Really cool to see somewhere so profound in our history. The sign was being repaired when we went,…read moreand the parking was a confusing but it was a beautiful day and worth the stop.

Ranger Lawson and Ranger Jeff welcomed me from the moment I stopped into this historic building…read more Ranger Lawson directed me towards the exhibits and made himself available if I needed. The exhibits were amazing. The videos and interactive media were all functioning. DYK there were actually five cases that were combined and argued in front of the Supreme Court in 1954, combined they were known as the historic Brown vs Topeka Board of Education that ended segregation of schools in the U.S. in 1954. The Hall of Courage is an interesting exhibit that shows videos of discrimination on both sides. It attempts to mimic the feeling that folks back in the 1950s and the Jim Crow South had to deal with. The building also has a recreation of a kindergarten in Topeka during the 1950. Where teachers believed that play was the highest form of learning. So children could let their minds run free and creativity develop their curious minds. The Legacy Room has plenty of exhibits. I particularly liked the Wall of Courage, that highlight post-Brown heroes, and the Protest in Music exhibit that had songs from Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, to Public Enemy. I'm so happy to have had the opportunity to learn more about the case and be on the grounds where the one of the cases originated. This location presents the information well, and visitors cannot help but feel proud about the event.

Very cool underrated historical place. If you are wanting to learn about the Civil War or how…read moreAmerica abandoned slavery, this is the place to come to. There's lots of history I could get into but you can learn all beforehand or at the place, as there are several historical signs to check out. I also highly recommend going upstairs where it has been used for meetings. They do have a small gift shop. Be sure to check the hours before coming here. And also, be sure to visit the Democratic Headquarters, which is not far from here in this town.

Sept 2015, while visiting some historical sites in Missouri, we found Lecompton on the map and…read moredecided to check out the Old Capital area of Lecompton. The birthplace of the Civil War since it was drafted in the building there called Constitutional Hall. History: Lecompton is a city in Douglas County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 625. Lecompton played a major historical role in pre-Civil War America as the Territorial capital of Kansas from 1855 to 1861. This time period was known as Bleeding Kansas. Lecompton was founded in 1854 and planted on a bluff on the south bank of the Kansas River. It was originally called "Bald Eagle", but the name was changed to Lecompton in honor of Samuel Lecompte, the chief justice of the territorial supreme court.[8] In the spring of 1855, the town became the capital of the Kansas Territory. President James Buchanan appointed a governor and officials to establish government offices in Lecompton, and construction began on an elegant capitol building. The first post office in Lecompton was established in September, 1855 In the fall of 1857 a convention met in Constitution Hall and drafted the famous Lecompton Constitution, which would have admitted Kansas as a slave state. The constitution was rejected after intense national debate and was one of the prime topics of the Lincoln-Douglas debates. The controversy contributed to the growing dispute soon to erupt in civil war. The Lecompton Constitution failed, in part, because the antislavery party won control of the territorial legislature in the election of 1857. The new legislature met at Constitution Hall and immediately began to abolish the pro-slavery laws. The free-staters briefly attempted to move the territorial capital to Minneola, Franklin County, Kansas through a vote, although the resulting bill was later vetoed by Kansas territorial governor James W. Denver, and ruled void by Jeremiah S. Black, Attorney General of the United States. As such, Lecompton remained the de jure territorial capital until the victorious free-state leaders officially chose Topeka as capital when Kansas became a state on January 29, 1861. The American Civil War began on April 12, 1861.

Super unique place to drive or walk through. The owners are nice and excited for you to stop by…read more It's free but accepts donations, because they create it all themselves. Several peacocks wandering around, too!

Definitely worth a drive through if you're in town and like quirky art installations. I've already…read morebeen to Stonehenge, so my curiosity was peaked when I saw truck henge existed. Totally a different experience, but if you can't make it all the way to Stonehenge, good ole Kansas Truck Henge is the next best thing. No seriously! What a fun idea and way to reuse material to make people smile rather than waste it. Ain't nothing wrong with making people smile for free. Thanks for letting us take a look. Just some guys land with a crazy amount of old vehicles up-cycled into an art exhibit of sorts. Free admission, donations appreciated. Kind owner. He said his dad built all the stuff there.

A quaint rock structure built nearly 170 years ago that originally housed the Democratic party…read moreheadquarters. This was when the Democrats were the pro slavery party and were trying to force Kansas into the union as a slave state. My goodness; how times have have reversed the major party roles over the last century and a half! Ironically Lecompton uses the image of Lincoln in their promotional tourist signs, very strange since Lecompton was the headquarters of his enemy - strange. Thank goodness for the Free Stater Jayhawks to save the day. The building itself is not worth the trip here, but bundled with the Territorial Capital and Constitution Hall, it's worth a 5 mile drive off the interstate or 10 miles from Lawrence.

If you like seeing old military stuff (and I do) including Jeeps, trucks, half-tracks, tanks and…read moreaircraft, you'll enjoy the Museum of the Kansas National Guard. Indoors, they have some interesting displays of guns, knives, bayonets, uniforms and all kinds of other military gear. It's kind of a hodgepodge but lots of fun to wander through. The replica "Swamp" from M*A*S*H* was interesting too. You can't beat the price--it's free.

Stopped in to this place and I wasn't quite sure I could get in because the air force base,army…read morenational Guard and Topeka airport are all in one place. But access was easy, no check points (except the air force base). I loved this museum. So much history and artifacts. I am not knowledgeable on military things, so this place really educated me and has once again reminded me all that has been sacrificed for my freedom. If you haven't been to this place. .u gotta see it

There are places you plan to visit, and then there are places you stumble into--the kind that feel…read morelike they've been sitting there for years, quietly daring you to notice them. Little Russia Chili Parlor is the latter. A small, out-of-the-way joint in Topeka that doesn't scream for attention--but once you walk in, it doesn't need to. The air alone tells you you're in the right place. This is Daniela's house. Not in the literal sense, but in the way that matters. She runs the place with the kind of confidence you don't fake--part host, part artist, part benevolent dictator of flavor. You don't get the sense that anything leaves that kitchen unless it meets her standard, and that standard is unapologetically high. Start with the pickles. Yeah, pickles. The kind that makes you pause mid-bite and reconsider every sad, limp grocery store version you've ever tolerated. These are spiced, alive, sharp in all the right ways--like they've got a story to tell and no patience for small talk. Then there's the baked goods coming in from Oakland's Bakery--local, honest, the kind of bread that actually tastes like grain and effort instead of air and preservatives. And then you hit the sides. The spiced pimento cheese spread isn't some afterthought--it's a statement. Smoky, a little dangerous, layered in a way that suggests someone in that kitchen understands restraint just as well as indulgence. It's the kind of thing you keep eating long after you've told yourself you're done. But let's not kid ourselves. You came here for the chili. And the chili... the chili doesn't just deliver--it recalibrates. Deep, complex, unapologetically bold. It's not trying to be trendy or Instagram-friendly. It's trying to be right. The kind of bowl that makes you slow down, lean in, and pay attention. Every spoonful feels deliberate, like it's been simmering not just for hours, but for years of trial, error, and quiet perfection. The sandwiches? Stacked, messy in the best way, built on that Oakland's Bakery foundation like someone actually cares about what bread is supposed to do--hold everything together without getting in the way. This place doesn't need hype. It doesn't need a rebrand or a marketing push. It exists in that rare space where authenticity isn't a strategy--it's just how things are done. You don't come to Little Russia Chili Parlor to be seen. You come because someone told you, quietly, "Trust me." And if you're smart, you listen.

Loved this place so much! Truly local, we found it by using the "lunch near me" function. The…read moreregulars greeted us warmly and guided us through the menu. We started with chili this time but next time we will try the sandwiches. Any place with homemade pickles wins my heart - they had three kinds. And a cracker trough made from a garden planter. And pimento cheese. Basically, it was amazing. And the chili was super tasty too.

This place is a TREASURE!! The quantity and quality of artifacts and fascinating historical items…read moreis very impressive. The attendant was extremely knowledgeable and very adept at explaining the historical significance of the exhibits -- particularly the role that the Lecompton Constitution played in the early days of Kansas and Lincoln's presidency. There is so much to see that I want to return and spend more time. A lot of Kansas history is stored in this museum.

I took my 3 kids to Bonkers for a fun morning last week - it was my first time getting all 3 kids…read moreout of the house since having a baby 6 weeks prior. My older two kids have loved Up and Away in Lawrence so I thought the play maze looked similar and that it'd be so fun for them and bonus that it's in Topeka and I don't need to drive to Lawrence - I was wrong. Both of my children had feet get stuck because the webbing of the play place had multiple broken spots throughout. There were also multiple duct taped spots. My oldest could get her foot out herself, but my second child climbed to the top and her whole right leg went through a hole. She was crying so hard and there were no workers anywhere. (They were all in the front office.) My baby also decided that was when she needed to be fed so my 3 year old and baby are crying while I have to climb to the top of this maze to get the 3 year old unstuck. As a side note, the arcade games are all at a high volume for their music and the lights are super bright - Dave and busters isn't so overstimulating. I gave them 2 stars because they did give me my money back, although I think I'm being generous since never did an employee apologize for what happened or check to see if my daughter was okay. They also did not mention that they would fix the issue.

The games were fun. They had something for all ages. We went during the early afternoon so there…read morewasn't too large a crowd. The prices were what you would expect - but I had to take stars off for the food. We ordered two of the large "16 inch" pizzas for our group. They brought out the pizzas on the 16 inch pans - they were 12-13inches at best. Extremely thin and the sauce/toppings were far from the crust. I'm not impressed. We even asked the server about whether we were brought the right size, but were told that it was. They didn't even try to make it right. $40 on two of these disappointments. No thank you, we won't make that mistake again.