History, Art, & Architecture

The Kansas State Capitol in Topeka is the capitol I have visited the most. I have also driven past it countless times on trips between Overland Park and Manhattan, Kansas. When I attended Kansas State University, I passed it every weekend driving home on Fridays and back to Manhattan on Sundays or Mondays. Later, I passed it on my way to Colorado, fishing trips to Manhattan, and visits to Topeka for the zoo, museums, or hot air balloon festival.

I have walked around the Kansas State Capitol many times, exploring the areas open to visitors. Even so, I still hope to take an official tour someday. One experience I really want to try is the dome tour. Visitors climb 296 steps to reach the top, where the view of Topeka stretches across the city. Tours are free, and scheduling online is recommended.

History of the Kansas State Capitol

The site for Capitol Square comes from a donation made in 1862 by Cyrus K. Holliday through the Topeka Town Company. Architect Edward Townsend Mix designed the main structure, while John G. Haskell created the east and west wings. Construction on the East Wing began in 1866, followed by the West Wing in 1879. Two years later, the legislature approved funding for a central section to connect both wings. Work started in 1886, and by May 1889, the contract for the dome was awarded.

After nearly 40 years of work, the Kansas State Capitol officially opened in 1903.

More than 80 years later, in 1988, the design for the dome sculpture was finally chosen. The winning piece, Ad Astra, is a 22-foot bronze statue weighing 4,420 pounds. Artist Richard Bergen completed the sculpture, which was installed on October 10, 2002. The statue shows a Kansa (Kaw) warrior aiming his bow toward the North Star. Its name, Ad Astra, comes from the Latin phrase Ad Astra Per Aspera, meaning “To the stars through difficulty.” This phrase is also the Kansas state motto.

Murals and Art

In the 1930s, painter John Steuart Curry was commissioned to create murals for the Kansas State Capitol. His most famous work, Tragic Prelude, shows abolitionist John Brown standing between Union and Confederate forces. The storm clouds and lightning behind him symbolize Kansas’s turbulent past. The mural stirred controversy for its raw emotion and dark imagery. As a result, Curry left it unsigned and never completed his planned rotunda murals. Tragic Prelude remains unique as the only mural in a state capitol to feature a person convicted of treason.

Architecture and Grounds

The Kansas State Capitol follows a Romanesque architectural style. Its grand columns, wide dome, and balanced symmetry reflect a classic American design. The building’s limestone exterior and copper dome make it one of the most recognizable structures in Kansas.

The Capitol grounds are peaceful and beautifully landscaped. A bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln stands proudly near the main entrance. As one of my favorite presidents, I always enjoy seeing it. Also on the grounds is a replica of the Statue of Liberty. The 8.5-foot-tall copper figure weighs 290 pounds and was dedicated by the Boy Scouts of America in 1950. I enjoy finding and photographing these replicas whenever I come across them.

Visiting the Kansas State Capitol combines history, art, and architecture into one experience. Whether you tour the dome, admire the murals, or walk the grounds, it’s a place that reminds visitors of Kansas’s past and its journey “to the stars through difficulty.”

To discover more about Wichita, go to Visit Topeka or explore more of Kansas at Travel Kansas. If this article interests you, read about other state capitol buildings I’ve visited or sites and events in Kansas I have explored.

Location

Kansas State Capitol
300 W. 10th
Topeka, KS 66612