Topeka Landmarks and Monuments

(Topeka, Kansas - KS, USA)



There are a number of historic neighborhoods situated within the city of Topeka, where some of the state's oldest buildings and most important landmarks live, such as College Hill, Freedom's Pathway and Holliday Park. The neighborhood of Westboro features attractive colonial houses from the 1920s, and a noticeable Victorian character runs through Potwin Place.

Governor's Row is where you will find the former Governor's mansion, as well as the Row House. The Old Prairie Town has many interesting attractions, with the magnificent whitewashed Prairie Mansion being a definite highlight and dating back to the 1870s. There is also an authentic replica of a log cabin from the 1850s, complete with its very own blacksmith's shop.

Built between the years of 1866 and 1903, the Kansas State Capitol Building is a must-see landmark for sightseers in Topeka. An imposing portico with eight fluted columns makes for a grand entrance, while the most striking feature is obviously the crowning rotunda and dome.


Kansas State Capitol Building

Address: 300 Southwest 10th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66612, USA
Tel: +1 785 296 3966
The majestic dome of the Kansas State Capitol Building measures some 50 feet / 15 meters in width and stands just over 300 feet / 91 meters in height, being topped by a bronze sculpture depicting a Kansas Native American as recently as 2002. A large number of the visitors touring the capitol choose to climb the 296 steps from the 5th floor to the very top, where impressive views across the Topeka cityscape await. Many painted murals and frescoes adorn the base of the dome and the sides of the rotunda.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 to 17:00; guided tours, January to May, Monday to Friday - 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00; June to December, Monday to Friday - 09:00, 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00
Admission: free

Washburn University

Address: 1700 Southwest College Avenue, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66621, USA
Tel: +1 785 670 1010
When it comes to important educational landmarks in the state capital of Kansas, Washburn University (WU) is the largest and arguably the most important. This complex was first established in the middle of the 1860s, when it was named Lincoln College and renamed a few years later as the Washburn College. An annual endowment of more than US$100 million ensures that the campus is well-maintained today for its 7,000+ students and 500+ teachers. If you are able to explore the campus, you will see a series of sculptures created by the students themselves. Stoffer Hall is one of the main buildings and suffered major tornado damage in 1966. Other notable structures on the campus include the Duggan Memorial, the Mulvane Art Museum, the School of Law, the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and the West Hall. On the southwestern corner, the Kansas Millennium Grove is also worthy of investigation.
Open hours: by arrangement
Admission: free

Topeka High School

Address: 800 Southwest 10th Street, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66612, USA
Tel: +1 785 295 3150
Topeka High School is an important landmark in this capital, since it was the earliest school built at the cost of more than US$1 million, on the western side of the Mississippi River. The school has its origins in the early years of the 1870s, although this particular rather pricey incarnation came into being in 1931. A tall bell tower presides over the cream stone and red-brick architecture. Of note, roughly 2,000 students now study here, a small number of which participate in foreign exchange programs.
Open hours: by arrangement
Admission: free

Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site

Address: 124 Northwest Fillmore Street, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66606, USA
Tel: +1 785 368 3888
Various buildings at the Old Prairie Town are arranged around the Town Square, such as a historic Barber Shop, the Everest Church, the Lingo Livery Stable, the Potwin Drug Store and the Mulvane General Store Visitors Center, as well as a Victorian schoolhouse. If you have enough time, be sure to stroll around the botanical gardens, which cover roughly 1 hectare / 2.5 acres and boast a rather surprising waterfall.
Open hours: grounds, daily - 08:00 to dusk; guided tours, Monday to Friday - 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00, Saturday and Sunday - 12:00 and 14:00; stores, Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 16:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 16:00
Admission: guided tour, charge, discounts available for seniors and children, children five years old and under are free

Cedar Crest

Address: 1 Southwest Cedar Crest Road, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66606, USA
Tel: +1 785 296 3636
Lying on the northwestern side of downtown Topeka and close to the Kansas River is Cedar Crest, the name of the Kansas Governor's Residence. This elevated mansion features French Normandy-style architecture and was built in the year 1928, becoming the official home of the state governor in 1962 and a replacement for the former, less-grand residence on Buchanan Street. In 1982, the landmark joined the National Register of Historic Places and the following decade enjoyed major renovation work, costing in excess of US$4 million. The estate grounds are certainly well worth a wander and cover close to 100 hectares / 250 acres, coming with ponds, formal gardens, lots of winding pathways and views of both the river and MacLennan Park.
Open hours: Monday - 13:00 to 15:30
Admission: free

Grace Episcopal Cathedral

Address: 701 Southwest 8th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas (KS), 66603, USA
Tel: +1 785 235 3457
Located in the city center and right next to the Topeka High School, the Grace Episcopal Cathedral rather dominates Southwest 8th Avenue, with its towering architecture. This landmark serves as the seat for the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas and was built between the years of 1910 and 1917, although the distinctive towers came along many years later. Inside, stained-glass windows, a pipe organ with more than 60 pipes and many sizeable oak beams within the ceiling provide much character.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 09:00 to 16:30, Saturday and Sunday - 08:30 to 12:00, tours by appointment
Admission: free