Topeka

39.04735, -95.67516

Topeka Travel Guide

Travel Author

Stig Albeck

City Map

City Introduction

Topeka is the capital city of the state of Kansas, located along the Kansas River. Topeka was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery settlers, the same year as the creation of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, and it was incorporated in 1857. The city played a significant role in the so-called Bleeding Kansas era, a series of violent confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. The city’s name, derived from a Kansa-Osage word meaning “a good place to dig potatoes,” reflects its Native American heritage, and it became the capital of Kansas in 1861.

In the remaining part af the 1800s, Topeka developed rapidly. The Lincoln College was established in 1865, and the railroads expanded westwards in 1869 with the Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad system establishment in 1878. There were vast speculation on town lots through the 1880s, ending in a burst in 1889, but booming times came back soon after. The Smith Automobile Company car manufacturing from 1902 was an example of the better days. After financial ups and downs, Topeka is today a city with an interesting history and several sights with well-preserved heritage buildings and diverse architectural styles.

The Kansas State Capitol is the most famous building in Topeka. It was completed in 1903 after 37 years of construction and it is a stunning example of Classical Revival architecture. The building features a 93-meter copper dome topped with the Ad Astra statue, depicting a Kansa Native American with bow and arrow pointed at the North Star. If you explore the interior, you can enjoy murals by John Steuart Curry, including the famous Tragic Prelude depicting John Brown, an American abolitionist in the decades preceding the Civil War. You can also climb the 296 steps to the top of the capitol dome for an impressive panoramic view of the city.

Downtown Topeka is concentrated along Kansas Avenue, which was developed south of 6th Street from the 1870s. The area was well-located close to the river and the booming railroad lines, and the Kansas Avenue District became a dense commercial corridor that now tells the story of the economic and civic development of Topeka from shortly after its founding to the city today. At the corner of Kansas Avenue and 9th Street, you can see the old brick-highrise as an example from the boomtown era. The edifice was constructed as the Kansan Hotel and is now rebuild to other purposes.

On Monroe Street south of the historic downtown, you can visit the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. It is a site housed in the former Monroe Elementary School, and it commemorates the historic Supreme Court decision that ended legal segregation in public schools. The site offers exhibits and educational programs that highlight the struggle for civil rights and the impact of the case on American society. Monroe Elementary School was one of the four segregated elementary schools for African American children in Topeka, and it was built for that purpose with the present building in 1926.

Another educational institution and architectural gem is the Topeka High School. It was one of the first high schools of this kind west of the Mississippi River. The present campus was built in 1931 in the Gothic Revival style, an the school features a magnificent tower and intricate stonework. You can visit the Great Overland Station for more Topeka history. It is a beautifully restored train depot just north of the Kansas River. It is now a museum offering a glimpse into Topeka’s railroad heritage.

Potwin Place Historic District is a neighborhood of Topeka, which is suitable for a nice walk in the suburban streets. The neighborhood is known for its brick-lined streets and variety of Victorian and Queen Anne style homes. You find Potwin Place northwest of downtown, and it is bounded by SW Willow Ave to the south, SW Woodlawn Ave to the west, NW Grove Ave to the north and SE Greenwood Ave to the east. You can continue the relaxed walk in Gage Park in the western part of Topeka. It is a large city park with scenic trails, a rose garden, the Topeka Zoo and much more.

Other Attractions

Day Trips

Kansas City, Missouri, United States, USA

Kansas City

Kansas City is the largest city in the state of Missouri, and it is a city located at the mouth of the Kansas River flow into the Missouri River. Already during the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition after the American purchase of French Louisiana in 1803, it was determined that the place was well suited for a fort. It took until 1831 before a group of Mormons led by Joseph Smith settled here, but they had to move on two years later.

In the following years, settlements appeared in Independence, Westport and along the Missouri River, and in 1850 the Town of Kansas formally became a city, with a location along the river in the northern part of the modern downtown. In the last decades of the 19th century, the city boomed due to the railroad, and in 1889 it was named Kansas City. In the year 1900, a good 163,000 inhabitants lived here.

Read more about Kansas City

 

Wichita, Kansas, United States, USA

Wichita

Wichita is a city on the Arkansas River, and it is the largest city in the state of Kansas. The area was French until 1803, when the United States acquired Louisiana. In 1854 it became part of the Kansas Territory, which became an American state in 1861. In the 1860s, Jesse Chisholm established a trading post here along the so-called Chisholm Trail. Later, James R. Mead formed the Wichita Town Company with some investors, and in 1870 Wichita formally became a city.

Two years later the railroad came to Wichita, which became a popular town for cattle from Texas brought here to the rail transports to markets in the east. Across the Arkansas River, the town of Delano thrived with entertainment, saloons, brothels and lawlessness until Wyatt Earp and other sheriffs restored order. Wichita boomed and had 24,000 residents in 1890. Growth picked up again after gas and oil discoveries from 1914, and many new businesses were established.

Read more about Wichita

Geolocation

In short

Kansas State Capitol, Topeka, Kansas, United States, USA

Kansas State Capitol, Topeka, Kansas, United States, USA

Overview of Topeka

Topeka is the capital city of the state of Kansas, located along the Kansas River. Topeka was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery settlers, the same year as the creation of the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, and it was incorporated in 1857. The city played a significant role in the so-called Bleeding Kansas era, a series of violent confrontations between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions. The city’s name, derived from a Kansa-Osage word meaning “a good place to dig potatoes,” reflects its Native American heritage, and it became the capital of Kansas in 1861.

About the Whitehorse travel guide

Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English

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The Whitehorse travel guide gives you an overview of the sights and activities of the Canadian city. Read about top sights and other sights, and get a tour guide with tour suggestions and detailed descriptions of all the city’s most important churches, monuments, mansions, museums, etc.

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Travel Expert

Stig Albeck

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