Discover Topeka

Topeka combines civil rights and state history with railroad and aviation museums, gardens, and nature experiences. If you’re looking for a hotel in Topeka, you can plan your stay around the subjects that interest you most: from a historic decision and the Kansas State Capitol to animal habitats and activities at Lake Shawnee.

History and State Government

The Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park commemorates the 1954 decision by the United States Supreme Court. It declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The park provides a tangible starting point for exploring an important chapter in American history.

Tours at the Kansas State Capitol feature the historic building, the State Library, notable works of public art, and the dome. Historical tours and dome tours are offered Monday through Saturday; check the schedule before your trip. At the top of the dome is an observation point with a distinctive view of Topeka. A visit to the Capitol thus combines the building’s history and public art with a view of the city.

Historic Sites and Collections

Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Historic Site recreates a 19th-century village and includes a replica of the 1854 log cabin. The Ward-Meade mansion in Old Prairie Town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This site offers a different way to explore history than the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park: its focus is on depicting a 19th-century village.

Great Overland Station is also now home to a railroad museum. It brings the people and stories of a bygone era to life. Those interested in technology and aviation can visit the Combat Air Museum, whose collection of 47 aircraft spans the earliest days of aviation to the present. It is complemented by historic aircraft engines, including a rare Whittle gas turbine engine, as well as artifacts, dioramas, and a growing military aviation gallery.

The new galleries at the Kansas Museum of History invite visitors to reflect on three questions: “What is Kansas?”, “What was Kansas?”, and “Why Kansas?” Together with the historic sites and collections, these questions offer different perspectives on the state’s history.

Gardens, Animals, and Trails

The 2.5-acre Ward-Meade Botanical Garden features paved, accessible paths and a monarch butterfly station. The themed gardens include national display gardens for hostas and daylilies, as well as a national reference garden for conifers. Each garden area has its own botanical focus; the monarch butterfly station adds a connection to wildlife.

At the Topeka Zoo, Discovery Forest includes habitats for red pandas and clouded leopards. The area also features an orchid-planted atrium and a collection of carnivorous plants. Visitors looking to include gardens, plants, and animal habitats in their travel plans will find a variety of themes within this named zoo area.

The Landon Trail runs alongside the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park and connects to the Shunga Trail. This specific connection complements visits to the historic sites with a trail link to consider when planning your trip.

Recreation at Lake Shawnee

Lake Shawnee offers a marina, campground, golf course, swimming beach, and playgrounds, as well as a variety of water sports and activities. The options range from activities on the water to golf and playgrounds. Check which facilities are open seasonally before your trip if this is important to your plans.

For the broader travel overview: Shawnee County.