The best arts & culture spots in Shawnee County

Slip back to the 1800s this week at Old Prairie Town at Ward-Meade Historic Site and Botanical Garden, exploring the Victor Schoolhouse, Everest Church, the Mulvane General Store, and a marble-counter soda at Potwin Drug Store.

From the Topeka newsletter, October 6, 2026

Housed in a beautifully restored 1927 Union Pacific station, Great Overland Station is Topeka’s train museum packed with artifacts, photos, and hands-on displays that make the golden age of rail feel close enough to hear the whistle. Keep an eye for talks, family activities, and community events this week.

From the Topeka newsletter, October 9, 2026

Combat Air Museum serves up rows of military aircraft and stories from the sky that make local history feel loud and real. Bring your curiosity, linger by the warbirds, and keep an eye out for the Car Show on the Tarmac if you’re craving chrome with your contrails.

From the Topeka newsletter, October 27, 2026

Mulvane Art Museum keeps Topeka’s creativity humming with current exhibitions to chew on, a hands-on Art Lab where you can actually make stuff, and workshops that turn curiosity into practice. Pop in this week when you need a quick reset that feels productive and a little bit playful.

From the Topeka newsletter, October 13, 2026

Feeling blah about your living room? Warehouse 414 is where Topekans score vintage furniture with personality, statement lighting, and art that sparks conversation. Stop in this week to browse curated mid-century and eclectic finds that hold up and finally anchor that room you’ve been meaning to finish.

From the Topeka newsletter, October 3, 2026

Swing through NOTO Arts District this week for fine art, unique shops, mouth-watering bites, and over 40 outdoor murals and sculptures. Scope the calendar for the Summer Concert Series and performance art at Redbud Park, then wander galleries you somehow haven’t popped into yet.

From the Topeka newsletter, October 20, 2026

At the Kansas Museum of History, new galleries ask What is Kansas, What was Kansas, and Why Kansas, pairing a suspended 1946 Kansas-made Funk airplane and an 1880 AT&SF steam locomotive with interactive stories like Bleeding Kansas, Making Kansas, Connecting Kansas, and Changing Kansas.

From the Topeka newsletter, October 16, 2026