvane Art Museum at Washburn University hosts monthly exhibits, extensive art collections, art education programs and a museum shop featuring area artists.
NATIONAL GUARD MUSEUM OF KANSAS
Forbes Field
6700 S Topeka Boulevard, Building 301
Topeka, KS 66619
785.862.1020
www.kansasguardmuseum.org/
Established in 1986, the National Guard Museum offers programs and services, a reference library and archives, gift shop and guided tours. Using artifacts from the Kansas Militia and National Guard, the museum tells the history of the volunteer forces in the state from 1854 to the present. An outdoor park displays larger vehicles and aircraft used by Kansas National Guard Units.
OLD PRAIRIE TOWN AT WARD-MEADE HISTORIC SITE
124 NW Fillmore
Topeka, KS 66606
785.368.3888
www.topeka.org/parksrec/wardmeade_prairie_crossing.shtml
The Ward-Meade Mansion, built in 1870, is the focal point for the five-acre complex that includes a pioneer cabin, one-room country schoolhouse, an old train station, a turn-of-the-century drugstore, a general store, a church and magnificent gardens.
POTWIN PLACE
Beautiful historic Victorian homes are situated along brick streets where islands of greenery circle each intersection point. Potwin Place is located a few blocks west of downtown between First and Fourth Streets.
REINISCH ROSE GARDEN
Gage Park
SW Sixth Avenue and Gage Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66606
www.topeka.org/parksrec/gagegardens.shtml
Thousands of rose varieties are featured in Gage Park’s Reinisch Rose Garden, one of the most splendid rose gardens in the world. With over 6,500 plants, offering 400 varieties, the garden is in bloom from May through October each year.
RITCHIE HOUSE
1116 SE Madison
Topeka, KS 66607
785.234.6097
Built around 1856, this historic site was home to John Ritchie, one of Topeka’s early founders who fought to end slavery. The Ritchie House is a preservation and interpretation project of the Shawnee County Historical Society to commemorate the first generation of Topeka’s founders.
TIFFANY WINDOWS
817 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66612
785.233.9601
www.topeka1stpresbyterian.org
The First Presbyterian Church in downtown Topeka is one of the few churches in the nation to have its sanctuary decorated extensively with Tiffany stained glass windows. The work represents America’s foremost designer of stained glass, Louis Comfort Tiffany. The windows of the sanctuary are decorated with Favrile glass, cutting the sun’s rays into thousands of subtle shapes and colors.
TOPEKA CIVIC THEATRE & ACADEMY
3028 SW Eighth Avenue
Topeka, KS 66606
785.357.5213
www.topekacivictheatre.com
Topeka’s only dinner theatre is the venue for hit comedies, cutting-edge dramas, improvisational comedy and beloved Broadway musicals in an atmosphere so intimate, you’ll feel like you’re part of the show!
TOPEKA HIGH SCHOOL
800 SW Tenth Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612
785.295.3150
http://ths.topekapublicschools.net/
Designed by Topeka architect Thomas W. Williamson, Topeka High School was completed in 1931 at a cost of over $1 million. Today it is one of the city’s most distinguished landmarks.
TOPEKA & SHAWNEE COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
1515 SW Tenth Avenue
Topeka, KS 66604
785.580.4400
www.tscpl.org
The library has a collection of over 544,000 books. The Topeka Room is a permanent home for books written, published or illustrated by Topekans. In addition, the room’s art, archive records, memorabilia and even furniture have ties to Topeka and its history. A $23 million expansion designed by noted architect Michael Graves was dedicated in 2002, creating one of the most modern libraries in the country.
TOPEKA HARLEY-DAVIDSON MUSEUM
2047 SW Topeka Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66612
785.234.6174
www.topekaharleydavidson.com
Thirty rare Harley-Davidsons are on display, along with many pictures, tools and collectibles displaying the store’s history as well as Harley-Davidson’s.
TOPEKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
214 SE Eighth Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603
785.234.2787
www.tpactix.org
State-of-the-art acoustical features make the 2,600-seat Georgia Neese Gray Performance Hall a perfect environment for local dance companies, symphonies, popular entertainment, touring artists and local talent.
TOPEKA ZOOLOGICAL PARK
635 SW Gage Boulevard
Topeka, KS 66606
785.368.9180
www.topeka.org/zoo
Open 363 days of the year, the Topeka Zoo is highlighted by the Tropical Rain Forest, the Waterbird Lagoon, a Lion’s Pride Exhibit, the Discovering Apes Building and a Black Bear Exhibit (closed Christmas and New Year’s Day).
THE WOODWARD HOUSE & INNS ON FILLMORE
1272 SW Fillmore
Topeka, KS 66604
785.354.7111
www.thewoodward.com
Originally built in 1925 for Chester and Frederica Woodward, The Woodward is now a bed and breakfast and gathering place, reflecting English Tudor architecture and the residences of English nobility.
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