Another stop in the land of “Ahs”

We arrived in Kansas at the beginning of April to spend a few weeks in Topeka visiting family and catching up with friends. Although I no longer consider the “Land of Oz” home, it's hard to ignore the pull I feel from the six generations of ancestral ties that bind me to the place.

 

I'll be the first to admit that Kansas doesn't rate a spot on Lonely Planet's list of “must see before you die” places. Still, if you look closely at the state in general and its capital city in particular, you will find some sites worth stopping for in what a 1990's tourism campaign referred to as the “Land of Ahs.”
 

I took the opportunity during this stay to hang out at a couple of my favorite old haunts and become acquainted with an unfamiliar venue. (See photo journal below for details).
 

Tomorrow, we begin the last leg of our journey to Aztec, New Mexico where we will spend May and June volunteering for the National Park Service.

Is April nearly done already? Time really does fly when you're having fun!



In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court rendered one of its most famous decisions in the case of Oliver Brown et al v. the Board of Education of Topeka declaring that when it comes to education separate is inherently unequal. 

The former Monroe Elementary School in Topeka was chosen to serve as the Brown v. Board National Historic Site because Linda Brown, daughter of lead plaintiff Oliver Brown, attended school there.



The site educates visitors, not just about the history of school segregation but about racial injustice throughout U.S. history.

Students from area schools contribute informational displays, like this interpretive stand

made by a high school history class.

The Kansas State Capitol, constructed between 1866 and 1903, was recently restored and rededicated in January of this year.

Inside the dome, these eight flags denote the eight different entities that have held jurisdiction over part or all of the state: England, France (aristocracy), France (republic), Spain, Mexico, Texas, the United States and, of course, Kansas.

Kansas native John Steuart Curry painted this iconic mural of anti-slavery activist John Brown. Curry had a falling out with the mural committee and was never paid for his work.

This hand-operated cage elevator, installed in 1923, remains in operation.

 


The restoration transformed the old secretary of state's office to its original state, a reminder of days gone by.

The state library functions as a depository of legal and historic documents. Thanks to digitalization of resources, the library's usefulness now extends far beyond the statehouse walls.



Kansas' bicameral legislature convenes annually for 90-plus days starting in January. The state's 40 senators meet in this chamber, its 125 representatives in one on the other side of the building.

Born in Texas, Dwight D. Eisenhower grew up in Abilene, Kansas and always claimed that as his home. The statehouse's new visitors' center features images of many of the state's better-known sons and daughters.

Springtime is tulip time in Kansas. The Ted Ensley garden at Lake Shawnee is full of tulips and other blossoms, all of which managed to survive a late-spring frost.

I used to walk over this bridge when I was a kid. It's fair to say that I've endured the years better than it has!

"I'm so happy!" was dedicated to Topekan Jerold Binkley, who annually for 22 years opened his home garden display of thousands of tulips to anyone and everyone wanting to enjoy their beauty. Today, Tulip Time continues at three Topeka-area locations, including Lake Shawnee.