Kansas Museum of History
Kansas Museum of History
4.5
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
About
The striking "White Buffalo" sculpture outside offers an inkling of the interesting exhibits inside this museum, including a steam locomotive, a Southern Cheyenne teepee, one of the largest collections of prairie memorabilia in the U.S. and a hands-on children's area. Admission is $10 for adults, and $5 for children aged 2-17. Admission includes admittance to the discovery place.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
237 reviews
Excellent
151
Very good
74
Average
8
Poor
4
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0
charles k
Fort Mill, SC16 contributions
Feb 2022
Excellent museum for Kansas' rich history. I was especially informed as to the events leading up to the Civil War. But it covered everything from start to current. Very impressed, tons of information. We'd definitely come back here again
Easy to get to as well, easy access from the interstate
Easy to get to as well, easy access from the interstate
Written March 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MikeB1952
Santa Fe, NM1,082 contributions
Jun 2021
While visiting Topeka for a few days we wanted to take some hikes. There are a number of available in the Topeka area. We looked at a number of possible hikes and noted that near the Kansas Historical Museum was a series of trails – the East, North, West and South Trails. Looked good so we chose to do our hiking there. We took them all. There is a 2.5 mile trail that winds throughout the Kansas Historical Society property in western Topeka.
There are a number of different types of trails, some in the trees; some not. Each has its own personality. And there are several bridges - a rope bridge, a steel bow bridge, a wooden bridge that make the hikes more interesting.
We made a good selecltion.
There are a number of different types of trails, some in the trees; some not. Each has its own personality. And there are several bridges - a rope bridge, a steel bow bridge, a wooden bridge that make the hikes more interesting.
We made a good selecltion.
Written June 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
awelch2000
Newton, MA61 contributions
I visited the Kansas Museum of History this month and was pleasantly surprised. The exhibits are very well-designed and informative, detailing the history of Kansas from pre-historic times and early settlement to the present day. Exhibits on the Civil War era are excellent, with great background on the Kansas-Nebraska Act, "Bleeding Kansas" and the war itself. Particularly enjoyable for kids - and frankly myself as well - were the 1880 steam locomotive (complete with walk-though passenger car), the southern Cheyenne tipi (amazing to learn how quickly a tipi can be set up!), and the 1914 biplane. Exhibits also include the early 20th century and items from the "recent past" - interesting echos from the 1960s, '70s and 80s that many of us may have forgotten, but take great pleasure in remembering. If you catch the museum on a nice day, there is also a 2.5 mile nature trail with information on local flora and fauna.
If you find yourself in Topeka with a couple hours on your hands, the Kansas Museum of History is worth the visit - rain or shine.
If you find yourself in Topeka with a couple hours on your hands, the Kansas Museum of History is worth the visit - rain or shine.
Written June 29, 2006
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KansasMary
LEAVENWORTH60 contributions
Jan 2016 • Couples
We try to visit at least twice a year to catch the changing displays. Check thier website to see what is current. My all-time favorites were the Lewis & Clark and the Kansas Quilts exhibits. The other exhibits about Kansas history stay pretty much the same, but are very interesting and we seem to find something new every visit. We have an annual membership and with it, free admission to the exhibits and discounts at the museum store. If you are interested in research concerning Kansas history and specific people, don't miss the State Archives.
Written January 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pasowine
Paso Robles, CA5,389 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
The museum came recommended to me, and was a little difficult to find, but well worth it. Much better than expected. I learned a tremendous amount about the history of Kansas, from the early Native Americans up through the present day. The exhibits were very educational and interesting and I spent 4 hours here - much longer than anticipated. Extremely well done. I especially enjoyed the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Train car that you could go inside.
Well worth the price of admission - especially if you like history. Also - the park and green grass grounds surrounding the museum were huge and worth taking walks in if I'd had the time.
Well worth the price of admission - especially if you like history. Also - the park and green grass grounds surrounding the museum were huge and worth taking walks in if I'd had the time.
Written January 8, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
butron
New York31 contributions
Aug 2014 • Couples
We stopped in the museum to take a break from a long trip and what a surprise! One can visit the museum in 1-2 hours and learn a lot about Kansas and the native american, early settlers, and modern history of Kansas. Most enjoyable and very well put together.
Written August 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trevor W
McPherson, KS133 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
This is a neat place with a chronological order to it from the prehistoric Indians to the 1980s. Took a couple hours to go through...admission price was reasonable at $8 for adults. I love history, but the kind of place I could go once every 10 years to see what's changed.
Written May 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacob M
Golden, CO8 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
Prepare yourself to learn a lot if you are a frek about history. this place was very nicely decorated with many different facets of history. since we live in the midwest united states, our family was particularly interested in this section which was well displayed.
Written February 25, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kwobo
Portland, OR49 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
What a surprise! The displays here are amazingly clean and well-cited. We enjoyed the genuine 1913 plane on display and the train that the kids could walk through, as well as the featured display of Kansas heroes of WWI and WWII. There is a special interactive play area for the kids that is remarkably fun and inviting, as well as educational. Also, there is a play area outside that is a lot of fun and well kept up. I recommend this place, especially if you can go as a group and get the group rate.
Written August 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind words - we are so thrilled that you and your family enjoyed your time at the Kansas Museum of History!
Written August 18, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KansasMary
LEAVENWORTH60 contributions
Aug 2016 • Couples
We just returned from visiting the State Historical Society Museum again. The current exhibit is very interesting and tells the military story of Colonel Hughes from Topeka. He served in the chase for Pancho Villa in Mexico, in WWI and WWII. He was a prisoner of war in several Japanese prison camps and finally released at the very end of the war by the Russians in Manchuria . He took hundred of photos in WWI and kept a diary of his time as a POW in WWII. The museum as numerous personal objects from his years as a prisoner. We read every display sign, looked at every photo and viewed every film. Several of the WWI photos he took in France, Belgium and Germany were made from the same spots (thanks to GPS) in 2007 by a relative. We found this very interesting since we visited many of the same sites several years ago. Many buildings had extensive reconstruction, while others remained almost untouched. Our visit lasted an hour. We did not view the other exhibits this time.
Written August 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pet friendly?
lj3efird
Topeka, KS72 contributions
No. Keep them outside on the grounds.
What does it cost to get in?
Kansas Historical Society
Topeka, KS
Hi Maudie,
Our admission rates are $10 per adult and $5 per child.
Thanks, we hope to see you at the museum soon!
cost to get in andhours
Kansas Historical Society
Topeka, KS
Hi Roberta,
Our hours are Tuesday-Saturday: 9-5 and Sundays: 1-5.
Cost to visit our Museum are $8 for Adults, $7 for Seniors, $7 for Military, $6 for students, and Children 5 and under are FREE!
So sorry for the delay in responding to your question. We really hope you visit us soon!
What are your hours on Sunday, 5/24?
GPS2008
Topeka, KS42 contributions
1-5 last I knew.
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Claim your listingKansas Museum of History - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Kansas Museum of History
- Kansas Museum of History is open:
- Sun - Sun 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Tue - Sat 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Hotels near Kansas Museum of History:
- (0.70 mi) Endeavor Inn & Suites, Trademark Collection by Wyndham
- (0.71 mi) Comfort Suites Topeka Northwest
- (0.62 mi) Hyatt Place Topeka
- (1.50 mi) Homewood Suites by Hilton Topeka
- (1.45 mi) Hampton Inn Topeka
- Restaurants near Kansas Museum of History:
- (0.42 mi) Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
- (1.98 mi) Monsoon Indian Grill
- (1.24 mi) Texas Roadhouse
- (0.88 mi) Jason's Deli
- (0.72 mi) Hooters