Topeka History Facts and Timeline

(Topeka, Kansas - KS, USA)

For many thousands of years in history, the land that now makes up the state of Kansas and its capital city of Topeka was called home by various tribes of Native America Indians. However, things were set to change when the 19th century dawned.

The 1803 'Louisiana Purchase' saw the United States acquire the territory of Louisiana from France, at the cost of roughly US$15 million. This huge chunk of land contained several of America's present-day states, including the majority of Kansas.

In the latter part of the 1820s, European Americans chose to settle around the area of Fort Leavenworth, roughly 60 miles / 97 km to the northeast of Topeka.

Wagon Trains, the Kansas River and Fort Riley

History remembers how at the beginning of the 1840s, regular wagon trains began to ply their way across America, heading in a westerly direction from Missouri, along the route later named the Oregon Trail. Three women, married to French-Canadian brothers, decided that it would be a profitable enterprise to set up a ferry service, to enable travelers to cross the Kansas River. This crossing, used by many of these travelers, was based at the spot where Topeka is located today.

Located roughly 80 miles / 129 km to the west of the site of present-day Topeka, in North Central Kansas, a United States Army installation named Fort Riley came into being. The fort was connected to Fort Leavenworth via a military road, which headed right through the center of Topeka.

Settlement Finally Begins

In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act actively opened up the region to settlers. Soon after, in the middle years of the 1850s, a small group of men decided to set up base here. They officially founded a basic settlement and formed the Topeka Town Association, building a number of log cabins. It was not long until steamboats were a regular sight along the Kansas River, stopping off at a landing site in Topeka to unload their cargo, such as timber and flour. The boats were then loaded up with locally grown crops, including wheat, corn and also potatoes.

Just a decade later, Topeka had grown dramatically in size and was beginning to enjoy some modern comforts. During this time, the territory had been experiencing a period of great conflict due to different slavery beliefs and this led to a series of violent political confrontations, earning the territory the nickname of Bleeding Kansas (1854 to 1861).

The Creation of a State and its Capital

By now, the federal government of the United States was growing in size and states were joining this expanding nation. Kansas became the 34th United State in the year 1861 and immediately began to consider its capital. After much discussion, it was decided that Topeka would be a sensible choice and a Capitol Building was soon commissioned, followed by construction of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and the establishment of the Washburn University (WU).

Building of the Kansas State Capitol commenced in the mid-1860s and spanned a total of five decades, finally being completed in 1903. It was topped with a towering dome and today offers regular guided tours, which lead visitors to the very top of the Capitol's dome.

20th Century Onwards

Many important dates in Topeka history took place during the 20th century, helping to shape the city for future generations. Two important hospitals opened in 1906 and 1909, by which time the population had topped 40,000 people. The following decade witnessed the arrival of both the Hayden High School and the majestic Grace Episcopal Cathedral, while in 1926, the city of Topeka welcomed the Jayhawk Theater to its cultural scene.

The Topeka Zoological Park (now simply Topeka Zoo) saw its very first visitors in 1933 and has grown to become one of the city's most popular attractions, now drawing more than 150,000 visitors each year. In 1950, the population was about to reach 80,000 and a modern railway station was built, to improve transport connections.

A devastating tornado came and went in 1966, the public use airport named Forbes Field began operating in 1976, and in 1984, the Kansas Museum of History opened its doors. The Kansas Expocentre (the Landon Arena) was built in 1987, followed by the West Ridge Mall in 1988 and the Topeka Performing Arts Center in 1991. More recently, the Kaw River State Park officially opened in 2010, after a donation of this land to the state a few years earlier.