Specialty Tours
Architectural Tours
Great Overland Station
Formerly home to the Union Pacific Station, the Great Overland Station is a museum/education center bringing to life Topeka's railroad heritage through historic photographs, costumed docents and interactive displays.
Topeka High School
Designed by Topeka architect Thomas W. Williamson, Topeka High School was completed in 1931 and was the first high school west of the Mississippi to cost more than $1 million to build.
Grace Episcopal Cathedral
This limestone Gothic cathedral was built in 1910, but suffered a catastrophic fire in 1975. The restored cathedral features an oak wood truss ceiling supported by hammer beams, hand carved stone column capitals, American-made stained glass windows, a 62-rank Schantz pipe organ, handcrafted copper spire, and twin towers modeled after that of Magdalen College in Oxford, England.
Kansas State Capitol
Learn Kansas history through murals and sculptures in this recently refurbished home to Kansas government.
Charles Curtis House Museum
The Charles Curtis House Museum, the official residence of Charles Curtis when he served as U.S. Senate Majority Leader and Vice President of the United States, is located at 1101 SW Topeka Blvd.
Cedar Crest, Governor's Residence
Cedar Crest, the French architecture residence that is home to the governor of Kansas, is the focal point of a 244-acre estate overlooking the Kansas River featuring several ponds, gardens and hiking trails.
Ghost Tours of Kansas
Visit the most haunted places in Topeka! Authentic ghost tours include stories about the Capital, downtown business district, cemeteries and insane asylum. Due to the sensitive nature of the tours, age is limited to 12 and older. Tickets are $19.50 and can be ordered online on their website or by calling
785-383-2925.
Church Tours
First Presbyterian Church
Topeka's First Presbyterian Church is the site of a unique and breath-taking presentation of 10 Tiffany Windows installed in 1911. Guided tours may be scheduled through the church office.
Grace Episcopal Cathedral
This limestone Gothic cathedral was built in 1910, but suffered a catastrophic fire in 1975. The restored cathedral features an oak wood truss ceiling supported by hammer beams, hand carved stone column capitals, American-made stained glass windows, a 62-rank Schantz pipe organ, handcrafted copper spire, and twin towers modeled after that of Magdalen College in Oxford, England.
Topeka Art Tours
Mulvane ArtLab
The Art Lab is a hands-on art learning facility designed for people of all ages. This exploration area is fun and family oriented.
Potwin Pottery
Paint it yourself at Potwin Pottery! Pick your pottery, plan your design, choose your color and paint your heart out. Visit with a friend or family while you paint, relax and create a memory.
The Haute Shop
Topeka's only hot glass-working studio and gallery. View fantastic works of art and see how they are made in this unique studio.
The Jewelry Box & Gifts
The Jewelry Box & Gifts features handcrafted jewelry designs by local artists or create your own masterpiece and select beads to make your own unique creation.
First Friday Art Walk
On the first Friday of
each month, visit local galleries, meet artists and purchase
great art during the First Fridays Art Walk. You can find a
map along with gallery information at www.artsconnecttopeka.org.
A Sportsman Paradise
Lake Shawnee
Lake Shawnee offers fishing, boating, sailing and swimming for any outdoor enthusiast. Spend a day or at least an afternoon in this fantastic outdoor location with activities for the entire family.
Ravenwood
Offering the finest field, plantation and European driven hunts as well as a challenging English sporting clays course, tower course and five stand.
B2 Outdoors
This location has a full line of archery, tackle, and trapping supplies. They also offer a shooting range, video shooting with sound and live scoring, and a full-service repair shop. Professional instructors provide in-depth instruction and knowledge for those new to archery and trapping.
Cat Daddy Tours-Guide Service
Experience an outdoor fishing adventure in Topeka. Let Cat Daddy guide you to the fishing experience of a lifetime!
Military Tour
Museum of the Kansas National Guard
Don't miss your chance to see first hand the artifacts, equipment, and materials from the 150-year history of the Kansas National Guard.
Combat Air Museum
The Combat Air Museum is home to a wide variety of military aviation memorabilia housed in former Air Force hangars, spanning from WWI to present day, including aircraft engines, flight training simulators, and a military aviation art gallery.
Holley Museum of Military History
This museum features a 4,000-piece collection of military dioramas, models and artifacts ranging from the Civil War to the Persian Gulf War.
Great Overland Station
The All Veterans Memorial at Great Overland Station features the Corridor of Flags and a dramatic sculptural flame centered above four reflecting pools, shimmering in the sun and glowing under the stars. Fifty American flags wave proudly above the flags of the fifty states, signifying American's unity of spirit: E Pluribus Unum- "Out of many, one."
Home Tours
Charles Curtis House Museum
Former mansion of the
only Native American to have served as vice-president of the
United States, Charles Curtis. This museum is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. For tours and information,
call 785-357-1371 or 785-597-5380 or see their website at www.charlescurtismuseum.com.
The
Woodward Inns on Fillmore
This historic inn features Tudor style architecture
and original floor-to-ceiling stained glass, chandeliers and
imported stone and tile. For tours and information, visit www.thewoodward.com or call 785-354-7111.
Governor's
Mansion
Cedar Crest is the current home of the state's Governor;
this French architecture residence features 244 acres that
overlook the Kansas River and includes several ponds, gardens
and hiking trails. For tours and information, call 785-296-3636.
Potwin
Place
This neighborhood features a home self-guided walking
tour and a self-guided driving tour. For information on a personal
home/neighborhood tour, please call the Visit Topeka offices
at 785-234-1030.
Walking Tours
Topeka Cemetery
This cemetery is Kansas' oldest
chartered cemetery. Buried at this "Arlington of Kansas"
are five Kansas territorial or state governor's, three U.S.
Senators, three veterans of the War of 1812, Vice President
Charles Curtis and Topeka and AT&SF Railway founder Cyrus
K. Holliday.
Also interred at the cemetery are 22 Topeka mayors,
five professional baseball players, hundreds of Civil War veterans,
many of the founding fathers of Topeka and those for whom city
streets are named, Arthur Capper, U.S. senator, humanitarian
and newspaper publisher; members of the Otis family, who raised
aviatrix Amelia Earhart; territorial governor Hugh Walsh; John
Spivey, a Confederate soldier; and John Logan, a War of 1812
veteran.
Potwin Place
View beautiful historic Victorian homes
along brick streets with landscaped roundabouts in this beautiful
walking tour.
Downtown Topeka
Featuring local flavor at its
finest, Topeka's downtown is full of unique, locally owned
specialty shops and dining establishments.
Trailblazing Through History
Kansas Museum of History
Visit
award-winning exhibits and discover the real people and real
stories of Kansas.
Kansas State Capitol
Learn the story of
Kansas History through murals and sculpture.
Charles Curtis House Museum
Visit the
historic landmark mansion of Charles Curtis, the only Native
American to have served as vice president of the United States.
Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site
Explore the life of the
pioneers and enjoy a sweet treat at the soda fountain in the
Potwin Drug Store.
Brown v. Board of Education National
Historic Site
Learn about the story that ended legal
segregation in public schools across the country.
Neighboring Cities of Interest
Dover
Echo Cliff
Visit the natural beauty of the sandstone bluffs along Mission Creek. Echo Cliffs park is 35 miles southwest of Topeka, about two miles southwest of Dover.
Sommerset Hall Café
Good Morning America named Norma Grubb, of Dover, the winner of the best pie in America. Norma’s signature coconut cream pie is available at Somerset Hall Café. The Somerset is open Tuesday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Pie is served at 11 a.m.
Subterra
Tour Subterra, a 34-acre estate surrounded by pastoral Kansas hills located 25 miles west of Topeka. Missile base specialists, Ed & Dianna Peden, live in a refurbished Atlas E missile site in Dover.
Happy Trails Horse Back Rides at the Historic Sage Inn
Sage Inn is located just 15 minutes southwest of Topeka. Reservations required.
Lawrence
Booth Family Hall of Athletics on the University of Kansas Campus
This facility is open year-round, allowing sports fans everywhere to experience the history and tradition of Kansas Athletics. The Hall honors KU’s historic athletics programs, its coaches and student-athletes, past and present.
1651 Naismith Drive, Lawrence, KS. Just 25 miles east of Topeka.
Bob Dole Institute
Dedicated in 2003, the Institute is home to state-of-the-art exhibits and one of the nation’s largest collections of Congressional papers. Admission is free. Hours of Operation are Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday noon – 5 p.m. 25 miles east of Topeka.
Lecompton
Constitution Hall
Constitution Hall, erected by Samuel Jones in 1856, became the place were the Kansas Territorial Government convened. In the fall of 1857 the Lecompton Constitutional Convention met and drafted a pro-slavery constitution in the upper story of the building. Hours: Wednesday – Saturday 9-5, Sunday 1-5
Alma
Alma Cheese
The Alma Creamery, the home of the famous Alma Cheese, is located in the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas, about 30 minutes west of Topeka.
Wamego
The OZ Museum
The OZ Museum is dedicated to ALL things OZ. It is a treasure trove of delight and wonder and thrills visitors young and "young at heart." Just 40 minutes west of Topeka on Highway 24.
Paxico
Wyldewood Cellars
Wyldewood Cellars now produces over 40 different types of wine. What began as a small winery, has blossomed into an Internationally recognized and awarded brand of fine wine. Located about 30 miles west of Topeka.
Topeka Plant and Business Tours
American Linen Supply Company
Gary Newberry
400 E First Street
Topeka, KS 66607
785-234-3475
- Tour hours: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Advanced notice: One week
- Max. group: 15
- Time required: 30 min.
Capper Foundation
Kim Wolstrom
3500 SW 10th Street
Topeka, KS 66604
785-272-4060
- Tour hours: Prefer morning hours; 1 – 3 p.m. are
not good times for tours.
- Advanced notice: Two weeks
- Max. group: 20
- Time required: 45 min.
- The Capper Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization
that enhances the independence of people with physical disabilities.
A school for children with physical disabilities offers occupational,
physical, and speech therapy. The Foundation also has a Work
Activity Center for adults and school programs meet State
Department and Education requirements.
WIBW 94.5 Country
Justin - Promotions
1210 SW Executive Drive
Topeka, KS 66615
272-3456
- Tour hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Time required: 20 minutes
- Advance notice: One week
City Water Department
Ken Fraser
3245 NW Water Works Drive
Topeka, KS 66606
Main number: 785-368-3860
- Tour hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Advance notice: Two days
- Time required: 1.5 hours
- Special: No preschool children
- See pumps, settling basins, filters and laboratory control
in the Topeka Water Plant & Waste Water Plant.
Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Debra Albright
240 Madison
Topeka, KS 66607
785-233-3241 ext. 606
- Tour hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 9:30
a.m. and
12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m. are best times.
- Max. group: 40
- Time required: 1.5 hours
- Advance notice: One week
- Learn about greeting cards and party goods production.
KSNT Channel 27
Carleen Knoblauch
6835 NW Highway 24
785-582-4000
- Tour hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Advance notice: Two days
- Max. group: 20
- Time required: 30 minutes
Martin Tractor Company, Inc.
Josh Haas
1737 SW 42nd Street
785-266-5770
- Tour hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Advance notice: One week
- Max. group: 30 – 35
- Time required: 1 to 2 hours
Security Benefit
Debbie Bartuccio
One Security Benefit Place
Topeka, KS 66636
785-438-5115
- Tour hours: On request
- Advance notice: One week
State Printing Plant
Sheryl
201 NW MacVicar
785-296-3631
- Tour hours: Call for appointment, not during legislative
session, late afternoon the best.
- Advance notice: Two weeks
- Max. group: 20
- Time required: 30 minutes to 2 hours
Topeka Police Dept.
Leslie Perez
214 E Eighth, City Building
Topeka, KS 66603
785-368-9585
- Tours: Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., after
hours available.
- Advance notice: Two weeks
- Time required: 1 hour
- Max group: 15
- Special requirements: Ages 5+
Topeka Veterans Administration Medical Center
Jim Gleisberg
2200 Gage Blvd.
Topeka, KS 66622
913-682-2000 x 5694
- Only medical based conferences.
WIBW TV-FM
Pablo Martinez
631 SW Commerce Place
Topeka, KS 66615
785-272-3456
- Tour hours: any time but prefer mornings
- Time required: 45 minutes
- Advance notice: One week
- Max. group: 20
Washburn Crane Observatory
1700 SW College
Topeka, KS 66621
785-670-1010 ext. 2264
- Tours: Open to public on Thursday twice a month starting
Sept. 3 from 8 –10 p.m., otherwise no tours.
