Topeka, Kansas

1. Kansas State Capitol Building

The Kansas State Capitol Building is a historic building and the seat of government for the U.S. State of Kansas. Also referred to as the Kansas Statehouse, it is the home of the state’s executive and legislative branches and is one of the top Topeka attractions.

Its dome is 304 feet high (93 meters), and it is one of the few state capitol buildings in the U.S. that still offers dome tours. These tours start on the fifth floor: from here visitors must climb 296 steps, as there is no elevator. There are also historic tours of the building, and these tours include all five floors, allowing visitors to see some of the beautiful murals inside the building.

Address: SW 8th and SW Van Buren, Topeka, Kansas, Phone: 785-296-3966

2. Lake Shawnee

Lake Shawnee is a manmade lake built between 1935 and 1939 as a Work Progress Administration project when more than 5,000 fishermen celebrated its completion in 1939.

Water activities include boating, fishing, and swimming, while non-water activities include camping, golfing, and tennis. There are many amenities and facilities at Lake Shawnee, some of which include beautiful gardens and large open areas, the Garden House, the Reynolds Lodge, and shelter houses for picnics. If you are wondering what to do in Topeka with kids, this is a great place to visit.

For activities there is a marina for boats, a children’s playground, sand volleyball courts, a swimming beach with a water slide, and tennis courts. Several programs and special events also take place at the lake.

3. Kansas Museum of History

Located on SW Sixth Avenue, the Kansas Museum of History is a state history museum and one of the best things to do in Topeka, Kansas. The Kansas Historical Society was founded in 1875, and its first home was in the Kansas State Capitol building.

Built in the 1980s to house the Society’s collection, the current building opened in 1984 as the Kansas Museum of History. Situated on an 80-acre site near the Potawatomi Mission, the museum houses galleries for its exhibits, classrooms for its outreach programs, and more.

There are ongoing exhibits, special temporary exhibits, and online exhibits. Some of the programs for children include Kansas Day, Museum After Hours, the History & Environmental Fair, the Sundown Film Festival, and West Fest.

Address: 6425 SW Sixth Avenue, Topeka, Kansas, Phone: 785-272-8681

4. Mulvane Art Museum

The Mulvane Art Museum is an art museum and a department of Washburn University. Located on SW Jewell Avenue, the museum opened in 1924 thanks to the generosity of Joab R. Mulvane, a successful local businessman.

It is one of the oldest art museums west of the Mississippi River and has an impressive collection of 4,000 art objects. Although some of the drawings, paintings, pieces of decorative art, prints, and sculptures come from many places around the world, the museum focuses on the work of local Kansas artists and artists from the Mountain Plains area of the United States.

The museum’s education outreach programs include art classes, family events, public lectures, and much more.

Address: 1700 SW Jewell Avenue, Topeka, Kansas, Phone: 785-670-1124

5. Combat Air Museum

The Combat Air Museum is an aircraft and aviation history museum situated at the Topeka Regional Airport/Forbes Field, which was at one time the Forbes Air Force Base.

The museum focuses on collecting, preserving, and displaying aircraft and artifacts related to U.S. aviation history. Founded in 1976, the museum is housed in two hangars at the airport.

The collection includes 36 aircraft, most of which are military and American. The aircraft date back to World War I and include World War II aircraft, jets from the 1950s to the 1980s, helicopters, military vehicles, and more.

Address: 7016 SE Forbes Avenue, Topeka, Kansas, Phone: 785-862-3303

6. The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center is a children’s museum located on SW Tenth Avenue. Opened in 2011, the 15,708 square foot building that houses the center is situated in a 4.5-acre section of Topeka’s Gage Park. If you are looking for fun things to do in Topeka, Kansas with kids, this is a great place for small children.

Inside, visitors will find a variety of hands-on exhibits where children can learn and explore through play. Topics these displays cover include art, science, and many more. Outside there are hiking trails, obstacle courses, and bike paths, and the center supplies the bicycles for the children.

In addition to the hands-on exhibits, the center offers daily programs, camps, field trips, and special events. The center also hosts birthday parties and offers a variety of party packages.

Address: 4400 SW Tenth Avenue, Topeka, Kansas, Phone: 785-783-8300

7. Gage Park

Gage Park is a 160-acre city park located on SW Gage Boulevard in Topeka. Founded in 1899, it is one of the largest parks in the city. It features the Reinisch Rose Garden, which is 70 years old. It is a scenic place and a popular choice for weddings and other special events like birthday parties and family reunions.

Other features of the park include an outdoor theater and several attractions for children, including the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center where children and their families can explore art, nature, and science; the Topeka Zoo with its many exhibits, including an indoor tropical rain forest; and a miniature train.

8. Topeka Performing Arts Center

The Topeka Performing Arts Center hosts dance, music, theater, and other kinds of performances. Located on SE Eighth Street in the historic 1930s art deco Municipal Auditorium, the performing arts center was renovated in the late 1980s and early 1990s, transforming it into a state-of-the-art center without compromising the art deco architecture.

In addition to the main auditorium, there is a smaller theater called the Hussey Playhouse with a seating capacity of 120 and a banquet facility on the lower level called Hill’s Festival Hall. In addition to the performances, the theater has several education outreach programs such as Schooltime Theater and Young Artist. If you are looking for romantic date ideas, watch a performance at the Topeka Performing Arts Center.

Address: 214 SE Eighth Street, Topeka, Kansas, Phone: 785-234-2787

9. Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site

Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site is an open-air museum and park in Topeka that consists of several historic buildings, botanical gardens, a general store, and a drug store.

The 1870 Victorian mansion was the largest house in the city when it was built. The 2.5-acre botanical gardens contain more than 500 varieties of flowers, shrubs, and trees, as well as a gazebo, a water garden, and a fountain.

Old Prairie Town is a short street of historic 19th century buildings that have been moved to the site, some of which include structures such as the 1880 Methodist church from Everest, KS. Guided tours are also available.

Address: 124 NW Fillmore Street, Topeka, Kansas, Phone: 785-251-2989

10. Topeka Zoological Park

Topeka Zoological Park is located within Gage Park in the north central part of the city. With its many exhibits, it is one of the most popular attractions in Topeka.

Gage Park was the result of a donation of 80 acres from the Gage family to Topeka in 1899.

The zoo opened in 1933 but the first structure to house large mammals was not built until 1966. After that point, many new exhibits were built. The zoo was renovated in 2003 and several more exhibits were added.

Today these include Black Bear Woods, Discovering Apes, Jungle Cats, Kansas Carnivores, and the first indoor tropical rainforest in the U.S.

Address: 635 SW Gage Boulevard, Topeka, Kansas, Phone: 785-368-9180