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Topeka Topeka is the capital of Kansas. It is located in the middle of the eastern half of the state. The World Famous Topeka Zoological Park is nationally noted for its Tropical Rain Forest and innovative ideas for the displaying of wildlife, this facility has something for all ages. A stop at the Gorilla Encounter is a must to view the gorillas in a glass-enclosed area where you are on the inside and the gorillas are outside. Take time to stroll the grounds and relax as you enjoy the splendors of nature and animals in a most beautiful setting. In the Historic Ward-Mead Park and Botanical Gardens, you can enjoy a Victorian lunch served from the dining room of the Ward-Meade mansion complete with costumed hostesses and linens of the period. You'll also tour the pioneer cabin, train depot, mansion and one-room schoolhouse. The gardens offer a relaxing atmosphere and unique charm to this five and one-half acre complex. In the Kansas Museum of History you can see the history of the state from Indian times to the Civil War, right up to the present day. Other attractions include a guided tour of the Capitol where you'll view the murals by John Steuart Curry which depict John Brown and the turbulent era of Kansas known as "Bleeding Kansas. Topeka is also home of the Brown V Board of Education National Historic Site which commemorates the landmark Supreme Court decision aimed at ending segregation in public schools. On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously declared that separate educational facilities are inherently unequal" and, as such, violate the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees all citizens "equal protection of the laws." The Tallgrass Prairie is lacted just south of Topeka and can be visited form here.
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