Guide to things to do in Topeka, Kansas

Guide to things to do in Topeka, Kansas

Our Topeka, Kansas attractions and museum guide has 21 great things to see and do in Wichita. Eleven are marked Free and do not charge, although some of those request donations.

The Belshe Fire Hydrant Garden was started in his yard by Claude Belshe in 2005 and has grown to around 100 fire hydrants. He has purchased some of them, but many have been donated. If the hydrant was a gift, the donor may select the colors it is painted. Claude's stepson, Jeffrey Ard. Free The oldest fire hydrants in the collection are over 100 years old. 720 SW 5th Street, Topeka, Kansas 66603
In 2017, Berry Hill UPick Farm in Berryton, Kansas, just south of Topeka, decided to plant sunflowers to help draw attention to their strawberry farm. With the popularity of the Grinter's Sunflower Farm in Leavenworth County, this seemed like a great way to gain visibility. it has been a big hit and the name changed to Shively Farms in 2024. Free 5950 Southeast Croco Road, Berryton, Kansas 66409 (785) 633-7374
The Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site opened on May 17, 2004, 50 years to the day after the announcement of the United States Supreme Court decision that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." The Brown v. Board of Education Historic Site was the former Monroe Elementary School, one of the four segregated elementary schools for African American children in Topeka in 1954. Free 1515 SE Monroe, Topeka, Kansas 66612 (785) 354-4273
The Chief Abram B. Burnett Grave in Topeka, Kansas is in southwest Topeka.Burnett was a hereditary chief of the Pottawatomie tribe of Indians. Chief Burnett's name is best known today because he owned the land that now includes Burnett's Mound about two miles east. The grave is on private land, but repectful visitors are welcome during daylight hours. Chief Abram B. Burnett Grave, 3300 block of SW Arvonia Place, Topeka, Kansas 66614
2024 is the 42nd year for the Cider Days Fall Festival at the Stormont Vail Event Center in Topeka. The festival was originally held at Lake Perry, 30 miles away, and later at Lake Shawnee near Topeka. The festival has two elements. Inside the Expocentre, there are two large halls of arts and crafts exhibits. Although some vendors sell their own work, it appears that many of the craft booths had mass produced items. Outside there are pioneer demonstrations, animal rides, food and entertainment. Kansas Expocentre, 1 Expocentre Drive, Topeka, KS 66612 (785) 230-5226
The Combat Air Museum was organized in the Fall of 1976 as a wing of David Tallichet's Yesterday's Air Force. In 1979 the group reorganized under the name of Combat Air Museum and relocated to hangar #602 at Forbes Field, a World War II Liberator airfield. Today the Combat Air Museum has 36 aircraft representing WW1 to the present day, as well as a variety of aircraft engines, military vehicles, a simulated field kitchen, a field chapel, a German POW barracks, and military aviation art. 7016 SE Forbes Avenue, Forbes Field, Topeka, KS 66619 (785) 862-3303
The 13,000 sq ft Evel Knievel Museum is one of Kansas's newest major tourist attractions, having opened in June 2017. A large part of the museum is devoted to the motorcycle jumps he made, with displays devoted to many of the jumps he attempted. The first floor of the museum is actually built around his iconic Mack Truck, "Big Red," which was restored here. Closing November 2, 2024 to relocation to Las Vegas. 2047 SW Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, Kansas 66612 (785) 215-6205
The First Presbyterian Church in was organized in 1859. The present (1884) building is very handsome, with hand carved furnishings which were installed in 1935. The best known features of the building are the 100 year old Tiffany Windows. Louis Tiffany visited Topeka and planned the windows which were installed in 1911 at a cost of $14,000. Free 817 Southwest Harrison Street, Topeka, Kansas 66612 (785) 233-9601
Great Overland Station began as a Union Pacific railroad passenger station on January 27, 1927. Along the way, it survived floods, was remodeled for railroad offices, abandoned in 1988, and damaged by fire in 1992. Eventually Union Pacific Corporation donated the station to Topeka Railroad Days, Inc, and the Great Overland Station Project Team was established to direct efforts to preserve the station and transform it into a railroad heritage museum. In June 2004, The Great Overland Station opened its doors. 701 N. Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66608 (785) 232-5533
The Great Mural Wall of Topeka in Topeka, Kansas is an impressive piece of community driven public art which lives up to that grandiose name and really requires a video to convey just how big it is. Work began on the plain white walls of the 1939 19th & Western Water Pump Station in 2006 and continued until 2019. The east, south and west walls painted are about 800 feet long and 11 feet tall. Open 24 hours. 1969-1999 SW Western Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66612
The Historic Ritchie House in Topeka, Kansas was built by John and Mary Jane Ritchie in 1857 and was a stop on the underground railroad. The Shawnee County Historical Society acquired the Ritchie House in 1995 and has worked to restore and preserve the building. It was placed on the National Historic Registry in 2015. The Historic Ritchie House is part of Topeka's "Freedom's Pathway," which includes Brown v. Board National Historic Site and the Kansas State Capitol Building. 1116 SE Madison Street, Topeka, Kansas 66601 (785) 234-6097
The Holley Museum of Military History is a free museum housed in the Topeka Ramada Inn. The Holley Museum fills five small galleries and features dioramas, photographs, many models of air craft & vehicles and a few artifacts. Most of the museum is devoted to World War II. Free 420 Southeast 6th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66607 (785) 272-6204
The mission of the Kansas Children's Discovery Center is to enhance the lives of children; inspire creativity and a lifelong love of learning; enrich the health of our community through education; and provide an exciting and safe place for families to learn, play and interact together. The hands on exhibits, camps, and daily programs in the 15,700 square foot building are very cool. There are also 4.5 wooded acres of obstacle courses, hiking trails, an enormous tree house, planting beds, stage/classroom, butterfly rain gardens, and trike paths. 4400 Southwest 10th Avenue, Topeka, Kansas 66604 (785) 783-8300
The Kansas Museum of History features areas devoted to Native American History, the settling of Kansas, the battles over Kansas statehood, Civil War, African American History, and more recent developments. Exhibits include a fully stocked covered wagon ready for a trip on the Oregon Trail, a 1950s diner made by the Valentine Industries, a Biplane built in 1914 by A.K. Longren, and weapons. Kansas has been the home or original location of many restaurant chains from White Castle to the Harvey House chain to Applebee's, and the related exhibits are popular. The museum closed for renovations that were expected to take year and a half, in September of 2022, but is now expected to reopen in late 2025. 6425 SW Sixth Avenue, Topeka Kansas 66615 (785) 272-8681
The best free attraction in the Kansas State Capital is the Kansas State Capitol Building in Topeka. The Capitol is open to visitors from 8 AM - 5 PM, Monday through Friday and AM - 1 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 neatest thing at the Capitol is the Kansas State Capitol Dome Tours. The State Capital Building is closed Sundays and Kansas state holidays. Free 10th and Jackson, Topeka, Kansas 66612 (785) 296-3966
The Museum of the Kansas National Guard is dedicated to preserving the heritage of the Kansas National Guard and honoring the memories of the soldiers and airmen who have served Kansas and the United States. Located near the main entrance to Forbes Field, the free museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday. Exhibits include uniforms, weapons and the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame. Free 6700 S.W. Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, Kansas 66619 (785) 862-1020
The Potwin Place Neighborhood Christmas Display is one of the most impressive stops on our tour of Topeka holiday lights. This national historic district has 6 blocks of well decorated, beautiful old homes, plus theme displays on the small roundabouts at each intersection. Potwin has an attractive mixture of Victorian, Italianate, and nineteenth century farmhouse style homes on brick streets. Free SW Greenwood & SW Woodlawn, Topeka, Kansas 66606
Located less than a block off I-70 in downtown Topeka, St. Joseph Catholic Church is one of the most visible churches in the state of Kansas. Also known as St. Joseph German Catholic Church, the congregation was founded in 1887 to serve Topeka's German and Volga German-Russian (Deutsche aus Russland) community. Today the parish is combined with Sacred Heart Church (312 NE Freeman Avenue) as Sacred Heart - St. Joseph Catholic Parish. Free 227 SW Van Buren Street, Topeka, Kansas 66603 (785) 232-2863
Topeka Cemetery is the oldest chartered cemetery in the state of Kansas. The territorial governor of the Kansas Territory signed the legislation authorizing the cemetery on February 2, 1859. Other nearby burials from the previous 4 years were moved to the Topeka Cemetery. The cemetery contains the graves of five governors, a vice-president, 17 Topeka mayors and many other prominent Kansas residents, as well as numerous other memorials. Free 1601 SE 10th Avenue # 1, Topeka, Kansas 66607 (785) 233-4132
The Topeka Christmas Light Tour is updated each December with our selection of Christmas light displays worth going out of your way to see. Our tour has over 30 displays or groups of displays. The tour changes as new displays open through the Christmas season. Free Assorted locations across Topeka, Kansas.
Topeka State Hospital in Topeka, Kansas operated from 1879 to 1997. The Topeka State Hospital Cemetery provided a final resting for those patients whose families did not arrange for their burial, from 1879-1954. The State Hospital was originally called the Kansas State Insane Asylum. Although at least 1,157 individuals are known to have been buried in the hospital cemetery, there are only 19 grave markers. But on May 24, 2006, two granite monuments were erected at the cemetery with the names of everyone known to have been buried there 2710 Southwest Kanza Drive, Topeka, Kansas 66606
The Topeka Zoological Park is located south of I-70 in Gage Park at Gage & 6th Street. The best known feature of the Topeka Zoo is the tropical rain forest which was impressive when it was built in 1974. The zoo devotes most of its exhibits to larger species of animals, though typically there are only one or two members of the species on exhibit. The medium sized zoo is well laid out, and the animals are in large attractive enclosures. New since 2020 is a walk through Christmas Zoo Lights. 635 Gage Boulevard, Topeka, Kansas 66606 (785) 368-9180
Truckhenge is an eclectic combination of farm, salvage & recycled art, and nature sanctuary. The work of one man, Truckhenge consists of 6 antique trucks jutting out of the ground - remnicient of England's Stonehenge. The trucks are surrounded by other recycled object art and a variety of native plants. 4124 N.E. Brier Road, Topeka, Kansas (785) 234-3486
Ward-Meade Historic Site has many things to offer: an old mansion, botanic gardens, and Old Prairie Town (a short street of 19th century buildings that have been moved to the site). The 2.5 acre botanic gardens are a bit less scenic then some, but are very enjoyable with over 500 varieties of flowers, trees, & shrubs) labeled with their common and scientific names), fountain, water garden and gazebo. 124 NW Fillmore Street, Topeka, Kansas 66606 (785) 251-2989
2022 is the 25th year for Topeka's Winter Wonderland, a fundraiser for TARC (A provider of support for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities). Located in Topeka, Kansas' Lake Shawnee Campground, Winter Wonderland runs from 6 - 10 PM each night from the day before Thanksgiving through New Years Eve. 3435 SE East Edge Rd, Topeka, Kansas 66605 (785) 232-0597
The Yesterday's Museum shares a neat old stone building with Henry's Grill, the Evel Knievel Museum and Historic Harley-Davidson. The private museum is devoted to motorcycles. The displays can be viewed during regular dealership hours. The motorcycles and displays change periodically, but there are typically about 35 vintage motorcycles, photographs, tools & collectibles displayed in the crowded rooms and hallways of the lower floor. Free 2047 SW Topeka Blvd, Topeka, Kansas 66612 (785)234-6174

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