Tours of historic Topeka mansion open with 150th anniversary celebration

TOPEKA ( KSNT ) – Shawnee County Parks and Recreation (SCP+R) will be holding a 150th anniversary celebration next month for a historic park in Topeka.

Sean Zears with the SCP+R announced in a press release on Thursday, Aug. 29 that community members are invited to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of Ward-Meade Mansion at Old Prairie Town. This will include numerous events for people to take part in on Sept. 13 and 14.

The celebration is meant to honor the history of the mansion and highlight its significance to the Topeka community. The full schedule can be found below:

• Friday, Sept. 13
  • 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. – Potwin Drug Store will be open for visitors to explore.
  • 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Presentation on Anthony A. Ward by Barbara Le Clair in collaboration with the Topeka Genealogical Society.
  • 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Fireside stories will be shared between the Ward Cabin and church, giving guests the chance to hear tales of the past.
  • 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. – First tour of the mansion will begin.
  • 9:15 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. – Second tour of the mansion starts.
• Saturday, Sept. 14
  • 10 a.m. – Mansion opens to the public for day of historical explorations and activities.
  • 11 a.m. – Presentation by Chris Meinhardt of Free-State Constitution Hall titled “Free-State Topeka.”
  • 11:30 a.m. – Book reading at the schoolhouse of “Which Hat Are You Wearing Today.”
  • 1 p.m. – Lisa Sandmeyer will present on the history of the Topeka Cemetery and the Ward family plot.
  • 1:30 p.m. – A tea party will take place on the porch of the mansion.
  • 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Fireside stories returns to Ward Cabin and the church.
  • 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. – “Ward-Meade in the Dark” begins. This is a special evening event where guests can explore the buildings at night by lantern or flashlight.

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