VISUAL ARTS

From outdoor installations to galleries galore, Topeka has a number of art offerings to enjoy! Here are a few you won’t want to miss.

Sculptures

Located in and around Washburn University’s White Concert Hall, the Rita Blitt Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden features a collection of works gifted by awardwinning artist Rita Blitt. Blitt’s sculptures can be found in public spaces around the world, and a few just happen to call Topeka “home”! More than 20 additional sculptures and art installations can be found throughout Washburn’s campus, so feel free to wander the grounds for your outdoor-art fix.

Galleries

While there are too many local art galleries to list in this section, here are a few of our favorites! While exploring Topeka check out Two Wolves Studio & Artist Den, Stephen Smith Gallery, NexLynx Gallery, Leaping Llamas, the NOTO Arts Center or Amused! The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library also features revolving exhibitions at the Sabatini Gallery. For a current list of galleries visit artstopeka.org.

Mulvane Art Museum

The Mulvane Art Museum on Washburn University’s campus is one of the oldest accredited art museums west of the Mississippi River, housing a collection of about 5,500 objects from around the world. The museum’s collection prominently features the work of artists from Kansas and the Midwest. For more, visit MulvaneArtMuseum.org.

Murals

Murals can be found throughout the capital city — if you know where to look! We recommend making stops in downtown Topeka and the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District. Then, make your way over to the Great Mural Wall of Topeka, just behind the Stormont Vail Events Center, for a 360-degree, storyboard-like display. Also check out the inspiring mural at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site, and hop over to 10th and Kansas Avenue to enjoy downtown Topeka’s newest mural “Golden City Serenade,” a stunning tribute to Topeka’s Middle Eastern and North African community featuring 24 karat gold leafing! Visit ArtsTopeka.org/mural for a complete list of locations!

Truckhenge

An eclectic combination of recycled art and nature sanctuary, Truckhenge is an ode to the world-famous Stonehenge. The local art park features antique trucks jutting from the ground, surrounded by various upcycled art installations and native plants. This outdoor gallery is located on a family farm, so visitors should book tours in advance. Visit TruckhengeFarm.com for contact information and to learn more.

OLD PRAIRIE TOWN AT WARD-MEADE

History, family fun, outdoor adventures and more await you at Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade. Step back in time to explore this 1800s prairie village, complete with general store, drug store (with soda fountain and candy counter inside), 1854 replica log cabin, schoolhouse, train station and the like. One of the crowning exhibits is the Ward-Mead Mansion, originally the home of Anthony A. Ward. Period furniture, clothing and artifacts are available to view inside the mansion during regularly scheduled guided tours. The mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as “the story of the house and its occupants reflects the history, changes, and expansion of the city” of Topeka. Prairie Town facilities are also available to rent for your next family reunion, birthday party, or wedding.

A new Native American exhibit debuted in Old Prairie Town in 2022. The project features an authentic Indigenous village with elements such as a prayer circle, medicine wheel, and wigwam at the heart of the encampment. A collaboration on the part of Shawnee County Parks & Rec, Citizen Band and Prairie Band Potawatomi tribes, the project honors Topeka’s area heritage.

The botanical garden located outside the Ward-Meade Mansion is also a sight to behold. It features a zen garden, plentiful blooms and a number of seasonal events, including another stop along the Tulip Time “roadmap”. Seasonal events include Garden Glow, Tulips at Twilight, Picnic on the Prairie, Old Prairie Town Christmas and the Apple Festival.

Art Installations

Throughout Topeka, public art installations provide pops of color and history. Walk through downtown to see and read about statues of prominent Topekans; stroll across the Kansas Capitol grounds to spot historical figures like Dwight D. Eisenhower and Abraham Lincoln; and explore NOTO to find an array of installations that are sure to make you stop, admire and think.

POOLS, SPLASH PADS AND AQUATIC CENTERS

Looking to cool off? Starting each Memorial Day weekend, local pools and aquatic centers are open for business. They include Blaisdell Family Aquatic Center, Midwest Health Aquatic Center and Shawnee North Family Aquatic Center, as well as several community pools. Also, don’t sleep on the area’s splash parks, including Dornwood Spray Park, Jackson Spray Park and the downtown splash pad at Evergy Plaza.