Success Vision Express

While it may be true that you can always read about history, it is a very rare occasion when you can actually step back into it. That unique opportunity is offered to visitors of the Old Prairie Town at Ward Meade Historic Site. Over the course of this history-laden one-half acre area, you can see, hear, and touch various examples of living history. Some of the many highlights and attractions include a fully restored 1870 Victorian mansion, a wood cabin, a train depot, a one-room schoolhouse, a stone barn, a church and a general store. Don't forget to check out the gift shop and the nearby botanical garden.

Rewind the years and travel back to a time when Topeka was a place where iron horses, pioneers, Kaw Indians and Buffalo Bill were all part of life in what was then a rapidly developing area. One of the prime factors in the growth of Topeka is the famed Underground Railroad, and when you visit the Great Overland Station, you can learn about its history and influence, as well as all of the other aspects of life during that economically and historically progressive period of time. Topeka's rich heritage awaits you at Great Overland Station.

The Ward-Meade Park in Topeka allows you to literally step back in time to experience what life was like during a time when settlers were making their way on the Oregon Trail. Luckily, some stayed in this part of the world, and you can take a self-guided tour of some of the fascinating places that used to inhabit the area. Marvel at the detail of a general store, a Southern-style mansion, botanical gardens and log cabins that all help create a true scenario of what Topeka looked like back in the early part of the 20th century.