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From motorcycles and airplanes to murals and parks, here are 8 must-see sites in Topeka

Whether traveling from near or far, the Topeka community has sights for all to see.

Do you like motorcycles? Check out the Evel Knievel Museum. Are you a history buff? Head over to the Kansas Museum of History.

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors and exploring the city? Head to Kaw River State Park or the NOTO Arts and Entertainment District.

Topeka's tourism industry is always changing and growing, and as the city steps out of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are looking to get out of their homes and explore.

But exploration doesn't always have to take place outside of your hometown. In fact, being a tourist in Topeka can help community members learn more about their city, its history and culture.

Tourism isn't only beneficial in helping people gain knowledge. It is also vital to Topeka's economy.

"In a city like Topeka that may not think of itself as a tourist destination, once they realize what the overall financial impact and the economic and employment picture is for this community, it shocks a lot of people," said Sean Dixon, Visit Topeka's president.

More: 'The Drunkard' is back after a pandemic-induced year off. Here is how to see Topeka's longest-running play.

In a year not plagued by a pandemic, Topeka can sell between 500,000 and 600,000 hotel rooms, Dixon said.

"Just the hotel rooms sales in 2019 pre-pandemic for Topeka is $45 million in revenue," Dixon said.

Lately, Visit Topeka has seen an increase in tourism with 2021's numbers reaching the same heights as those in 2019.

"We went from zero to hero," Dixon said.

In 2019, Topeka sold more than 55,000 hotels rooms during June. This past June, 52,000 hotels room were purchased.

Dixon said Topeka's tourism economy is mixed, and a lot of visitors are those here to see friends and family.

"The No. 1 tourist attraction in Topeka isn't any one place or event," Dixon said. "It's the people of Topeka. People by and large come and visit Topeka to come see us."

Topeka can be explored by all ages, and everyone is sure to find at least one spot they call their favorite.

We have compiled a list of eight places and museums we think are a must-see whether you live in Topeka, are driving through or visiting for the weekend. The sites on this list will inform you of who Topeka is and all it has to offer.

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Evel Knievel Museum

This might be one of the most unique museums in Kansas, and it certainly can be thought of as underrated. The Evel Knievel Museum isn't just for motorcycle lovers and thrill-seekers.

Visitors have the opportunity to dive into Knievel's life and many of his death-defying shows. A collection of Knievel's bikes are on display, and there is an entire room dedicated to the daredevil's Snake River Canyon jump.

You can also partake in a 4-D jump experience.

Where : 2047 S.W. Topeka Blvd.

Hours : 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

Price : $7-$15.

Information :  https://www.evelknievelmuseum.com .

Brown v. Board National Historic Site

Brown v. Board Historic Site is located at the former Monroe Elementary School. Several exhibits located inside allow visitors to learn about the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision along with what it was like to attend school that year.

The "Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education" exhibit leads visitors through the years following the court decision and how lives have been shaped since.

Where : 1515 S.E. Monroe St.

Hours : 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Price : Admission is free, but donations are welcomed.

Information :  https://www.nps.gov/brvb/index.htm .

More: Archaeologists surveyed Brown v. Board for next year's excavations. Here is what they hope

Kansas State Capitol

Visitors have the opportunity for a self-guided or guided tour. Either way, you'll get to take in all of the architecture, historical artifacts and paintings.

Some tour guides will even share their own personal anecdotes about their experiences and knowledge about the building making each tour unique. Although dome tours aren't open right now, if you happen to be at the Capitol when they resume, you can walk to the top and stand on the outside balcony and take in the city.

Where : 300 S.W. 10th Ave.

Hours : 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Price : Free.

Information :  https://www.kshs.org/capitol .

More: ‘It's been really pretty enjoyable’: Tours resume, visitors return to Kansas Statehouse

Kansas Museum of History

This museum is the best place to get your fix of Kansas history. Visitors can spend hours looking at the exhibits that detail the early days in Kansas up to the present time. Guests can walk through the 1880 Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe locomotive and see a 1914 Longren biplane.

The museum has a rotating gallery that frequently houses a new exhibit. The current exhibit is "Upward to Equality: Kansas Women Fight to Vote."

Where : 6425 S.W. 6th Ave.

Hours : 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

Price : $3-$12.

Information :  https://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-museum-of-history/ .

Combat Air Museum

If you are interested in planes, this is the museum for you. The Combat Air Museum is a sight to behold as the facility houses 45 aircraft from the early to present days of aviation, historic aircraft engines and a collection of World War I artifacts.

Visitors can walk through the museum alone or join a tour. A few guests can go inside planes.

Where : 7016 SE Forbes Ave.

Hours : 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday - Saturday; noon-4:30 p.m. Sunday.

Price : $5-$7.

Information :  http://www.combatairmuseum.org .

More: Arts and culture sector is an important part of Topeka's growth. Here is how you can help shape its future.

Cedar Crest/Kaw River State Park

Cedar Crest, known as the Kansas governor's home, sits on a large plot of land that features trails, ponds and gardens. While the house is currently closed to public tours, visitors can still roam the surrounding grounds.

The MacLennan Park trails are accessible here. There are six trails that vary in difficulty and scenery. Guests can also visit Kaw River State Park and walk its trails.

The Kansas River is also accessible here, and guests can bring their canoes or kayaks and paddle down the river.

Where : MacLennan Park and the Kaw River State Park can both be accessed using entrances located off of S.W. 6th Ave just west of Fairlawn Road.

Information :  https://ksoutdoors.com/State-Parks/Locations/Kaw-River .

Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Botanical Garden

Walking into Old Prairie-Town at Ward-Meade is like stepping back into history, and it is one of the more unique experiences in Topeka.

Visitors will have a better understanding of life in the 1800s when they stroll through the historic site or follow a guided tour.

The town square, Mulvane General Store, the Potwin Drug Store, schoolhouse, the Ward cabin and train station are among the sights to see.

A trip to Old Prairie Town wouldn't be complete without a walk through the gardens and if you are visiting during Tulip Time, it is magical and colorful.

Where : 124 N.W. Fillmore St.

Hours : 8 a.m.- dusk.

Price : Guided tours are available 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $3-$5.

Information :  https://parks.snco.us/Facilities/Facility/Details/28 .

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NOTO Arts and Entertainment District

NOTO is a destination in and of itself. You can spend a day walking the district, visiting the local shops and restaurants and looking at all of the murals. You could even find time to sit in Redbud Park. If you are lucky, you might catch some live music.

The activities in NOTO are endless. There are murals at every turn, First Friday Artwalks bring a large crowd to the district and live music and weekend markets are a must.

If you are searching for murals and art shops, this guide created by ArtsConnect will lead you where you need to go:  https://artstopeka.org/artguide .

Where : 800 and 900 block of N. Kansas Ave.

Information :  https://explorenoto.org .

Why some residents are optimistic about Topeka homelessness plan under consideration

Topeka's city government has a long history of commissioning consultant reports that end up gathering dust on shelves.

That must not happen with the report on how to mitigate homelessness unveiled at the May 21 Topeka City Council meeting, the mayor and council heard from a former homeless man who helped put it together.

Topeka JUMP homeless task force member Matthew Whitney expressed support at Tuesday's meeting for the report's recommendations, including building a low-barrier shelter that has fewer restrictions on who can come in.

"I think that (Brianna) Sylver did an excellent job of showing not only how a low-barrier shelter could possibly benefit the city of Topeka, but the tiny homes as well," Whitney said. "They're both viable options for starting to move in the right direction."

Barry Feaker, former longtime director of TRM Ministries Inc. and now CEO and lead coach for Topeka-based Compassion Strategies, is optimistic the plan will be effective, he told The Capital-Journal after Tuesday's meeting.

"I think there are enough organizations and individuals that are collating together that we can go for it," said Feaker, who was among those who helped put the plan together.

Why did Topeka city government seek homelessness counsel?

A group formed by Topeka's city government has worked since September with Sylver, president of Sylver Consulting, which the  mayor and council voted to hire for $76,080 in February 2023  to help the city use the Path to Innovation methodology to help the Topeka community aid the homeless in a more proactive and humane matter.

The move came amid public concerns that homeless camps were creating eyesores and public health concerns here.

The city's 2023 Point in Time Homeless count showed Topeka had 412 homeless people, with 157 being unsheltered, meaning they didn't live in an emergency shelter or transitional housing. Results hadn't been made public as of Friday for this year's count , which was taken Jan. 25.

A core team and an auxiliary team created by Topeka's city government started last year by studying the issues involved. Those teams included community members and representatives of local government and nonprofit organizations.

Those involved then  sought to generate solutions  at meetings where participants included homeless people and local elected officials.

Next, they narrowed those down to a few concepts that could be the most impactful and meaningful.

Sylver shared information about the plan at Tuesday's meeting of the Topeka City Council. She said she also plans to make a presentation to the Shawnee County Commission.

What did the Topeka mayor and council say?

Mayor Mike Padilla praised the commitment shown by those who helped create the plan.

"They did this not as a task but more of as a mission for our community," he said.

Councilman Neil Dobler noted that after all the time that was put into crafting a plan, it contains many of the same elements — such as a resources center, low-barrier shelter and a tiny homes village —  that city officials were discussing two or more years ago.

Eventually, Dobler said, "We're going to arrive at something that works for the people."

The unveiling of the plan comes a full 15 months after the city hired Sylver Consulting because the mayor and council voted last July to restart the process .

The move canceled steps taken regarding homelessness under the direction of former city manager Stephen Wade, whom a city spokeswoman said was fired last July after being involved in an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

What are the homelessness plan's key components?

No votes regarding the plan were taken at Tuesday's meeting, where Sylver asked the mayor and council to support its key recommendations that the city and its partners create a low-barrier homeless shelter, a tiny homes village and a resource center, or "one-stop shop," where homeless people could access various services.

Anyone using the resource center would be greeted by "dedicated navigator," who would become "that person's 'person'" and guide them through their process of seeking stability, Sylver said.

The tiny homes village would initially consist of eight homes, each including a small kitchen and bathroom.

The low-barrier shelter would include congregate and noncongregate housing. Users couldn't bring in weapons but they could bring in pets, Sylver said.

Low-barrier shelters impose minimal requirements upon people who stay there. The shelter operated by TRM Ministries in Topeka isn't considered low barrier, as it won't allow people to stay if they're intoxicated or engaged in drug use. It also doesn't allow weapons.

Some entity other than the city would operate the proposed low-barrier shelter and tiny homes village, Sylver said.

The city would request proposals or qualifications from applicants in deciding who would run those. The shelter and village wouldn't necessarily need to be operated by separate entities.

Lawrence Community Shelter operates a low-barrier homeless shelter and a tiny homes village in that community, according to its website.

Councilman Spencer Duncan said this community is doing the right thing by arranging for the low-barrier shelter and tiny homes community to be operated not by the city but by some other entity.

Nationwide, Duncan said, one common theme is that government-operated shelters and communities for the homeless "are not working."

The efforts that work have been operated by nongovernment entities, with support from government entities and community organizations, he said.

Another vital component of the plan would include collaboration with organizations in town already addressing homelessness and combating things surrounding homelessness like addiction.

Topeka JUMP member says group will advocate but not participate

Whitney — the Topeka JUMP homeless task force member — said JUMP wouldn't partner with the shelter, one-stop shop or tiny homes because it is only working on the homeless problem as an advocacy group.

"Sylver had made a comment last night to the effect that Topeka JUMP may want to be involved in combining with other resources that are already available in Topeka to create — whether it's some sort of one-stop center for homelessness or a low barrier shelter or tiny homes," Whitney said. "I just want to be clear that Topeka JUMP is not interested in being involved in that part of it. I think that was a little bit of a miscommunication."

What does the plan say about coalitions?

Putting the plan in place will be expensive, Feaker said, while suggesting that not putting it in place would cost even more.

He made reference to assertions by the  National Alliance to End Homelessness that one chronically homeless person costs taxpayers an average of $35,578 a year.

The plan's goals include putting together "a community coalition supporting action that reduces homelessness."

People here are already on the verge of creating a "multisector approach" to homelessness here that involves the business, government, faith, nonprofit, education, judicial and law enforcement communities, Feaker said.

What's the Topeka homelessness plan's timeline?

The plan sets similar timelines for creating the tiny homes village and low-barrier shelter.

Those include calling for the city and its partners to do the following:

• Create a system between May and June to figure out who would like to run the shelter and tiny homes community.

• Bring together interested parties in June.

• Assess the funding interested parties would bring to the projects in October.

• Identify possible sites for the shelter and tiny homes village between October and December.

• Assess what grant funding might be available to help pay costs in November and December.

• Decide who would operate the shelter and tiny homes village between April and June 2025.

• Focus on finding funding for the projects between July and September 2025.

• Buy or lease land for the shelter and tiny homes village between October and December 2025.

• Build the shelter between April and December 2026, and the tiny homes village's initial eight homes between July and September 2026.

• Move its first residents into the tiny homes village between October and December 2026, and open the low-barrier shelter between January and March 2027.

Some homelessness advocates question building timeline

During Tuesday's meeting, many members of JUMP came to support the low-barrier shelter. However, many members spoke over the presentation frustrated by the lengthy timeline.

Whitney said he couldn't speak to the feasibility of an earlier timeline but said he does think the shelter could be completed before 2028.

"I certainly think that there are options that could have it done before 2028," Whitney said. "But as far as commenting on whether or not it's feasible, I don't think I have all the appropriate information to make that call. I think some of the reactions you heard out of anybody in the audience last night is just the strong urge that the community as a whole has to see positive change in the issue that we're all pretty aware of in Topeka, which is way too many people without shelter."

During the meeting, multiple city council members also expressed concerns about the timeline, saying incoming Topeka city manager Robert Perez wouldn't start working until June, which could leave the city behind schedule.

Contact Tim Hrenchir at [email protected] or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Why some residents are optimistic about Topeka homelessness plan under consideration

Worldwide startups attend Topeka Expo

Plug and play expo hosted 20 animal health and ag-tech startups..

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - GO Topeka ’s Plug and Play expo hosted 20 animal health and ag-tech startups.

The expo hosted various businesses, including pet food and machinery disciplines, to show of their newest technology.

Brazil, Germany, Sweden, Canada, and the UK were all represented at the event.

The goal of the expo is to assists startups in their growth through networking and potentially relocating to Topeka.

GO Topeka’s Senior Vice President of Innovation, Stephanie Moran, said it’s special to see it come to life.

”Being able to see those moments come to life in person, meeting someone they may have never met otherwise... It’s great to see those collaborations and collisions take place, and to see those startups see a whole new opportunity for their product,” said Moran.

The expo took place at Townsite Tower with keynotes, awards, and more occurring over the past two days.

Copyright 2024 WIBW. All rights reserved.

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Latest news.

Dry for the next few days

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4100 SW 15th Street Topeka KS, 66604 (785) 273-8224

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