Kansas Capitol Building: A Family Guide to Visiting the Topeka Statehouse
Would it surprise you to discover that a visit to the Kansas Capitol Building in Topeka is a can’t-miss activity?
I’m guessing you answered yes. Me, too.
When I first researched activities for our family in Topeka, I had no idea the Kansas Capitol Building came so highly recommended.
But once I dug in more, I knew that our family had to visit the Capitol Building. It met most of our family’s interests – history, architecture, artwork, photogenic location, and the unquantifiable “wow” factor.
Have I piqued your curiosity? If so, read along to learn why you visiting the Kansas Capitol Building is one of the things to do in Topeka with teens.
Getting Acquainted with the Kansas Capitol Building
The Kansas Capitol Building in Topeka is impressive both inside and outside. The building stands a staggering 306 feet tall. It is 17 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C. It is Topeka’s tallest building.
The building was completed in 1903 after a 37-year construction period. A renovation project several years ago took 13-years to complete, restoring the building to its original grandeur.
Plan Your Visit
The Capitol Building at 10th and Jackson, Topeka, KS 66612 is open to visitors Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There is no charge to visit the building and walk around the lower floors of the building.
While visiting, you can sign up for one of the “Experience the Dome Tour” which gives you the opportunity to ascend a staircase to the top of the dome and walk around the outside balcony. The tour is free and tours take place just about every hour of the day.
You should plan about two hours for a visit.
Explore Kansas History on the First Floor
Kansas became the 34th state on January 29, 1861. It entered the union as a free state, months before the U.S. Civil War began.
On the first floor galleries, we learned a little about this entry to statehood.
First Peoples
However, the history of the land and its people began long before 1861. The Kansas Capitol Building pays homage to the land and these people throughout the first floor galleries.
There are displays concerning the first peoples who made the land home.
Prehistoric Kansas
But, while many indigenous peoples made the Kansas plains home, many more were forced onto the land against their will. I appreciated that the Capitol Building acknowledged this tarnished part of the state’s history.
Even before those indigenous people made a home on the Kansas prairie, prehistoric creatures existed in the land.
We loved seeing a Tylosaurus fossil from the Cretaceous Era. The 17-foot long fossil was a juvenile dinosaur that lived more than 88 million years ago.
Definitely not what we anticipated seeing as we roamed the galleries.
1893 Legislative War
Before visiting, our son had researched the building and learned about an 1893 legislative war. After a disputed 1892 election, both the Republican Party and the Populist Party claimed victory in the legislative body.
Tensions fomented into 1893, when the Populist Party locked themselves inside the legislative rooms, barring access to the Republicans. Eventually, a Populist leader was arrested for disturbing the peace. Finally, the Kansas Supreme Court sided with the Republicans and the Populist House was disbanded.
Quite a tense, dramatic political episode for the state. I loved learning about the political tug of war.
Explore the Legislative and Judicial Rooms
After spending some time exploring the first floor (and watching the video presentation about the original construction and renovation), we found our way to the elevators (with the help of a kind staff member). From here, we headed up to visit the Legislative and Judicial rooms at the Capitol Building.
We visited on a Saturday. That meant there were no politicians on site. It also meant that the state archive was closed.
However, we could step into the Kansas State Senate Chambers. After snapping some pictures and imagining what the chambers looked like with the state senators and staff present, we then headed to the State Supreme Court room.
The Supreme Court room is no longer in use by the judicial body. It has moved to a new location. But, this was the location where cases were heard by the supreme court before moving to the new location.
Today, the room is used for committee meetings and other state business.
Finally, we found ourselves in the media room. This room holds the governor’s desk.
In this room, the Kansas governor can sign important legislation into law with media fanfare. This is not the governor’s office, but a location allowing a large contingent of media outlets to assemble and cover Kansas politics.
The Crowning Achievement
Following the tours of these rooms, we journeyed to the fifth floor. This is the top floor visitors can tour outside of a docent-led tour.
The fifth floor did give us a great vantage point to look up into the spectacular dome and admire some of the stained glass features in the dome’s interior.
It really was an impressive view. It made us realize exactly why so many people recommended touring the State Capitol building.
Is the Kansas Capitol Building Worth Visiting With Kids?
I really didn’t think our family would have interest in visiting a capitol building in a state where we do not live.
It was with some hesitation that I told my family that we should visit the state capitol. I figured they would scoff. And, honestly, there may have been some mild ridicule. That is, until those family members started doing their own research of the Kansas Capitol Building.
After visiting, we can definitely see why so many people put the capitol building on their must-see attractions in Topeka.
We were disappointed that we could not take the dome tour. We arrived at an odd time during the weekend in between tour times. And, we did not think we had time that day to wait for an afternoon tour with other obligations we had. However, each family member has stated we must do the dome tour on a return visit to the capital city.
Even though we did not get to ascend the top of the dome, we enjoyed our time learning and exploring on an adventure-filled Saturday.
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Journey with us to South Dakota to Mount Rushmore for a Photo Travelogue.
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