"STORIES FROM THE KANSAS STATE CAPITOL: DO YOU SAY CAPITOL OR STATEHOUSE?"
A Moment in Time
Kansas Historical Society
April 2001, Part 8 of 10
By Eldon Harding
A monthly series from the Kansas Historical Society
Some call it the Kansas Statehouse while other say the Kansas State Capitol. There is a way to properly distinguish
between the two. Some states may still have a statehouse. When the Kansas State Capitol was built,
it was a statehouse but one could properly refer to it by either name. If we follow the definition
which appeared in the July/August, 2000 publication of State Legislatures, "Originally, capitol
buildings were literally 'state' houses. All components of government were there, including
administrative agencies." As they became more crowded, with the growth of government, some of
the agencies, usually the judicial branch was among the first, moved to buildings outside of the
statehouse. Technically, the building then becomes the Capitol and not the statehouse. Such is the
case with the Kansas State Capitol.
To learn more stories about the Kansas State Capitol, join a free guided tour at 9:00 a.m., 10:00
a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. The Capitol is located at 300
W. Tenth Topeka KS 66612; 785-296-3966; www.kshs.org. To reach the Capitol in downtown Topeka take exit 362B I-70 and follow the signs. During the legislative session, January through May, parking is limited. The Kansas Historical Society does not discriminate on
the basis of disability in admission to, access to, or operation
of its programs. The Society requests prior notification to accommodate
individuals with special needs or disabilities.
© Kansas Historical Society 2001
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