Shawnee County: Discover History, Art, and Nature

Shawnee County offers a range of themes for a trip: history and civil rights, art, gardens, and trails through prairie and woodland. In Topeka, historic sites range from a 19th-century village to the Kansas State Capitol; the city also offers activities for nature and art enthusiasts. Throughout the county, a network of recreational trails and a seasonal experience at Rees Fruit Farm invite you to shape your plans around your own interests.

History and Architecture in Topeka

Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Botanical Garden brings together several historic buildings in one place: the village depicts the 19th century and includes a replica of an 1854 log cabin. The site also includes the Ward-Meade Mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the 1891 Victor Schoolhouse; and the 1880 Everest Church. Tours are available daily, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Register and purchase tickets at the Mulvane General Store; check the tour schedule before your visit.

Tours of the Kansas State Capitol bring together the historic building, the State Library, notable public artworks, and the dome. The dome tour involves climbing 296 steps, with no elevator. The visitor center complements the tour with exhibits on the history of state government and the building. This makes it possible to focus on the architecture or on insights into the history of government at the same site.

The Great Overland Station also tells the story of railroad history: the former Union Pacific station was completed in 1927 in the Free Classical Revival style. The station is currently closed to the public. The Historic Ritchie House was built in 1856 by abolitionists John and Mary Jane Ritchie. The Historic Topeka Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; tours of historic gravesites are available by request.

Civil Rights History and Art

The Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park preserves the site associated with the landmark ruling that ended racial segregation and presents the case in the context of the ongoing struggle for civil rights. The visitor center features exhibits in the Road to Brown and Legacy Gallery rooms. Admission and public parking are free. The visitor center and park store are open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day; check opening hours before your visit.

For a walk, the Landon Trail starts beside the park’s parking lot and connects to the Shunga Trail. More than 50 public artworks—including sculptures, mosaics, and murals—are spread throughout the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District. The NOTO Arts Center complements this public art with rotating exhibitions, workshops, and presentations. The First Friday Art Walk features live music, outdoor performances, special offers, and extended store hours.

The Mulvane Art Museum’s Art Lab is an interactive activity center for all ages. Admission to the galleries and Art Lab is free. Art appreciation and hands-on activities go hand in hand here, while the Kansas State Capitol incorporates artworks into a historic tour.

Trails, Gardens, and Nature

The Shawnee County Parks + Recreation trail network covers 60 miles of routes for walking, hiking, running, and mountain biking. One specific nature trail at the Kansas Museum of History passes through prairie and woodland areas: it is 2.5 miles long and divided into four loops. Its loop layout and varied landscapes give it a different character from the county’s extensive trail network.

The Ted Ensley Gardens in Topeka feature 1,200 varieties of perennial plants and 300 varieties of annuals. The gardens offer paved walking paths and an ADA-accessible observation deck. The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center has a certified Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom on 4.5 acres. Wildlife enthusiasts can find up-close animal encounters, garden paths, and family-oriented wildlife experiences at the Topeka Zoo.

Fishing and boating are available at Lake Shawnee in Topeka. The lake was built as a Works Progress Administration project: construction began in 1935 and was completed on September 3, 1939. At Lake Shawnee, fishing and boating meet the history of its construction as a Works Progress Administration project.

More Experiences Throughout the Year

At Rees Fruit Farm in Shawnee County, a you-pick pumpkin patch and hayrides through the orchard are offered every weekend in October. This is a seasonal highlight, while museums, architecture, and trails cater to other interests. The Kansas Museum of History also holds Kansas Day for Kansas schoolchildren each year on or around January 29.

The Combat Air Museum displays 47 military aircraft dating from World War I to the present. Static exhibits include rockets, missiles, aircraft engines, artifacts, and dioramas. The museum is located at an active airfield, where visitors can regularly watch Air Force fighter aircraft and Army helicopters in flight. Topeka thus brings together very different subjects: railroad and building history, civil rights, art, nature trails, and aviation.

Discover more destinations: Topeka, Allen, Riley County, Trego County, Grant, Kingman County, Ellis County, Thomas County.

For the broader travel overview: Kansas.