The Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park commemorates the 1954 United States Supreme Court decision declaring racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. This makes a specific chapter of American civil rights history tangible in Topeka; other places focus on state history, culture, and nature.
History and State Life
The Kansas State Capitol offers tours that include the historic building, the State Library, significant works of public art, and the dome. Historic tours and dome tours are offered Monday through Saturday. Check the schedule before your visit. Unlike the specific ruling commemorated by the park, the Capitol tours explore several aspects of the state building and its public art.
Historic Settings and Gardens
Old Prairie Town/Ward-Meade Historic Site depicts a 19th-century village, including a replica of an 1854 log cabin. The Ward-Meade Mansion in Old Prairie Town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This brings the depiction of a historic village and the listing of a specific building together in a shared historical context.
The 2.5-acre Ward-Meade Botanical Garden features paved, accessible paths, a monarch butterfly station, and several themed gardens. These include national display gardens for hostas and daylilies, as well as a national reference garden for conifers. The garden broadens the view from historic settings to a variety of plantings and the monarch butterfly station.
Museums with Different Perspectives
The Combat Air Museum displays 47 aircraft, from the earliest days of aviation to the present. The collection also includes historic aircraft engines, including a rare Whittle turbojet engine, an extensive collection of artifacts and dioramas, and a growing military aviation gallery. Its subject matter therefore ranges from aircraft and technology to collection pieces and depictions of military aviation.
Today, the Great Overland Station houses a railroad museum that brings to life the people and stories of an earlier era. The Kansas Museum of History takes a different approach: its galleries invite visitors to reflect on the questions “What is Kansas?”, “What was Kansas?”, and “Why Kansas?” The cultural offerings therefore differ in their focus: aviation, railroad history, or questions about Kansas history.
Wildlife, Trails, and Water Activities
At the Topeka Zoo, Discovery Forest features habitats for red pandas and clouded leopards, an atrium planted with orchids, and a collection of carnivorous plants. Animal habitats and botanical highlights come together in this named area. The Landon Trail runs alongside the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park and connects to the Shunga Trail.
Recreational amenities at Lake Shawnee include a marina, campground, golf course, swimming beach, playgrounds, and a range of water sports and activities. This means there are water-based and recreational activities to choose from, in addition to museums and historic sites. Check information about seasonal facilities before your trip.
For the broader travel overview: Shawnee County.
