Kansas State Capitol Building
 10th and Jackson
Topeka, Kansas 66612
(785) 296-3966

Self guided tours:
8 AM to 5PM Monday - Friday      10AM - 4PM Saturday

Free Capitol Building Tours Monday - Friday
January - May:  9, 10, 11, 1, 2 & 3
June - December: 9, 11, 1 & 3
Saturdays all year: 10, 11, 1, 2 & 3
Free Dome Tours

Capitol office complex map

Kansas State Capitol Dome - Topeka, Kansas
The Kanza figure at the top is named Ad Astra (to the stars). It was added in 2002.
Kansas State Capitol Building
Kansas State Capitol from the northeast - the visitor entrance is at the lower right and there is parking beneath that area.

The best free attraction in the Kansas State Capital is the Kansas State Capitol Building in Topeka, Kansas. The Capitol is open to visitors from 8AM - 5PM, Monday through Friday and 10AM - 1PM on Saturday, with free tours conducted by the State Historical Society 4 - 6 times during the day on weekdays. The hours posted above are subject to change, so be sure to call (785) 296-3966 to confirm times in advance. The State Capital Building is closed Sundays and Kansas state holidays.

Construction of the Kansas State Capitol Building began in 1866. Although the Capitol Building was in use by the legislature starting in 1869, it took 37 years and $3,200,000 to complete. The Capitol is 399 feet by 386 feet, and 304 feet to the top of the cupola. The stone is brown sandstone from the bluffs along Deer Creek, near Vinewood, in Shawnee County, Kansas.

Major renovation of the Capitol Building began in 2002 and cost $330,000,000. That work was completed in early 2014 and the popular free tours to the top of the capitol dome (taking 45 minutes and climbing 296 steps from the 5th floor of the building to view both the interior and the surrounding community) have been restarted.

The easiest way to visit the Capitol Building is to park in the free visitor parking in the underground garage at the north side of the building. An elevator will take you up to the north security entrance and after passing through a scanner, you are right next to the gift shop and the Capitol Visitors Center where you can get information and where the general tours depart.

Kansas State Capitol building in 2005 - Topeka
The Capitol Building from the south in 2005, after the start of renovation, but before the work on the dome and roof.

John Brown - John Steuart Curry Murals
John Steuart Curry's John Brown mural, "Tragic Prelude" - the capitol has many murals painted by Curry in 1938-1941


 The governor's public, ceremonial office is across the hall from "Tragic Prelude."
This office is where the governor holds public signings such as proclamations. 

Kansas House of Representatives Chamber
The Chamber of the House of Representatives in 2005

House of Representatives desks - Kansas
House of Representatives desks

Kansas State Senate Chamber
Senate Chamber viewed from the president's rostrum in 2005. There are 28 hand cast bronze columns
decorated with morning glories and roses.

Senate Chamber - Kansas
Senate Chamber after renovation - the classic looking phones are now gone.
The gallery above the president's rostrum is no longer open to the public.

Kansas State Library
Notice the glass floor in the Kansas State Library on the second level of the State Capitol to allow more light.
The renovation removed a third level from the stacks in the State Library.

Kansas State Flag from space
Kansas State Flag which orbited the earth in the space shuttle Columbia (STS-2)
on November 12 - 14, 1981.

hand operated cage elevator
1923 hand operated "cage" passenger elevator that is still in use.

Kansas State Capitol Dome
Interior of Kansas State Capitol Dome from the main floor


An original 1903 dome window which was replaced during the 13 year renovation.
The first floor of the Capitol Building is like a catacombs, with historic photos and treasures around every corner.

Capitol office complex map - Topeka, Kansas
The visitor's parking garage entrance is off 8th Street

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LS-2/14  copyright 2005-2019 by Keith Stokes