The following is a timeline of the
history
History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
of
Topeka
Topeka ( ; Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeast Kansas, in the Central Uni ...
,
Kansas
Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to th ...
, USA.
19th century
* 1854 - Topeka Association organized.
* 1855
**
Constitution Hall
DAR Constitution Hall is a concert hall located at 1776 D Street NW, near the White House in Washington, D.C. It was built in 1929 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to house its annual convention when membership delegations outgrew Me ...
built.
**
Topeka Constitutional Convention held.
* 1856
** Free-state government installed in Topeka, March 1856.
* 1857
** Topeka incorporated.
**
State Library of Kansas
The State Library of Kansas is a department within the state government of Kansas, with locations in Topeka and Emporia. Ray Walling was appointed acting State Librarian in June of 2022.
Locations
The research collections and most of the staff ...
established.
* 1859
** ''Kansas State Record'' newspaper begins publication.
**
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway , often referred to as the Santa Fe or AT&SF, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. The railroad was chartered in February 1859 to serve the cities of Atchison, Kansas, Atchison and Top ...
chartered and set up offices and work shops.
**
Wyandotte Constitution The Wyandotte Constitution is the constitution of the U.S. state of Kansas.
Background
The Kansas Territory was created in 1854. The largest issue by far in territorial Kansas was whether slavery was to be permitted or prohibited; aside from the m ...
makes Topeka the temporary state capital.
**
Topeka Cemetery established.
* 1860
**
Grace Church incorporated.
** Drought.
** Population: 759.
* 1861
**
Wyandotte Constitution The Wyandotte Constitution is the constitution of the U.S. state of Kansas.
Background
The Kansas Territory was created in 1854. The largest issue by far in territorial Kansas was whether slavery was to be permitted or prohibited; aside from the m ...
designates Topeka as state capitol.
** Kansas legislature convenes.
**
Episcopal Female Seminary of Topeka chartered.
* 1863 - ''Kansas Farmer'' begins publication.
* 1864
** Topeka threatened during
Price's Raid
Price's Missouri Expedition (August 29 – December 2, 1864), also known as Price's Raid or Price's Missouri Raid, was an unsuccessful Confederate cavalry raid through Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas in the Trans-Mississippi Theater of the Am ...
.
**
Fort Simple Fort Simple was an American fort built in Topeka, Kansas, as a result of Maj. Gen. Sterling Price's Missouri Raid in the late summer and fall of 1864 (see Price's Raid). Topeka had become the permanent capital of the State of Kansas in 1861, but n ...
built in the fall in to defend against Confederate troops during Price's Raid.
* 1865
**
Lincoln College founded.
** Harrison School built.
** Union Pacific railway begins operating in Eugene.
* 1867 - Fort Simple torn down in April.
* 1868 -
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad construction begins.
* 1870
**
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library is a public library located in Topeka, Kansas, United States. It serves all of Shawnee County, Kansas with the exception of the Rossville, Kansas and Silver Lake, Kansas townships. The Topeka & Shawnee C ...
established.
** Population: 5,790.
* 1871 -
Topeka High School
Topeka High School (THS) is a public secondary school in Topeka, Kansas, United States. It serves students in grades 9 to 12, and is one of five high schools operated by the Topeka USD 501 school district. In the 2010–2011 school year, there ...
established.
* 1872 -
Topeka State Hospital The Topeka State Hospital (formerly the Topeka Insane Asylum) was a publicly funded institution for the care and treatment of the mentally ill in Topeka, Kansas, in operation from 1872 to 1997. Located at 2700 W 6th Street, the hospital opened in 18 ...
opens.
* 1873 -
Kansas Academy of Science
The Kansas Academy of Science is a public organization for the promotion and promulgation of scientific research in the state of Kansas, United States.As its constitution put it: ''to increase and diffuse a knowledge of science, particularly in its ...
incorporated.
* 1875 -
Kansas Historical Society
The Kansas Historical Society is the official state historical society of Kansas.
Headquartered in Topeka, it operates as "the trustee of the state" for the purpose of maintaining the state's history and operates the Kansas Museum of History, Kan ...
founded.
* 1878 - Topeka Harvey House opens.
* 1879 - ''
Daily Capital'' newspaper begins publication.
* 1880 - Population: 15,452.
* 1881 - Chartered as a city.
* 1883 -
Public Library building constructed.
* 1886 - Population: 25,005.
* 1887
** Governor's Mansion built.
**
Topeka Golden Giants baseball team formed.
* 1890 - Population: 31,007.
* 1894 - Christ's Hospital established.
* 1895 - Topeka Industrial and Educational Institute and Stormont Hospital and Training School established.
* 1897 - Topeka Tent and Awning Company established.
* 1899 -
Gage Park established.
20th century
* 1900
**
Bethel Bible College founded.
** Population: 33,608.
* 1902 -
Smith Automobile Company
The Smith Automobile Company of Topeka, Kansas was an early United States automobile manufacturing company which produced the Veracity, Smith, and Great Smith lines of automobiles from 1902 to 1911. They were the first automobiles made west of the ...
founded.
* 1903 -
Kansas State Capitol
The Kansas State Capitol, known also as the Kansas Statehouse, is the building housing the executive and legislative branches of government for the U.S. state of Kansas. Located in the city of Topeka, which has served as the capital of Kansas sin ...
building constructed.
* 1905 -
Topeka Industrial Institute later rebuilt as a women's prison.
* 1906 - Bethesda Hospital established.
* 1909 - St. Francis Hospital established.
* 1910 - Population: 43,684.
* 1911 -
Hayden High School established.
* 1914 -
G.A.R. Memorial Hall built.
* 1917 -
Grace Episcopal Cathedral built.
* 1920 -
Menninger Clinic
The Menninger Foundation was founded in 1919 by the Menninger family in Topeka, Kansas. The Menninger Foundation, known locally as Menninger's, consists of a clinic, a sanatorium, and a school of psychiatry, all of which bear the Menninger name. ...
opens.
* 1926 - Jayhawk Theatre opens.
* 1928 -
College of the Sisters of Bethany
The College of the Sisters of Bethany is a defunct school located in Topeka, Kansas, United States. The school was chartered by the Kansas Territory on February 2, 1861 (although Kansas was officially admitted to the Union four days earlier) an ...
closed.
* 1933 -
Topeka Zoo
The Topeka Zoo (formally the Topeka Zoological Park) is a medium-sized zoo in Topeka, Kansas in the United States. It is located within Gage Park, just off I-70 in the north central portion of the city. Despite its size, it houses over 250 anima ...
opens.
* 1936 -
Sumner Elementary School built.
* 1941 -
Topeka Army Air Field
Topeka Regional Airport , formerly known as Forbes Field, is a joint civil-military public airport owned by the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority in Shawnee County, Kansas, seven miles south of downtown Topeka, the capital city of Kansas. The ...
established.
* 1948 -
Topeka station established.
* 1950
** Population: 78,791.
** Railroad station built.
* 1952 -
Topeka Lutheran School opens.
* 1954 -
Brown v. Board of Education
''Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka'', 347 U.S. 483 (1954), was a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that U.S. state laws establishing racial segregation in public schools are unconstitutional, even if the segrega ...
decided.
* 1955 -
Westboro Baptist Church
The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is a small American, unaffiliated Primitive Baptist church in Topeka, Kansas, founded in 1955 by pastor Fred Phelps. Labeled a hate group, WBC is known for engaging in homophobic and anti-American pickets, ...
opens.
* 1962 -
Cedar Crest (mansion) becomes state governor's official residence.
* 1965 - Topeka Genealogical Society founded.
* 1966 -
Tornado
A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with both the surface of the Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, altho ...
.
* 1976 -
Forbes Field (airport)
Topeka Regional Airport , formerly known as Forbes Field, is a joint civil-military public airport owned by the Metropolitan Topeka Airport Authority in Shawnee County, Kansas, seven miles south of downtown Topeka, the capital city of Kansas. The ...
in operation.
* 1980 -
Cair Paravel-Latin School founded.
* 1984 -
Kansas Museum of History opens.
* 1987 -
Sunflower State Expo arena opens.
* 1988 - West Ridge Mall opens.
* 1989 -
Heartland Park Topeka
Heartland Motorsports Park, formerly known as Heartland Park Topeka, is a multi-purpose motorsports facility south of downtown Topeka, Kansas near the Topeka Regional Airport.
When it opened in 1989, Heartland Motorsports Park was the first new ...
motorsports facility opens.
* 1991 - Topeka Performing Arts Center opens.
* 1997 - City website online (approximate date).
* 1998 -
Topeka ScareCrows
The Topeka Scarecrows were a professional ice hockey team located in Topeka, Kansas, playing their home games at Landon Arena. The team was a member of the Central Hockey League from their founding in 1998 until 2001 when there franchise was term ...
ice hockey team founded.
21st century
2000s
* 2003 -
Kansas Koyotes
The Kansas Koyotes, founded by Ralph Adams, were a professional indoor football and were a charter member of the Champions Professional Indoor Football League. Based in Topeka, Kansas, the Koyotes played their home games at Landon Arena.
The ...
football team formed.
* 2004
**
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site opens.
**
Topeka RoadRunners
The Amarillo Wranglers are a junior ice hockey#Tier II, Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The team's home arena is the Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo, Texas.
History
Lone Star Cavalry
The Lon ...
ice hockey team founded.
* 2005
**
Bill Bunten becomes mayor.
**
Topeka Golden Giants baseball team formed.
* 2006 -
Railroad station built.
* 2008 - North Topeka Arts District formed.
* 2009 -
Topeka Mudcats
The Topeka Mudcats are a women's professional American football team based in Topeka, Kansas, and a charter member of the Women's Spring Football League
The United States Women's Football League (USWFL) is a full-contact women's American footb ...
women's football team founded.
2010s
* 2010
**
Kaw River State Park opens.
** Population: 127,473.
See also
*
List of mayors of Topeka
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Shawnee County, Kansas
*
Timeline of Kansas
;other cities in Kansas
*
Timeline of Wichita, Kansas
References
Bibliography
*
*
1872*
*
*
1882*
1886*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
1921*
*
*
*
*
* Andrews, B. (1995). ''Topeka: A City of Opportunity'' (Kansas State Historical Society).
* Cohen, J. (2007). ''The History of Topeka'' ( University of Kansas Press).
* Holmes, J. (2020). ''Topeka: A History'' (Arcadia Publishing).
* Johnson, C. (1987). ''A History of Topeka'' (Kansas State University Press).
* Johnson, W. (1982). ''Topeka: An Illustrated History. Kansas State Historical Society).
* Kappler, P. (2010). ''Topeka: The History of a Capital City'' (Kansas State Historical Society).
* Price, T. (2012). ''Topeka: The Story of Kansas’ Capital City'' (University Press of Kansas).
* Smith, M. (2005). ''Topeka: An Illustrated History'' (Kansas Historical Society).
* White, J. (2003). ''Topeka: A History'' (Kansas Heritage Press).
External links
*
Items related to Topeka, Kansas various dates (via
Digital Public Library of America
The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) is a US project aimed at providing public access to digital holdings in order to create a large-scale public digital library. It officially launched on April 18, 2013, after two and a half years of dev ...
).
{{Shawnee County, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka
Topeka ( ; Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeast Kansas, in the Central Uni ...
Topeka
Topeka ( ; Kansa: ; iow, Dópikˀe, script=Latn or ) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the seat of Shawnee County. It is along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, in northeast Kansas, in the Central Uni ...
Years in Kansas