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The Historic Ritchie House

Home of John and Mary Jane Ritchie

Kansas Territorial Settlers of Topeka and a stop on the Underground Railroad

Cox Communications

Heritage Education Center

Shawnee County Historical Society

1116 and 1118 SE Madison Street

Topeka, Kansas 66601

785-234-6097

Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 to 1pm However the two sites are closed for the Holidays until Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.

Adults $2.00 Students $.50

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.

Click on picture above to learn more about the House built in 1856

In the coming weeks, the Shawnee County Historical Society will present these various programs.
2025 Programs
January 26th    Lofts in Topeka    3pm    Mark Burenheide at 1118 SE Madison
February 2nd    Topeka Radio Stations    3pm    Marshall Barber at 1118 SE Madison
February 16th    Old Movie Theaters 3pm    Bill Shaffer at 1118 SE Madison
March 2nd Nick Chiles 3pm    Sonja Czarnecki at 1118 SE Madison
March 16th Civic Theater 3pm    Shannon Reilly at 1118 SE Madison
March ??    Show and Tell    3pm    1118 SE Madison
March ??    Rossville Baseball Stadium 3pm    Undecided where

All programs are free to Historical Society members however non members will be asked to donate $5 to attend.

Anderson Co. Jr. Sr. High School Feb. 9-16 (11).jpg

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.

The Historic Ritchie House

and Cox Communications Heritage Education Center

Shawnee County Historical Society

1116 and 1118 SE Madison Ave

P.O. Box 2201 Topeka, Kansas 66601

785 234-6097

Call us at (785)-234-6097 or write. We're here to help!

You may use this contact page to get in touch with us for anything we might be able to help you with.

Also...

For Educators:

To schedule a school field trip, please use this convenient page to request a date for your students to visit. Your request comes directly to our inbox when you click the send button.

We will send a reply e-mail to confirm the details of your request and to send our visitation guidelines and a contract for you to sign and return.

If you would like to read more about our field trips, please go to the Education page of this website.

Hope to see you soon!