Shawnee County Historical Society

05/23/2026

The Rossville community celebrated the official ribbon cutting for the newly restored McPherson Grandstands at Joe Campbell Field this afternoon Saturday, May 23rd at noon.📆

This event marks the renewal of Kansas’ last remaining all-wood baseball grandstand and honors the McPherson family’s century-long legacy in Rossville baseball.⚾️

Following the ceremony, the afternoon featured an old-time baseball doubleheader along with classic ballpark festivities, creating a lively, nostalgic atmosphere for families, friends, and neighbors.🍿Our own trustee,Ben Coates was on one of the teams.

It’s a milestone moment for the stadium and a chance for the community to come together around a landmark brought back to life.🐾

05/06/2026

WIBW recently visited the oldest house in Topeka, the Ritchie House located just east of the old cement Water Tower in Downtown Topeka. https://www.wibw.com/2026/05/06/ritchie-house-topekas-underground-railroad-safe-house-stands-testament-freedom/

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

Find out more about the bleeding era of Kansas Take a tour of the Ritchie house from 9 to 1 Tuesday thru Thursday.

04/19/2026

Over 45 people attended a presentation Sunday about the old poor farm in North Topeka at Shawnee County Community Center North. Devin Cooper put together a wonderful program on how the old farm worked from 1871 onward. This is another program of the Shawnee county Historical Society. The next program will be held June 7th at Gage Park featuring the history of the Helen Hocker theater. Won't you join us then? History geeks

04/14/2026

Join us this coming Sunday at 3pm April 19th for an interesting presentation about the old county poor farm located at 300 NE 43rd where the Shawnee County North Community center is now located. Learn the history of the Shawnee County Poor Farm as trustee Devin Cooper tells you about its past. Nestled against the banks of Indian Creek, Shawnee North Park was originally established in 1871 as the Shawnee County Poor Farm. Over its 150-year history it has housed hundreds of people and was an important institution for Topekans and individuals living in Shawnee County. This presentation explores the park’s history, beginning with its roots in the Civil War and until its doors closed in 1942. Explore a bygone institution with connections to other important Topeka hospitals and parks. Donations of $5 are encouraged.

03/23/2026

Next Sunday, March 29th, The Shawnee County Historical Society is presenting its "Show and Tell" event in which you can bring a part of history to our presentation and tell us all about its significance. This program will be held at a different location....the Topeka Public Library at 3pm Sunday, March 29th. This is a well attended program in which our patrons bring an item and discuss its history. Our trustees love the the program as it brings out different and unique items. You wont want to miss it and don't forget to bring your historical artifact. We hope to have this on Facebook Live and that will allow you to attend vicariously if you cant be there in person. So plan on joining us Sunday, March 29th at 3pm at the Topeka Public Library.

03/03/2026

Join us March 8th at 3pm at 1118 SE Madison when we learn about a new mural that will be painted on the Kansas Avenue Bridge. Noted Artist Zandra Sneed-Dawkins will present a talk on the new mural which will be completed by July 1st and will tell the story of North Topeka through a permanent mural on the Kansas Avenue Memorial Bridge. This mural is supported by a $30,000 dollar grant from the National Endowment for the arts. Sneed-Dawkins’ presentation will review key historical dates featured in the mural, how the artists will work, and other details behind the project. Join us as the Shawnee County Historical Society along with the NOTO Arts District jointly present the program at 1118 SE Madison at 3pm Sunday March 8th. Society members may attend free of charge however others will be encouraged to donate $5 for the program. This program will also be presented on Facebook live on the Shawnee County Historical Society’s page. We hope to see you at the Society headquarters next Sunday.

03/01/2026

02/12/2026

Join us February 22nd at 3pm at 1118 SE Madison when Brad Davenport of Tecumseh will be talking about some of the oldest items in Shawnee County. We are talking about rocks that are over 2 billion years old. Davenport says the rocks are known as Lake Superior agate and were brought to Kansas during the glacial age when the glaciers were formed in Kansas ten thousand years ago. Davenport is an expert on rocks and has been collecting them for years. He says some of these special rocks from up north can be found near 29th and Gage. This is a unique program and society members can attend for free however others will be encouraged to donate $5 for this informative talk. If you can't make it to the society headquarters on Sunday the 22nd we will broadcast this on Facebook Live starting at 3pm. We hope you can join us on the 22nd.