The Ritchie House

05/06/2026

WIBW recently visited the Ritchie House.

https://www.wibw.com/2026/05/06/ritchie-house-topekas-underground-railroad-safe-house-stands-testament-freedom/

TOPEKA, Kan. — The oldest house still standing in Topeka remains because of the foundation it was built upon — a family committed to helping enslaved men,

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

Visit the oldest house in Topeka At 1116 SE Madison and find out how Topeka got its start. Open from 9 to 1pm Tuesday thru Thursday. Learn about the Bleeding Kansas era.

04/14/2026

Join us this coming Sunday at 3pm April 19th for an interesting presentation about the old county poor farm located at 300 NE 43rd where the Shawnee County North Community center is now located. Learn the history of the Shawnee County Poor Farm as Shawnee County Society trustee Devin Cooper tells you about its past. Nestled against the banks of Indian Creek, Shawnee North Park was originally established in 1871 as the Shawnee County Poor Farm. Over its 150-year history it has housed hundreds of people and was an important institution for Topekans and individuals living in Shawnee County. This presentation explores the park’s history, beginning with its roots in the Civil War and until its doors closed in 1942. Explore a bygone institution with connections to other important Topeka hospitals and parks. Donations of $5 are encouraged.

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03/03/2026

Join us March 8th at 3pm at 1118 SE Madison when we learn about a new mural that will be painted on the Kansas Avenue Bridge. Noted Artist Zandra Sneed-Dawkins will present a talk on the new mural which will be completed by July 1st and will tell the story of North Topeka through a permanent mural on the Kansas Avenue Memorial Bridge. This mural is supported by a $30,000 dollar grant from the National Endowment for the arts. Sneed-Dawkins’ presentation will review key historical dates featured in the mural, how the artists will work, and other details behind the project. Join us as the Shawnee County Historical Society along with the NOTO Arts District jointly present the program at 1118 SE Madison at 3pm Sunday March 8th. Society members may attend free of charge however others will be encouraged to donate $5 for the program. This program will also be presented on Facebook live on the Shawnee County Historical Society’s page. We hope to see you at the Society headquarters next Sunday.

02/13/2026

Join us February 22nd at 3pm at 1118 SE Madison when Brad Davenport of Tecumseh will be talking about some of the oldest items in Shawnee County. We are talking about rocks that are over 2 billion years old. Davenport says the rocks are known as Lake Superior agate and were brought to Kansas during the glacial age when the glaciers were formed in Kansas ten thousand years ago. Davenport is an expert on rocks and has been collecting them for years. He says some of these special rocks from up north can be found near 29th and Gage. This is a unique program and society members can attend for free however others will be encouraged to donate $5 for this informative talk. If you can't make it to the society headquarters on Sunday the 22nd we will broadcast this on Facebook Live starting at 3pm. We hope you can join us on the 22nd.

01/27/2026

Join Us this coming Sunday February 1st at 3pm at 1118 SE Madison as the Shawnee County Historical Society presents Steve Berndsen who will discuss the Tuberculous clinics of Shawnee County. A photograph of the Hillcrest Tuberculosis Sanatorium located at 1800 East 21st Street is pictured below and may stir some memories of the area. Overall, TB cases declined sharply in the 20's as improved hygiene and education reduced the number of cases throughout the United States. In November 1944, after an agreement between the city of Topeka, the Topeka Tuberculosis Association, and the Kansas State Board of Social Welfare, Hillcrest became a division of the Kansas Sanatorium for Tuberculosis at Norton, Kansas. Today the location for the Hillcrest Community Center is a swimming pool on 21st. Join us for a good discussion of what it was like in the late 40’s. Let me know if you want to attend by zoom and I will send you a link. I also hope to have a Facebook Live camera up and running and you can join us on the Shawnee County Historical page.

01/15/2026

Students from Williams Middle school toured the Ritchie house this morning. For about an hour, the students learned about the oldest house in Topeka and the site of an Underground Railroad stop. In addition, they got to see the paths of runaway slaves coming from Highland Park on their way to Freedom. A side benefit was the opportunity to see a homeless camp, which is located just to the east of the Ritchie House. There must have been about five people who huddled around a camp fire trying to leep warm. You too can visit the Ritchie House. We're here 9 to 1 Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday.

12/10/2025

Methodists from the Great Plains Conference in Topeka came by the Ritchie house Wednesday to learn more about the bleeding Kansas era in Topeka. Bishop David Wilson and others learned about the history of Topeka and The Undergroubd Railroad. The Ritchie house was a stop in the Railroad in Topeka back in the late 1860s providing refuge for those vying for freedom. You too can find out about our state and city. Just stop by from nine to 1pm Tuesday thru Thursday and you can learn about Topeka history and the quest for freedom.

12/03/2025

7th Graders from Rock Creek school district braved the cold, December 3 and learned about the Underground Railroad at the Ritchie House. School groups constantly make the effort to find out about Ritchie’s efforts in the 1850s to help runaway slaves. Find out what they did. Tours are available From 9 To 1 Tuesday thru Thursday at 1116 SE Madison. Won’t you join us.