Kansas State Capitol

The Kansas State Capitol in Topeka is one of the most architecturally distinguished state capitols in the United States, crowned by a copper-clad dome that rises 304 feet and was completed in 1903 after 37 years of construction. The dome's oxidized green copper exterior, modeled loosely on the U.S. Capitol, is the dominant feature of the Neoclassical building that occupies an entire city block at 300 SW Tenth Avenue in downtown Topeka. The interior is equally impressive: Kansas muralist John Steuart Curry's monumental cycle, including the larger-than-life "Tragic Prelude" depicting abolitionist John Brown, fills the rotunda walls and draws visitors from across the country. A second landmark mural by David Overmyer decorates the opposite wall. The dome tour, offered for a nominal fee of five dollars for adults, climbs eight flights of stairs to an exterior observation deck encircling the lantern with a panoramic view of downtown Topeka and the Kansas River valley. Free guided tours of the lower floors cover the legislative chambers, historic artifacts, and the marble-and-granite Grand Staircase. The building remains an active statehouse; public galleries in both the Kansas House and Senate chambers are open during legislative sessions, typically January through May. Exterior grounds include statues of notable Kansans and a reflecting pool on the south side. Free weekday access is available without a tour, making brief drop-in visits easy for travelers passing through Topeka. The capitol sits within easy walking distance of several downtown hotels and the Kansas Museum of History.