Extended Weekend Getaways By Heather Raulerson
Freelance Travel Writer
Begin your weekend getaway downtown at the Kansas State Capitol, where Topeka proudly wears its role as the capital. The building tells the story of Kansas’s growth from a rough frontier territory to full statehood in 1861. It grew quickly in the 1850s into a key center of the struggle over slavery in the years before the Civil War. Inside the Capitol building, the murals, marble floors, and grand architecture reflect that history. Plus, there are four life-sized Pete Felten statues around the rotunda honoring notable Kansans: former U.S. Senator and Governor Arthur Capper, aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and journalist William Allen White.
I had a wonderful guide who had access to the governor’s office, where I could stand behind her desk and at the podium. It was a brief glimpse into Kansas’s powerful leader.
The highlight of touring the Capitol building and the best way to understand Kansas’ ambition is to climb the dome. The stairs wind through the structure, offering glimpses into the building’s construction. As the stairs narrow, the air changes, and suddenly you are stepping out to a view that stretches across the city and out toward the plains. From above, Topeka appears calm and orderly, surrounded by open land that underscores its central role in westward expansion.
It is one of those moments that makes everything below feel smaller and your accomplishment even bigger. I was the only one out of our group who made it all the way to the top of the dome. Walking around the cupola with the breeze flowing through my ponytail, I kept thinking that if I put my mind to it, I could accomplish anything. As I managed to make my way back down, my nerves were put to the test. I can see why some people start up and don’t finish the rest of the climb. But, for those who do, the view is incredible!
Back on the ground, the city’s most powerful stories unfold in plain sight. Walking downtown, the Brown v. Brown mural stops you in your tracks with color and emotion. It honors families behind the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case, which began in Topeka and changed public education across the country with the Supreme Court decision. The mural depicts faces and scenes connected to that history, doing more than merely marking it. It invites you to slow down and consider how ordinary neighborhoods can drive extraordinary change, especially this city’s role in civil rights.
The Equality House is just a short drive away. Brightly painted in rainbow stripes, it stands as a visible statement of LGBTQ pride and peaceful protest, a sharp contrast to its surroundings. What makes it memorable is not just the color, but the message. In a city once known for confrontation, this house represents resilience, humor, and the idea that visibility itself can be powerful.
As the afternoon unfolds, head toward Topeka High School. The building rises like a castle among quiet streets, its stonework and towers impossible to miss. Opened in 1931, it was designed to inspire students long before modern school campuses existed. It was also one of the first large high school campuses west of the Mississippi. Even from the sidewalk, the craftsmanship is striking; it speaks to how seriously education once shaped the city’s identity.
The next day brings a different side of Topeka. Cross into North Topeka and wander through the NOTO Arts District, where creativity spills across brick walls and sidewalks. Murals pop up where you least expect them, and each one adds personality to the neighborhood. Once an industrial area, the old warehouses now hold galleries, studios, and small shops. The area feels relaxed and playful, the kind of place where plans are optional, and wandering is mandatory. The energy makes it easy to spend hours here without noticing the time.
When hunger sets in, the Wheel Barrel fits right in. The restaurant keeps things casual with burgers, sandwiches, and a rotating beer list. I enjoyed a grilled-cheese sandwich and a potato-chip flight, which I had never had before. Yum! It feels like a neighborhood place, the kind where locals stop in after work or on a weekend afternoon, and where artists, neighbors, and visitors all mix. The space is relaxed, with art on the walls and a sense of community. It is a good place to rest after walking through the district.
By the end of the weekend, Topeka feels familiar and a little unexpected. It blends serious history with creative expression. From climbing the Capitol dome to chasing street art in NOTO, the city tells its story in layers. Spend a weekend here, and Topeka leaves a stronger impression than you might expect.
