The Historic Ritchie House
and Cox Communications
Heritage Education Center
Shawnee County Historical Society
1116 and 1118 SE Madison Street
Topeka, Kansas 66601
785-234-6097
Public Tour Times
Tuesday through Thursday 9am to 1pm Open for tours
Suggested Admission Fee
$.50 Students
$2.00 Adults
Special Group Tours Available
785-234-6097
Click Here for the Shawnee County Historical Society
Learn about the Bleeding Kansas era of the 1850's. And see an Underground Railroad Site and learn about the quest for Freedom before the Civil War.
Home of John and Mary Jane Ritchie
Kansas Territorial Settlers of Topeka
Interesting Fact:
161 years ago this past week...on April 20th, Topeka Abolitionist John Ritchie was again a hunted man. A U.S. Deputy Marshal Leonard Arms came to his Topeka home from Lenexa to arrest Ritchie under a warrant issued in 1856. In the struggle that ensued in the Ritchie house at 1116 SE Madison, Ritchie shot and killed the marshal. A trial occurred the next day in which Ritchie was quickly acquitted of the crime of murder. A rally was later held in Ritchie's honor in Lawrence. Deputy Marshal Arms is honored on the statehouse grounds as a Law Enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty. Just one of the stories you can hear by touring the Ritchie House at 1118 SE Madison in Topeka. Tours are given Tuesday thru Thursday from 9 to 1pm.
As part of the celebration of the Brown vs Board of Education Case, Panelists will review the Brown decision at 6:00PM CST May 17th, 2021. The discussion will center on A look at Dred Scott v. Sandford and Plessy v. Ferguson.
It is part of the work of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund which is continuing to broaden our understanding of Brown v. Board of Education by commemorating the 67th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education.
We are partnering with The Brown Foundation, The Shawnee County Historical Society, and the Washburn University Law School to look at cases that occurred before Brown v. Board of Education.
Join us for a discussion with the descendants from Dred Scott v. Sandford and Plessy v. Ferguson.
Speakers: • Lynne Jackson, President, Dred Scott Heritage Foundation • Keith Plessy, President, The Plessy and Ferguson Foundation • Phoebe Ferguson, Executive Director, The Plessy and Ferguson Foundation • Moderator: Janet Thompson Jackson, Professor of Law, Washburn University School of Law •
Moderator: Leslie Canaan, Senior Field Officer, National Trust for Historic Preservation To Register:
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About Us
Shawnee County Historical Society
The Shawnee County Historical Society formed in 1946. It's founders recognized the need to preserve the facts and legends of the early days of our county up to more recent times.
On May 30, 1854, President Franklin Pierce signed the Nebraska Bill (Kansas-Nebraska Act) into law, creating two new territories for western expansion; Kansas and Nebraska.
About Us
