Historic Topeka Cemetery

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Historic Topeka Cemetery Historic Topeka Cemetery, opened in 1859, is the final resting place of more than 35,000 souls. The grounds are on the National Register of Historic Places.

An active business, Topeka Cemetery welcomes all and has burial spaces throughout its 80 acres. Historic Topeka Cemetery is an open-air museum of Topeka and Kansas history. There are veterans from every conflict since the War of 1812. A statue of a proud Union soldier honors the bravery of men who fought to preserve the Union and keep Kansas free. The men and women who built Topeka are here – Cyrus K. Holliday, founder of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway and the city's first mayor; the Stormonts and the Vails, the namesakes of Topeka's largest hospital; Arthur Capper, newspaper publisher, governor and U.S. senator, whose most lasting legacy is the foundation that helps disabled children. Topeka Cemetery remains an active business and is the most affordable cemetery in Topeka. It is owned by the people who own lots in the cemetery, and operations are overseen by a board of directors who also are lot owners.

10/09/2026

CEMETERY-SPONSORED MAINTENANCE DAY

Historic Topeka Cemetery rely heavily on the hard work and commitment of volunteers to keep our historic grounds beautiful. Because volunteers play a crucial role in revitalizing our park, we will be hosting an independent, cemetery-sponsored maintenance day.

 Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026.

 Time: 11:00AM to 1:30PM.

 Staff Support: HTC staff will be stationed at the gates to provide direction and assistance.

 Location: Enter through either of the 10 th Street entrances and proceed to the top of the hill to the Civil War Section.

 Supplies Provided: Trash bags and gloves will be provided.

 Hospitality: Water and snacks will be available to all participants between 11:30am and 1:30pm.

Thank you to everyone who continues to work with us to keep the focus where it truly belongs: on honoring our history and supporting our families.

Official Statement from Historic Topeka CemeteryWe are deeply saddened by the cancellation of the upcoming "Slash That T...
10/01/2026

Official Statement from Historic Topeka Cemetery

We are deeply saddened by the cancellation of the upcoming "Slash That Trash" event hosted by Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee Co.

As a fully functioning and active cemetery, Historic Topeka Cemetery (HTC) is bound by a sacred obligation to fulfill our standard operations. We serve an essential role for individuals, families, and our wider community—first and foremost by ensuring the bereaved are provided a dignified, respectful, and focused experience during their time of loss.

The proposal to shift activities to an adjacent area of our historic grounds to accommodate both the event and a scheduled interment ultimately did not align with the project's parameters and has left us disheartened. We do not take this outcome lightly, and we recognize the massive loss of marketing capital, volunteer coordination, and media momentum organizers have passionately built since April. Cancellation was never our goal. Our professional staff is exceptionally well-versed in hosting community events simultaneously with interments. They are familiar with balancing public engagement without ever sacrificing the integrity or sacredness of a burial service. Still, we respect the final decision of the Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee Co. board.

Information for Volunteers:
Volunteers play a crucial role in revitalizing our park, and we rely heavily on your hard work, time, and commitment to keep these historic grounds beautiful. For those who still wish to help:

• Staff Support: HTC staff will remain stationed at the gates to provide direction and assistance
on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
• Location: Enter through either of the 10th Street entrances and proceed to the top of the hill to the Civil War Section.
• Supplies Provided: Trash bags and gloves will be provided to anyone who still wants to participate in cleaning up the cemetery grounds.
• Hospitality: Water and snacks will be available to all participants between 11:30am and 1:30pm.

Thank you to everyone who continues to work with us to keep the focus where it truly belongs: on honoring our history and supporting our families.

10/01/2026

Official Statement from Historic Topeka Cemetery

We are deeply saddened by the cancellation of the upcoming "Slash That Trash" event hosted by Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee Co.

As a fully functioning and active cemetery, Historic Topeka Cemetery (HTC) is bound by a sacred obligation to fulfill our standard operations. We serve an essential role for individuals, families, and our wider community—first and foremost by ensuring the bereaved are provided a dignified, respectful, and focused experience during their time of loss.

The proposal to shift activities to an adjacent area of our historic grounds to accommodate both the event and a scheduled interment ultimately did not align with the project's parameters and has left us disheartened. We do not take this outcome lightly, and we recognize the massive loss of marketing capital, volunteer coordination, and media momentum organizers have passionately built since April. Cancellation was never our goal. Our professional staff is exceptionally well-versed in hosting community events simultaneously with interments. They are familiar with balancing public engagement without ever sacrificing the integrity or sacredness of a burial service. Still, we respect the final decision of the Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee Co. board.

Information for Volunteers:
Volunteers play a crucial role in revitalizing our park, and we rely heavily on your hard work, time, and commitment to keep these historic grounds beautiful. For those who still wish to help:

• Staff Support: HTC staff will remain stationed at the gates to provide direction and assistance
on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
• Location: Enter through either of the 10th Street entrances and proceed to the top of the hill to the Civil War Section.
• Supplies Provided: Trash bags and gloves will be provided to anyone who still wants to participate in cleaning up the cemetery grounds.
• Hospitality: Water and snacks will be available to all participants between 11:30am and 1:30pm.

Thank you to everyone who continues to work with us to keep the focus where it truly belongs: on honoring our history and supporting our families.

Keep America Beautiful - Shawnee County, KS

Friends of the Historic Topeka Cemetery

Our email account was hacked and a spam email is being sent to anyone who has contact with the cemtery. We DID NOT send ...
09/02/2026

Our email account was hacked and a spam email is being sent to anyone who has contact with the cemtery. We DID NOT send this email - please do NOT open or attempt to click on the link send. Report the email as spam to your email provider and delete it. If you have any questions, please call ouf offices. Apoligies for the inconvenience!!

On September 1, HTC staff installed our large memorial wall book in our Green Burial area yesterday. We are grateful for...
09/02/2026

On September 1, HTC staff installed our large memorial wall book in our Green Burial area yesterday. We are grateful for the help of Polk Crane for their help lifting all the pieces into place. Come and see this beautiful memorial soon!!

Anyone missing a sweet dog near Historic Topeka Cemetery? Call our office.
07/20/2026

Anyone missing a sweet dog near Historic Topeka Cemetery? Call our office.

During the I-70 California Avenue Bridge Replacement, Historic Topeka Cemetery will limit access to the California enter...
05/11/2026

During the I-70 California Avenue Bridge Replacement, Historic Topeka Cemetery will limit access to the California enterance gate daily!! You can enter the cemetery using the main gate on 10th Avenue in the event it is closed. As a reminder, the cemtery is open from sunrise until sunset. We appreciate your patience.

All lot owners are invited to attend this year our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at noon. Join us in th...
02/04/2026

All lot owners are invited to attend this year our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at noon. Join us in the cemetery office board room; call the office with any questions. See you here!!

Early December snow storm. Enjoy the beauty of the cemetery!!
12/03/2025

Early December snow storm. Enjoy the beauty of the cemetery!!

Address

1601 SE 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS
66607

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4pm
Tuesday 9am - 4pm
Wednesday 9am - 4pm
Thursday 9am - 4pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+17852334132

Website

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