Nearby Attractions
Topeka tourism officials encourage visitors to stroll the Capitol grounds.
“Our state house has undergone a nearly $400 million renovation,” said Bell. “It was completed in 2014 and won awards for the work, which included the uncovering of hidden artwork and restoration of the copper dome.”
The building also offers a one-of-a-kind view.
“It is the only capitol building in the nation where you can go up to the dome and step out onto an outdoor deck that allows you to walk 360 degrees around the building,” said Michaela Saunders, director of brand strategy for the Visit Topeka. “There are both dome and historic tours offered.”
Evel Knievel was a major name in the daredevil entertainment business back in the 1970s. He is remembered for attempting to jump his motorcycle over a dozen buses or over a wide canyon, among other bone-crunching stunts. Topeka is the home of the surprisingly interesting Evel Knievel Museum, which opened recently inside a popular Harley-Davidson motorcycle dealership. The museum has the world’s largest collection of jump bikes and other cool mementos from the folk hero, who died in 2007. “We have 90 percent of the memorabilia from his family in the museum,” said Bell.
Knievel has a connection to Topeka. “As a little kid, Evel Knievel saw a man do some trick riding on a motorcycle here in Topeka, and he went back home to Butte, Montana, and built his first bike ramp,” said Saunders. “Much later, when everyone realized his connection to Topeka, we were really excited to bring his museum here.”
Civil Rights Site
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in Oliver Brown et al. v. Board of Education of Topeka is one of the most significant in the history of the nation’s highest court. The case challenged the constitutionality of racial segregation in public schools across the nation. The ruling paved the way for integration not only in schools, but also in other public places, and was a major victory for the civil rights movement. The Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site is a must-see historic site in Topeka.
“It is located in the original school building that has been completely restored to what it looked like in the mid-1950s,” said Bell.
“The museum has a lot of interactive components like video that helps you experience all the history that was made here,” said Saunders.
The city of Topeka is working on building a new downtown civic plaza, essentially a food-and-beverage district. It will feature a stage, green space, outdoor dining, a fountain and an ice rink in winter. It should be completed by early 2019.
“They expect to have about 300 days a year of programming, ranging from concerts on a stage to art shows to food trucks and more,” said Bell.
NoTo, which is a local acronym for North Topeka, is the site of an eclectic arts district. Galleries, shops, a brewery and various restaurants are located there, according to Bell.
“It is definitely a fun place to go to, especially on First Fridays when they have the art walk and a lot of other activities,” he said.
Saunders touted Topeka’s many outdoor activities for visitors to enjoy.
“We have a lot of trail options in the city, and we have Lake Shawnee, which was named by the travel website Expedia as the best place to see in Kansas in 2017,” she said.” It includes the lake and gardens and the seven-mile trail around the lake. The Yacht Club will let you join in with sailing, and you can rent canoes and paddleboats, too.
“If anyone is coming here for a meeting and they bring their kids, there are many kid-friendly things for them to do in Topeka,” said Saunders.
That includes places like the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center and its interactive exhibits, the Going Bonkers entertainment center or Gage Park, where kids can hop on a merry-go-round or visit Topeka Zoological Park, just to name a few.
Topeka, Kansas
Location: Northeast Kansas
Access: Interstate 70, U.S. Highway 75, Topeka Regional Airport.
Major Meeting Spaces: Kansas Expocentre, Maner Conference Center, Ramada Convention Center, Landon Arena, Topeka Performing Arts Center, Great Overland Station.
Hotel Rooms: 560 rooms downtown (more under construction); 2,800 citywide.
Offsite Venues: Brown vs. Board of Education National Historic Site, State Capitol, Evel Knievel Museum
Contact Info:
Visit Topeka
800-235-1030
www.visittopeka.com
