429 South Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas. Constitution Hall. In Oct. 1855, nearly 40 elected Free-Staters wrote the Topeka Constitution over a three week period in this building. They were violently opposed by the pro-slavery movement of the south. The Topeka Constitution was written as an attempt to admit Kansas into the Union as a free state. It said, “There shall be no slavery in this state.” It said that any person recognized as a slave in another state will not be recognized as one in Kansas. This building was used as the State Capitol 1864-69. It is being renovated and is expected to be open again for tours in the near future.

17th and Polk Streets, Topeka, Kansas. Agriculture Hall is part of Stormont Vail Event Center, formally known as The Kansas Expo-Center. It was constructed as part of the old Mid-America Fairgrounds, the 80 acres of land where loads of events and activities have gone on since 1871. The events developed into the Kansas State Fair, The Free Fair, and the Mid-America Fair. It became one of the largest and best fairs in the country that involved agriculture, farming, exhibitions, education and entertainment. Fairgoers saw the newest farm equipment, the best agricultural exhibits, and the finest livestock. Entertainment included horse races, saloons, opera houses, and fine arts displays. Between 1978 and 1987, the entire site was demolished and rebuilt into the modern facility. Most of the events and activities in some form still exist throughout Topeka’s calendar year at this location.

817 SW Harrison St. Topeka, Kansas. Historic Fire Station No. 2 was built in 1927 and served as headquarters of the Topeka Fire Department until 1979. It became the center for Topeka Emergency Communication, which included fire and police dispatch and 911. The building was designed by architect Thomas Wilson Williamson, who designed the First National Bank Building, the First Methodist Church, the Jayhawk Hotel and Theater, the Mulvane Art Museum, the Masonic Temple, and the Methodist Episcopal Home, among many other buildings.

SE 4th St. next to Amtrak. Topeka, Kansas. Santa Fe Railroad’s old Unclaimed Freight Building finally was boarded up a few years ago. It sits between a lumberyard on its left and the Amtrak depot that was opened in 1950 on its right. If anyone has information about this building, please leave a comment.

112 SW 6th Ave. Topeka, Kansas. The Columbian Building is a Romanesque Revival style building designed by Seymour Davis for the William Knox Bank. In 1889, it was named the finest and most substantial office building in Kansas. The former tenants include Columbian Bank, The U.S. Weather Bureau, and The Anti-Saloon League. A newer tenant, The White Linen, is one of Topeka’s only restaurants serving a classic five-course meal. They offer a special table inside the 1888 Knox Vault at which guests are lavished by the chef.

227 SW Van Buren St. Topeka, Kansas. St. Joseph Catholic Church was dedicated in 1900. Sacred Heart-St Joseph Parish is working to repair and preserve the building. They have all the original furniture accumulated during the years of 1900-1909.

720 SW Jackson St. Topeka, Kansas. The Historic Jayhawk State Theatre of Kansas opened August 16, 1926 as a vaudeville theatre and movie palace that seated 1550. It was one of the first multi-level air-conditioned theaters in the nation. It was closed in 1976 and escaped demolition in 1993 when the city intervened. The goal of current owners is to preserve, restore, maintain and operate the last remaining historic theater in Topeka.

616 SE Jefferson St. Topeka, Kansas. The Topeka Capital-Journal spent more than fifty years in this building. The timeline of growth goes back to 1858 when the Kansas State Record began publishing. A string of owners and mergers followed. The Topeka Daily Capital and The Topeka State Journal joined together. The resulting newspaper eventually moved its offices to 9th and Kansas Ave., the Kansan Towers, in 2018.

424 S. Kansas Ave. Topeka, Kansas. The United States Postal Service downtown became fully operational on Dec. 9, 1933 as a post office, federal courthouse, and administrative office building. It became the site of federal court hearings in the Brown vs. Board of education case that brought about the historic 1954 Supreme Court ruling that banned racial segregation in schools.