Great Things To Do In Topeka

By Author: James Halstead
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There are a great many things - in fact, a great many great things - to do when you visit Topeka, Kansas. This fabulous city was first incorporated on February 14, 1857, with Cyrus K. Holiday acknowledged as the founding father of Topeka (and its first mayor). As the city grew, Holiday drafted the charter for the original Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. January 29, 1861 was an important turning point for Kansas when it became the 34th State of the Union and Topeka was chosen as the capital. Dr. Charles Robinson was the first governor of Kansas and Cyrus K. Holiday, founding father of Topeka, offered a tract of land to the state for the construction of the new state capitol building, which was not finished until 1903.

Since then, Topeka has attracted not only additional residents but also millions of tourists and visitors from all over the world. Topeka is in a gorgeous region full of pristine beauty and majestic views. People that come to Topeka are often surprised by the small town appeal that seems to blend perfectly with the city atmosphere, similar to the blend of charm and historic relevance that also makes ...
... the city so alluring. With this as a backdrop, there are many fine, fulfilling and fun things to do and appreciate when you visit Topeka - from historical sites, galleries, museums and the Kansas State Capitol to such family activities as the Topeka Zoological Park and the Air Museum.

Exciting explorations
Topeka is a great place to explore and the unique activities and attractions here will fill your days with excitement as well as enlightenment. You can tour the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site and Museum, where you can gain a better appreciation of the role that this city played in the civil rights movement. This interactive and "experiential" museum can be found at the Monroe Elementary School and is operated by the National Park Service. The Kansas Museum of History on the west side of Topeka is a great place to see award winning exhibits, from a Cheyenne tipi and a fully stocked covered wagon ready for the Oregon Trail, to a 1950s diner recreated by Valentine Industries. The centerpiece of the many outstanding displays is a locomotive manufactured for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad in 1880.

At West 1st and NW Fillmore is an amazing recreation of history called Old Prairie Town, replicating a pioneer village on nearly six acres. The Old Prairie Town features a botanical garden, an 1854 cabin replica, an 1870's "prairie mansion" and an 1891 schoolhouse. From there, you can take the family to dinner and a performance at the Topeka Civic Theatre, or make your way downtown for some local shopping and some of Topeka's best eateries. No matter where you are in Topeka, you are always close to an opportunity to do something fun and memorable.

Annual and ongoing events
There are also many special annual events that are sources of great pride to the residents of Topeka -the Fiesta Mexicana, the Kansas Lavender celebrations, the Native American Inter-Tribal Pow Wow and the Huff n' Puff Balloon Rally, to name a few - and draw major crowds every year. Locals gather for these special events because they feel that they are one-of-a-kind experiences that should be shared together, and the city often sets aside a day in spring or summer when admission to many city historical sites is free.

A very popular event for residents and visitors to Topeka is the Apple Festival. This is a time-honored event, where you can take a step back in time and see demonstrations of early pioneer skills from quilters, blacksmiths, craftsmen, musicians and culinary artists. More than 10,000 people attend the event every year, held on the first Sunday of October, where you can even taste some old fashioned sarsaparilla, dig into some famous Topeka BBQ and, of course, bite down on some caramel apples made right in front of you. There is also apple pie, fritters and cider that are sure to please the palate. You can purchase some wonderful arts and crafts to take home as keepsakes, as well.

When you decide to take a vacation to Topeka, you will leave with a sense of having met a proud citizenry, visited an important place and experienced a part of history that contributed greatly to the making of modern America. It is situated in the heart of America, and invites the rest of the country to visit, any time, to share its delights. Far from being just a destination, Topeka is truly where Kansas begins.
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