Kansas
State Capitol Building
10th and Jackson
Topeka, Kansas 66612
(785) 296-3966
Self guided tours:
8 AM to 5PM Monday - Friday
10AM - 4PM Saturday
Free Capitol Building Tours
Monday - Friday: 9, 10, 11, 1, 2 & 3
Saturdays all year: 10, 11, 1, 2 & 3
Free Dome
Tours
Capitol office
complex map |
The Kanza figure at the top is named Ad Astra (to the stars).
It was added in 2002. |
Kansas State Capitol from the northeast - the visitor entrance is at
the lower right and there is parking beneath that area.
The best free attraction in the Kansas State Capital
is
the Kansas State Capitol Building in Topeka, Kansas. The Capitol
is open to visitors from 8 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Friday and 10 AM -
4 PM on Saturday, with free tours conducted by the State Historical Society
4 - 6 times during the day on weekdays. The hours posted above are subject
to change, so be sure to call (785) 296-3966 to confirm times in advance.
The State Capital Building is closed Sundays and Kansas state holidays.
Construction of the Kansas State Capitol Building began
in 1866. Although the Capitol Building was in use by the legislature starting
in 1869, it took 37 years and $3,200,000 to complete. The Capitol is 399
feet by 386 feet, and 304 feet to the top of the cupola. The stone is brown
sandstone from the bluffs along Deer Creek, near Vinewood, in Shawnee County,
Kansas.
Major renovation of the Capitol Building began in 2002
and cost $330,000,000. That work was completed in early 2014 and the popular
free
tours to the top of the capitol dome (taking 45 minutes and climbing
296 steps from the 5th floor of the building to view both the interior
and the surrounding community) have been restarted.
The easiest way to visit the Capitol Building is to park
in the free visitor parking in the underground garage at the north side
of the building. An elevator will take you up to the north security entrance
and after passing through a scanner, you are right next to the gift shop
and the Capitol Visitors Center where you can get information and where
the general tours depart.
The Capitol Building from the south in 2005, after the start of renovation,
but before the work on the dome and roof.
John Steuart Curry's John Brown mural, "Tragic Prelude" - the capitol
has many murals painted by Curry in 1938-1941
The governor's public, ceremonial office is across the hall from
"Tragic Prelude."
This office is where the governor holds public signings such as proclamations.
The Chamber of the House of Representatives in 2005
House of Representatives desks
Senate Chamber viewed from the president's rostrum in 2005. There are
28 hand cast bronze columns
decorated with morning glories and roses.
Senate Chamber after renovation - the classic looking phones are now
gone.
The gallery above the president's rostrum is no longer open to the
public.
Notice the glass floor in the Kansas State Library on the second level
of the State Capitol to allow more light.
The renovation removed a third level from the stacks in the State Library.
Kansas State Flag which orbited the earth in the space shuttle Columbia
(STS-2)
on November 12 - 14, 1981.
1923 hand operated "cage" passenger elevator that is still in use.
Interior of Kansas State Capitol Dome from the main floor
An original 1903 dome window which was replaced during the 13 year
renovation.
The first floor of the Capitol Building is like a catacombs, with historic
photos and treasures around every corner.
The visitor's parking garage entrance is off 8th Street
Kansas State Capitol
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LS-2/14 copyright 2005-2024 by Keith
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