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Catching Our Attention

On a previous visit, we explored some of the art that is found scattered through downtown Topeka. This piece, which gives a nod to our military past and present, was one of our favorites. In fact, we discovered it after dining at Brew Bank, which sits just a block away. It was happening upon this sculpture that offered our first glimpse of The Pennant. Since we had already satisfied our hunger, on that day, I just made a mental note of this location for future reference.

Rolling Thunder

Now that we had a chance to explore it, we wanted to make sure we saw everything The Pennant has to offer. The interesting name for the restaurant is actually a historic nod to a previous eatery. On the second floor of this downtown building, the Pennant Cafeteria dished out meals from 1950 until 1967. The food was made from scratch and was frequented by guests from the capital and surrounding businesses. It seemed like everyone, in those days, loved the dishes being served by Miss Beezley. When the new owners decided to revitalize this space, they felt it appropriate to pay homage to this history in name and style.

Familiar and Fun

To help foster that old-time feel, the owners incorporated the philosophy of using local ingredients. We love it when this happens, as it will usually result in more flavor. On this visit, we wanted to sample a nice lunchtime selection, so we started with a batch of their Twisted Poutine. While we have yet to find a match for the version we discovered in Quebec City, The Pennant has certainly added its own flair to the dish. It starts with the crispy fries, which are topped with Cheddar cheese curds and a mushroom Bordelaise sauce, and then sprinkled with crispy onion strings. Toss in one of their Dino-shakes, and we had a fabulous start to our meal.

The Three B’s

Now that we had the appetizer out of the way, it was time to get to the main courses. Crystal decided that the Bourbon, Black, and Bleu Burger sounded intriguing. When I saw that it starts with Black Angus beef, I was anxious to sample it, as well. The juicy patty comes dressed with blue cheese sauce, bourbon-glazed caramelized onions, and bacon. That’s a whole lot of flavor going on and a side of Onion Rings added interesting accents.

Getting My Cuban On

While she was on her side of the table sorting through the burgers, I discovered a dish I hate to miss. If you have seen some of our previous dining articles, you might realize that I have an affinity for Cuban sandwiches. The Pennant plays up their version with the fun name, Cuban Pickle Crisis. This one comes with all of the base ingredients of ham, pulled pork, Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and mustard. They also toss in a squirt of the house aioli and serve it up on a toasted Telera bun. It was a nice blend of flavors that captures the essence of this popular dish.

2nd Story Fun Zone

Once we finished eating, even though we were unable to clean our plates, it was time to let the fun collide with our food stop. The bowling lanes were currently occupied, so we decided to head upstairs to check out the rest of their space. What we discovered, was a bar area that has a commanding view of the main thoroughfare in front of the restaurant. This would be a great spot to meet some friends or just recharge at the end of a long day. On the other end of the space is a collection of retro arcade games, including Skeeball. While Crystal and I enjoy pinball, we get more competitive when it comes time to roll some Skeeballs. The upstairs kept us occupied for quite some time.

The Pennant

Eventually, we knew it was time to get back to our explorations. We had come to town to see some museums but found that Dino Days had invaded Topeka. A side stop at The Great Overland Station landed us face to face with a T-Rex named Sue. Since it was already occupied with its own lunch, we felt safe enough to turn our backs on it. It seems like fun and food collide in more than one location in downtown Topeka. Eat up Sue, we understand the need to satisfy the hunger for food and exploring.

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Brown v. Board Museum

We’ve visited Topeka many times, but have somehow missed the Brown v. Board of Education Museum. This national historic site is located at the Monroe Elementary School. The school was built on the land of one of Topeka’s founding fathers, Jacob Chase. A parcel of Chase’s land was purchased by John Ritchie and his wife, Mary. The couple was abolitionists who helped aid the Underground Railroad. In 1868, three lots of Ritchie’s land were purchased by the Topeka Board of Education. Here they constructed a school for black children. This building would eventually be razed and a new school was built with the addition of 10 more lots. The elementary school took its name from the street that borders the property, where it would operate until 1975.

Learning From the Past

While there are differing viewpoints on the reasons for the Civil War, the issue of slavery played a central role. On farms and plantations throughout the southern half of the nation, enslaved people were prohibited from their rights. Of course, slavery wasn’t limited to these large agricultural estates. Households were also commonplace settings to find forced labor. Our excursions, to cities in the south, have opened our eyes to the expansive use of enslaved people in many parts of our country. Their stories speak volumes about how the mainstream population treated black people as property.

Not Equal Rights

It is estimated that less than 2% of US citizens owned slaves. While this number seems small, it represents about 630,000 people. An 1860 census showed almost 4,000,000 slaves were held in 15 states and territories. Many would automatically picture the deep south, but there were also slaves held as far north as Delaware. At the same time, nearly 400,000 free black people lived in the southern states. While many were successful business owners, they were not treated as equals. The task of freeing the enslaved people was an enormous undertaking that divided a nation.

What Now?

In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation announced freedom for African Americans in the rebel states. The country was nearing the third year of the Civil War and President Lincoln was looking to renew their passion for the fight. While this move was an important step, it did not impact slavery in the Union States. For it to be effective, the enslaved would have to escape the control of their owner. As the end of the war drew near, many were concerned that the proclamation would be seen as simply a war measure. Lincoln pressed Congress to pass the 13th Amendment, which would ban slavery in all U.S. states and territories. While the law could grant freedom, social cultures would be harder to change.

The Long Road Forward

The task of leveling the field had only begun and Black Americans were finding new barriers. Peonage, which shackled black workers with debt through oppressive loans, was outlawed in 1867, so new ways had to be found to keep blacks segregated. The establishment, in most southern states, found replacements with Jim Crow laws. These local and state laws mandated racial segregation in all public facilities, including schools. In 1896, the Supreme Court ruled that this form of racial segregation was not a violation of the Constitution. Their stipulation was that each race would have facilities that were equal in quality. This approach became known as separate but equal.

The Lawsuits

Fast-forward to the 1950s, and black people were still facing racial segregation six decades later. The NAACP was working to make changes to these laws, by showing how they were not being applied in an atmosphere of equality. Public facilities, schools, and other sites were far from equal in quality. It was time to integrate the American school system, but not without a fight. In 1951, a black Topeka family, named Brown, attempted to enroll their daughter into the elementary school that was closest to their home. The request was denied and she was forced to ride a bus to the segregated black school, which was farther away. Joining with a dozen other families, they filed a class-action lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education. The District of Kansas U.S. District Court came back with a verdict against the families.

Leveling the Field

The Brown family was not to be dismayed. Represented by the chief counsel for the NAACP, Thurgood Marshall, they pushed the case forward to the Supreme Court. The question posed to the court was whether any separated educational facilities could really be equal. The justices determined, in a 9-0 ruling, that it was not possible. Therefore, racial segregation could not be part of the education system. While it was a huge win toward equality, it did not lay out a path to resolve the issue. We had learned about some of the difficulties in implementing this new decision during a visit to Central High School, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Facing Discrimination

While many Americans cheered the landmark decision, it was not well accepted in much of the South. The integration of schools moved slowly when it moved at all. The border states did accept the change and moved toward integration, but this was not the case in the Deep South. Resistance was stiff and in many cases, no movement was made. A Massive Resistance strategy was implemented to block desegregation by any means. The removal of black educators and staff was used to limit the ability to gain insight into how far-reaching the fight had seeped into the southern education system. When other attempts failed, entire school systems were shut down to block integration.

The Fight’s Not Over

The fight for leveling the field in education was only one facet of the inequality faced by Black Americans. Even after the decisive victory of Brown v. Board, there remained a large gap between the races. Employment and housing opportunities were filled with unfair practices. As black people migrated to the north, many new housing projects were designed to be racially restrictive. Equal but separate was continuing, but hidden by the use of restrictive clauses and legal jargon. From this atmosphere, heroes arose. While the name Rosa Parks is easily recognizable, too few know that only months prior Claudette Colvin had been arrested for refusing to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama.

Looking Toward the Future

The Civil Rights Movement, while met with stiff resistance, put a chain of events into action that could not be undone. Each victory brought new freedom, while each defeat renewed the drive for change. The media provided documentation of the violence and discrimination faced by Black Americans on a daily basis. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act would outlaw discrimination on the basis of color, race, religion, or sex. The fight for true equality continues today. It is important to support the sites, like Brown vs. Board of Education, that remind us of the importance of learning from our past.

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We want to thank the Topeka Zoo for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

How You Doing?

The Topeka Zoo is located in the heart of Gage Park, which is also home to a miniature train, an aquatic park, and the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center. Being just an hour away from the Kansas City metro makes Topeka a great day trip destination. On this particular day, we arrived after a late summer thunderstorm. The overcast skies helped cool the temperature enough to make the animals a little more lively. It also seemed to bring out their inquisitive side, and we would find them checking us out as much as we were watching them.

Bear Watching

The zoo has a considerably smaller footprint than the Kansas City Zoo, which makes it much more manageable for a single visit. We started our explorations with a visit to Black Bear Woods. This exhibit is designed like a ranger’s station which offers views from an elevated walkway. A variety of North American species can be found in this part of the park.

Getting a Better View

The star of the show on that day was the black bear. After watching him sniffing around the exhibit, he made his way to a large tree. In no time he was scaling it for a bird’s eye view of the surroundings. This put us eye-to-eye with one of Crystal’s favorite animals. I still remember her reaction to seeing these in the wild, during a visit to Smoky Mountain National Park. We pondered what this bear could see from his perch, before finally moving along to more of the zoo.

Saving Sharks

It had been a while since our last visit, so we were excited to see some of the changes that have happened. One of the newer spaces is Saving Sharks. This highly-touted exhibit helps showcase the danger that the world’s shark population is facing from overfishing. The Topeka Zoo has created a mix of static displays, interactive mechanical devices, and a touch tank.

Getting a Feel for the Space

The highlight of this exhibit has to be the touch tank. Here guests can get up close and personal with some sea creatures. Our granddaughter was more than happy to demonstrate this by checking out a starfish that was making its way up the side of the tank. After departing the exhibit, we walked along the exterior which is decorated to replicate a beachfront area. The Topeka Zoo has increased its additions of public art that give guests more to see between the animal sightings.

Squawking Good Time

Continuing along the Adventure Trail, we came to the Lorikeet enclosure. It was pretty obvious, as the squawking grew louder during our approach. After passing through the twin doors, which help keep the birds inside, we found ourselves facing these colorful feathered creatures. A handler was staffed inside to tell guests about the Lorikeet’s habits. It was obvious that they were used to her presence and even took delight in her footwear. We watched this flock of squawkers for a bit and then decided to move on.

The Little Extras

Something that became apparent during our visit was the addition of public art. In past years, the Topeka Zoo was mostly decorated with visual plantings. While these were pleasing to the eye, adding these art pieces helps take it to another level. This zoo is becoming one of our favorite smaller parks to visit. When you combine its manageable size with all of the visual appeals, it’s hard to beat.

Camp Cowabunga

We continued on toward the African section of the zoo. In the past, the pathway would have led us to the Lion’s Pride exhibit. This has been changed to Camp Cowabunga, which brings in more flavor of the Dark Continent. Visitors are transported to a jungle world complete with an overhead crosswalk for the resident Patas monkeys. This section of the zoo was renovated in 2018. It is exciting to see that they continue to update the Topeka Zoo.

Patient Patas

The Topeka Zoo is including some interesting display characteristics to their exhibits, as well. As we watched the Patas monkeys enjoying a meal, we noticed the use of an old trail Jeep in the design of a glass wall. Visitors can hop up in the driver’s seat to get a view of the animals. It feels like you are going on safari in the heart of the jungle. Information panels give some additional insight into the background of the animals we are observing.

Watchful Eyes

Just a little way around the bend we spotted the African Painted Dogs. These colorful canines are social creatures that travel in packs. Unlike some predators, these animals tend to let their young feed first. Their unique coat coloring helps them blend into the grasses of the savannah, where they hunt for antelope.

Trekking into Asia

During the renovation that brought Camp Cowabunga to life, the zoo also revamped the Discovering Apes exhibit. Since the mid-1980s we have enjoyed watching the great apes lounge and play. The facelift brought a new space that houses orangutans. The exhibit has been designed to replicate the treetops of Borneo. Visitors can watch all the action during a stop at a station mimicked after Camp Leakey.

Feeding Time

Our next stop was at the Jungle Cats exhibit. We happened along as feeding time was wrapping up. This gave us a chance to watch a Sumatran Tiger gnaw on a bone. While it was very attentive to its treat, it still kept a watchful eye on those passing by.

Standing Tall

By now, we were approaching the Noon hour, and our hunger was begging for attention. We didn’t want to leave without a visit to see the giraffes. There is something calming about watching these graceful creatures in motion. As with most of our other stops, they were also engaged in eating. It looks like all of the creatures were satisfying their hunger, which reminded us to do likewise.

Going On Safari

It is safe to say that the grandkids enjoyed going on safari as much as us. It was nice to see all of the revisions and updates that have been made at the Topeka Zoo. This smaller venue is perfect for a day trip, as it can be seen in a relatively short amount of time. Of course, you can also slow your pace and just take in the entire space. There is plenty of shady spots that make a great place to observe nature in action. Whatever your pace, this zoo is sure to please.

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No Place Like Home

It’s hard to miss the nod that Brew bank gives to the state of Kansas. Playing off of the familiar themes that our home state is known for, we found plenty of references throughout the space. The majority of one wall is lined with iconic characters from The Wizard of Oz. It was a nice surprise, and so timely since we had recently visited the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas. The dining area at Brew bank is an open, airy space with a nod toward modern. We enjoyed their use of color, as it added a touch of whimsy to the overall upscale vibe.

All Things Kansas

Our choice for lunch at Brew Bank put us in close proximity to our main event. As we looked around their space, we noticed that they paid homage to Evel Knievel, which is what had brought us to Topeka that day. Of course, there were plenty of other easily recognizable images on the walls. Most were native Kansans who have risen to stardom, while there were also nods given to iconic moments that tie to our home state.

Self-Serve Banking

The star of the show, at Brew Bank, is the self-serve banking of beers that every customer can experience. The process is fairly straightforward. You can purchase a prepaid card that allows a specific amount of ounces to be dispensed at the various beer taps. Once you swipe your card, you release the golden elixir of your choice. Brew Bank keeps a couple of dozen choices on tap, so there is sure to be a few that you will want to sample. For those not in the mood for a lager-based product, they also have a full bar. On the far end of the dining room, we spotted a housemade root beer dispenser. Our server informed us that it is also a self-serve dispenser, and the taste was fantastic.

Brew Boards

The menu at Brew bank includes a nice variety of options. While it was only the two of us, we wanted to sample a couple of their most popular choices. At home, we enjoy making our own charcuterie boards. We find it a great way to mix together a bunch of our favorite finger foods. When we discovered they have several to choose from at Brew bank, we knew it was the perfect appetizer. We decided on the European Brew Board, which features a cranberry-encrusted goat cheese ball. Crackers and Crostini chips make a good base for dipping. A variety of meats, cheeses, veggies, and olives help round out the board. It was like an indoor picnic and we gobbled it up with zest.

Brew Bread

When it comes to dining, you won’t have to rely on self-serve banking. The staff was efficient and our food was delivered with a keen eye on presentation. For the main course, we decided to try the Asian Brew Bread. We have noticed that more restaurants have added flatbreads to their menus, and it makes a great finger food. This version is served up with international flair. The standard bread base is covered with a delightful Thai peanut sauce. The toppings on this dish include Mozzarella, sliced duck, pickled ginger, black sesame seeds, and green onions. A drizzle of hot chili cream adds a pop of color and a splash of flavor. This one had us coming back for more.

Innovation Intrigue

Our visit to Brew Bank ended up being a delightful diversion from the standard fare at many restaurants. Having the self-serve banking of draught beers was definitely unique, as well as their on-tap root beer. The variety of finger foods made their menu adventurous with an international flair. We look forward to visiting again on future excursions to the capital city. We expect that this home-grown eatery will have ongoing success. Isn’t this a novel business plan?

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We want to thank the Evel Knievel Museum for hosting our visit. Rest assured that all opinions are our own. 

Life in Butte

Robert Craig Knievel started life in Butte, Montana. The oldest of two boys, Bobby’s parents left their children to be raised by their paternal grandparents. It was at the early age of eight that Bobby witnessed his first daredevil show. It was shortly after World War II ended that the Joie Chitwood Thrill Show came to town. Chitwood had assembled five units of drivers that toured the nation putting on performances. The highlight of the shows was the ramp-to-ramp jumps. Later in life, Knievel would credit this show as being his inspiration into the world of daredevils.

Early Careers

Knievel dropped out of school after his sophomore year and started work in the copper mines. He would lose this job when he performed a wheelie with an earth-mover and took out the town’s main power line. In search of more thrills, Bobby participated in ski jumping and rodeo events. By the late 1950s, he would join the US Army. When he returned to Butte, he met his first wife and started a semi-pro hockey team. Always the showman, he continued to look for thrills on the motocross circuit. A fellow motocross rider taught Knievel how to stand on the seat of a bike while doing a wheelie.

Getting a Taste

With the memory of that early daredevil show still in his mind, Bobby Knievel was ready to strike out on his own. The thrill of ramp-to-ramp jumps appeared to be the perfect avenue to greatness, but he would do it on two wheels. He devised a plan for a show that would set him on his way. To accomplish it, he had to perform the roles of promoter, ticket sales, coordinator, and even master of ceremonies. After performing a few wheelies for the small crowd, he proceeded to jump a 20-foot box filled with rattlesnakes and two mountain lions.

Creating a Legend

After getting this taste of fame, he never looked back. Realizing that he needed to concentrate on the stunts, he went searching for a sponsor. Bob Blair was a west coast motorcycle distributor, who saw the potential in Bobby Knievel. He offered to provide motorcycles and backing but wanted to see a name change to the show. He suggested Evil Knievel, but Bobby was afraid that would elicit an image of the Hell’s Angels type of motorcyclist. It was decided to name the show Evel Knievel and His Motorcycle Daredevils. After suffering a serious injury, during a show in Barstow, Knievel’s daredevil show disbanded. Now he was clear to strike out on his own. His return to jumping brought increased attention. To set himself apart from other motorcycle daredevils, Knievel decided to focus on jumping over automobiles.

The Crash Seen Round the World

Always the showman, each performance seemed to have him adding one more vehicle to the growing line. While injuries would temporarily sideline him, he found that they also added to his name recognition. During a visit to Las Vegas, Evel saw the fountains at Caesars Palace and knew he had to jump them. He formed a fictitious corporation to lend credence to his appeal to the casino for permission. It was decided the jump would take place on December 31, 1967. Evel contacted Wide World of Sports to gain coverage, but they would only be interested in video footage, “if the jump were spectacular.” This jump has become the story of what can go wrong, but the footage yielded Evel more money than he had asked for originally.

Always the Showman

After recovering from the Caesars jump, Evel would walk with the aid of his signature cane. Wanting to keep his name in the forefront, Evel proposed a jump over the Grand Canyon. It would take the better part of three years before he realized the government would never allow this stunt. In the meantime, Evel had returned to jumping cars and was raking in around $25,000 per performance. He had also bumped up his schedule to the point that he was jumping nearly every week.

Danger Off of the Ramps

While most of his jumps were successful, Knievel still experienced the infrequent crash. Over time, the growing number of injuries took its toll. Not all of these happened on the back of a motorcycle. During the late 1960s, Evel had spoken out against the “bad element’ in motorcycling, which most took to mean the Hell’s Angels. A jump performed at the Cow Palace, near San Francisco, drew a number of this bike gang’s members. One of the gang threw something at Knievel’s motorcycle and Evel returned to confront them. When the gang piled on the stuntman, a large section of the crowd joined in to rescue their American hero. Several of the gang members would end up being sent to the hospital.

Touring the World

His setbacks would not prevent him from moving forward. Injuries were keeping him out of the spotlight that he eagerly desired. Always the showman, Evel Knievel would eventually rack up over twenty crashes. He would tally up a record-high 433 broken bones by the end of 1975, and he was still five years away from retirement. He suffered multiple concussions and broke 35 different bones throughout his career. It is easy to understand why he was nicknamed “The Last Gladiator”.

American Icon

Through all of his victories and defeats, Evel Knievel maintained his core values. He had a firm belief that if he gave his word, then he must live up to it. It didn’t matter if he felt that the stunt had a high probability of failure. To him, it was all about keeping his word. This was never more apparent than when he pursued his attempt to jump the Snake River Canyon. Even though he was having huge success on the jumping circuit, it was the idea of tackling a canyon that gnawed at him.

Not Your Average Bike

As part of the jump team’s preparations, they designed a steam-engine powered bike. After a test launch, it was decided the second version would be changed to a rocket-style vehicle. On September 8, 1974, Evel Knievel took to the sky, as the sky-rocket soared from its launch ramp. A drag parachute deployed prematurely, and he drifted down into the canyon. Ironically, Evel had made it to the opposite rim, before the wind pushed him back to the other side.

Traveling in Style

Making our way past the impressive timeline of Evel’s performances, we found ourselves outside of the rig used to move his equipment. We were able to peek inside and see how Knievel traveled from city to city. Always the showman, his iconic red, white, and blue were prevalent on the inside, as well as the exterior. After his failure at Snake canyon, he returned to ramp-to-ramp jumps. We remember watching many of these on Wide World of Sports. In fact, 7 of the 10 highest-rated episodes of that show were performances by Bobby Knievel.

He’s Everywhere

If you are like us, you probably remember the marketplace being flooded with Evel Knievel collectibles and merchandise. I spent many hours winding up my stunt cycle in preparation for a death-defying jump. As we examined the cases of artifacts, we were surprised at just how thoroughly this daredevil saturated the marketplace. How many of you had an Evel Knievel toy?

A Different Kind of Hero

Exploring the life of this American showman, we are sure that the stunts he saw as a child remained with him through life. Many of the things that he did reflect a child-like demeanor. Growing up in the Evel Knievel era meant backyard stunts and long conversations about his most recent exploits. Evel was adamant about the use of helmets and encouraged his fans to do likewise. He even supported the mandatory helmet law in California.

An Unfortunate End

After a run-in with the law, Evel Knievel lost the bulk of his sponsorship deals. With no revenue coming in from jumping, he soon found himself bankrupt. Even with these financial difficulties, Evel still performed public service. His last public motorcycle ride was a benefit to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. In later life, Evel suffered from a series of medical issues. Bobby Knievel passed away on November 30, 2007, at the age of 69. While it has been years since he had performed, the world still remembers this amazing showman.

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Hidden Gem

Old Prairie Town had been our main focus of the morning, and after exploring it all, we discovered an old mansion just beyond the town. We decided to check it out, and wandered around the 1870 Victorian mansion examining the architecture. We got to the far side of the house, and noticed the entrance to the botanical gardens sitting just beyond a large fountain.

Passing through the gazebo style entrance, we found ourselves in front of a gently flowing water feature. The pondless feature provides the sound of running water, which washed away the outside world, and put us in the mood to delve deeper into the gardens. The gardens were established in 1963, which is the same year Crystal was born.

Operation Exploration

A variety of paths allowed us to wander around, and see the beds from all angles. Each year, over 5000 annual flowers are planted throughout the gardens, which bring tons of color to the landscape. Our grandkids were with us this day, and kept us moving, as they drove us to continue our exploration. The oversized plantings also allows for a good game of hide-and-seek or at least keep-away from grandma.

Ward Meade Asian Gardens

We have embraced a touch of japanese garden style in our backyard, so I am always excited to find Asian gardens during our journeys. They are so peaceful, and the muted palette offers an opportunity to explore textures. The pop of color in the accents of a bridge are enough to heighten the senses. This area of Ward Meade Botanical Gardens had more water features, and the calming sounds can be enjoyed as you rest on benches under the gazebo.

This area offered a few pathway options, and our granddaughter was happy to explore them all. We spent quite a bit of time in this portion of the gardens, and finally started back toward the entrance. With a full morning of exploring under our belts, we decided it was time to head off to our lunch destination. We hope you enjoyed this break from the Winter blahs, and found the pop of color a pleasant relief. It’s a good reminder that Spring is around he corner, we just have to hang on through a couple more months. Let’s hope it passes quickly.

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When we planned our latest Topeka visit, our first stop was at Old Prairie Town. This historic site is located on the original path of the Oregon Trail. The morning drive from Kansas City was wet with thunderstorms, but by the time we arrived they had passed by.

Wet Start

After a small argument with Siri and Google Maps, we finally arrived. The parking lot of Old Prairie Town is ample, especially when it is empty. The grand-kids were with us, so after the extended drive they were ready to stretch their legs. As we entered the park, we noted the old one-room schoolhouse< which was built in 1891. It was moved from nearby Rossville, and is a favorite location for birthday parties.

Around The Square

The park is laid out like an old town square, and is easy to navigate. None of the buildings in this park were originally located here, but all are historic structures. Staff offer tours three times a day, but our timing didn’t match up for any of those. The grounds were open, so we could still walk around, and look in the windows. The train depot is from Pauline, and has tracks complete with a caboose.

Ding, Ding

We looked around the train depot, and even took a few minutes to inspect the old style train signals. It was interesting having the Old Prairie Town to ourselves, but the kids were certainly wanting to see the inside of some buildings.

More In Store

We had worked our way about three-quarters of the way around the square. Although it was still quite wet, the paved walks made it all easy walking. Now we stepped up the short staircase that led to the entrance of the Mulvane General Store. The building serves as the gift shop and information center. While the Crystal and the grand-kids looked around, I spoke with the staff member on duty.  Afterwards we crossed over to check out the Potwin Drug Store. Inside we found the marble counter of an old-fashioned soda fountain. Since our plans for lunch were not far away, we decided to pass on the sweets at this time.

Home Sweet Home

We had finished in the square, but noticed a couple more buildings just beyond, and assumed they were still part of Old Prairie Town. A short walk uncovered an 1854 Log Cabin, complete with an old blacksmith shop. The cabin is a replica, and it is used to host special dinners for guests. Those in attendance have the opportunity to see hearth cooking, and savor the bounty.

Parting View

The last building was a turn-of-a-century Barber Shop. Something we noticed on this end of the Old Prairie Town, was the impressive landscaping. While there had been some nice patches closer to the square area, here they began to become larger. They were also much more colorful. It was quite obvious that we were now just across the parking lot from the Ward-Meade Historic Site. This would be our next stop, and another article.

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Real Life Skills

The Children’s Discovery Center is a premier interactive museum. The first area the kids found was the Careers section. Here they could pretend to run a lemonade stand, which was quite popular with our granddaughter. Of course, the price she charged me for a glass of lemonade would vary from a penny to $10,000.00. After she was finished fleecing me, it was time to move on to the auto repair exhibit. Here kids can pretend to be mechanics, as they change tire, mufflers, filters, and do other maintenance tasks.

Other businesses include a doctor’s office, and a bakery. Even us older kids get drawn in to the fun, and end up being either customers or employees. In the same general area we found Moneyville, where the real life facts behind budget balancing,  the real cost of credit, and the value of saving are highlighted.

Science Time

After a while, the kids began moving into the science arena. Now at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center there are few real dividers of areas. Instead they have a mostly open floor plan, which allows a better flow through the space. The science exhibits include a plasma globe, which are just fun for everybody. Air mazes are created with tubes, and the goal is to watch how air movement pushes objects through various paths. The objects are squishy balls, which make the attraction even more fun. A tornado tube can be tested with handkerchiefs, and is a fitting display in the land of Oz.

Kansas Children’s Discovery Center on the Outside

One of the Center’s staff members invited our grandkids outside to test foot powered rocket launchers. Made with empty two-liter bottles, a good stomp is the power used to send paper rockets sky high. They played at this for a while, and then we were ready to investigate more of the outside exhibits. A nature walk led to a wooded area filled with play equipment. Further down the walk we discovered a musical park filled with unique instruments. A variety of xylophones and metal drums can be played by visitors. This area was extremely popular, and we were treated to a miniature performance.

We followed the path back toward the center, and came to the kid’s zip line. This was another favorite attraction, and we enjoyed watching the kids zipping back and forth. In between rides, we found an oversize checker/chess set. Crystal played a game of checkers against our granddaughter, but an opening on the zip-line called an early end to the match.

More to Explore

We had driven through rain in the morning, but the afternoon had been limited to just clouds. Suddenly we were once again plagued by drops. Time to move back indoors. We still had at least half of the building to discover, although our time at the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center was beginning to run low. The grandkids decided to skip the arts room, which features large glass panels and water-based paints. These two items can be combined to create individual masterpieces that are visible to all around. They decided to head to the Build area, where they found all of the tools and supplies needed to create their own type of art. A wooden block, nails, hammer, and a few odds and ends are coupled with their imaginations. The end results are keepsake masterpieces that they can take home.

Let’s Wrap This Up!

The last area we explored was the black light room called Flo-Graphix. An assortment of fluorescent letters, numbers, and geometric shaped tiles can be attached to the black fabric board. This opens up a wide range of possibilities, and it was fun watching the grandkids play, as well as Crystal. I let them all mess around, while I spoke with some of the staff members. It was clear that they all truly enjoy the opportunity to interact with the visitors, and helping spark the imaginations and education of the children. We decided that this place is definitely one of the top interactive children’s museums in the state of Kansas. Of course, if you follow our Instagram feed, then you saw a sample of the fun. (you can connect here> Our Changing Lives)We highly suggest a visit with your kids or grandkids.

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Vintage Diner

For those that followed our day on Instagram, you had the chance to see some cool photos of Bobo’s Drive-In. When we pulled up, we already knew that this place was popular with the locals. Bobo’s has been around since just after World War II, so they may know a little about burgers. It’s location on 10th Street put it right on our path between stops, so this couldn’t have worked out better.

Cozy Up

We had been warned that this place didn’t have a lot of interior seating, so we were hoping our timing would be good. When we arrived there was one booth open, which we quickly snatched up. Our server came over, and noticed our camera, so we explained what we do. It is always interesting to see the reactions from people we meet. She walked through the menu for us, and highlighted some of the most popular dishes. After a few minutes of deliberation, we were finally ready to order. Our grandson chose a Root Beer Float, which is made with their house made root beer. I picked a Cherry Shake, since I had read a lot about their ice cream.

Burger Time

When you visit a place known for their burgers, it is probably best to order a burger. That is what each of us did, but I was the only to deviate on the side choice. The Onion Rings are handmade, and I’m a fan of them just about everywhere we visit. These have that flaky crust which isn’t too thick to drown out the onion. A squirt of ketchup, and I was in dipping heaven. I did sneak a couple of fries from my grandson, and they have a nice crispness.

Here’s The Beef

Their burger patties are the type that are thin and crispy on the edges, just like all of those old diners that used to dot the landscape. Clearly this place has had lots of practice, and it seems they have just about perfected the art. It was fun watching the people that had noticed me taking pictures of the food, before we dug in. These days lots of people take photos of their food, but most do it with their cell phones. Before long, the cook came out and asked how we liked our food. He was obviously proud of his product, and that made a nice statement about their quality. With our hungers completely quenched, we said our thank you and goodbyes. Soon we were headed down 10th Street toward our next adventure. Looking back on our visit, we will need to leave room to taste the apple pie the next time we travel to Topeka.

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A quick dash out Interstate 70 will land you in Topeka (Be aware that this is a toll road). As you pass through the downtown area you will come to the SW 10th Avenue exit, which we will use as our main thoroughfare for this visit. Heading west, one of our first views will be of the state capitol building. Tours are available, but you will need to use the 8th Street entrance for these. Continuing west on 10th, you pass through a variety of business and residential areas, which are quite reminiscent of our hometown. In about 2 1/2 miles you will come upon SW Gage Blvd., which will be your signal that you are near the entrance to Gage Park and the Topeka Zoo.

This affordable, and family-friendly zoo is a great destination for a 2-hour visit. The zoo is located in Gage Park, which also features a mini-train and a carousel. This park is a great place to enjoy a picnic lunch, after a relaxing visit to the zoo. Visitors with children or grandchildren may also be interested in visiting the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, which is also located in the park. On most of our visits, we will choose to either picnic or grab a quick bite at one of the fast-food stops a little further west on SW 10th Avenue. Another 2 miles down the road you will come upon SW Wannamaker Road. This north/south road is a major artery of the western edge of Topeka and is lined with shopping and restaurants. Just about any type of cuisine will be found with a little searching, but quite often we will fall back on one of our favorite burger joints in the area, Freddy’s.

With our hunger satisfied, it’s time to partake in some historical meandering. Short drive north on Wannamaker will bring you to SW 6th Avenue. Heading west, it is about 1 mile to the parking lot for the Kansas Museum of History. This state ran facility ranks as one of our favorite museums in Kansas. Now we know that we haven’t been to every museum, and each one that we have visited has displayed its own unique features. We just find this museum to be a great collection with plenty of diversity for everyone at the party. Our visits will range in length from 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours. A lot will depend on the content of their traveling exhibit, which can sometimes be extremely engrossing.

By the time we exit it is usually late afternoon, so we quickly determine if we want to do a little shopping in town or just head back home. Either way, there are still plenty of things to see. Our hope is that you too will take a day to enjoy A Day Trip to Capitol City. Topeka has so much to offer, it just requires a little research. It looks like we will have to make another trip so that we can highlight some of the other great attractions in our state’s capital city. Do you have any places you would like us to feature in our next visit? Just tell us in the comments section below, and we will do some research. Thanks!

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