With an unusual name meaning ‘a good place to grow potatoes’ in a Native American dialect, Topeka is the capital of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County (whose name is also of Native American origin). The city has an interesting history and is noted for its part in the elimination of racial segregation in Kansas.
One of the city’s greatest claims is having been struck by one of the costliest tornadoes in history, an F5 on the Fujita scale, hitting the city on June 8, 1966 and causing US$100 million worth of damage. The city went on to recover from the tornado, including the historic Washburn University.
As a visitor, you’ll probably not be around long enough to see how well potatoes grow in the city, thereby testing the validity of the city’s name; however, you should certainly make time to check out a few key attractions or consider scheduling a holiday to coincide with the annual Fiesta Mexican. This veritable shindig of an event has been held here annually since 1933 and is exceedingly popular with locals and visitors alike.
Highlights
Combat Air Museum: located at Forbes Field, the museum is home to a collection of military artifacts which date as far back as WWI and includes aircraft engines of varying models and sizes.
Old Prairie Town at Ward Meade: part of the Ward Meade Historic Site, the Old Prairie Town features a traditional log cabin, Victorian home and an interesting collection of late 18th to early 19th century town buildings.
Topeka Zoo: offering spacious enclosures to its animal residents, the small facility has a simulated tropical rainforest environment among its highlights.
Ward-Meade Park Botanical Gardens: also located at the Ward Meade Historic Site, the 2.5 acre large gardens are home to over 500 varieties of trees, flowers and shrubs.
Heartland Park Topeka: this multi-purpose motor sport facility includes a race course, an off road course and a drag strip, and presents a varied selection of racing events during the race season.