The best free attraction in the Kansas State Capital is the Kansas State Capitol Building in Topeka, Kansas. The Capitol is open to visitors from 8AM - 5PM, Monday through Friday and 8AM - 1PM on Saturday, with free tours conducted by the State Historical Society 4 - 6 times during the day on weekdays. The hours posted above are subject to change, so be sure to call (785) 296-3966 to confirm times in advance. The State Capital Building is closed Sundays and Kansas state holidays.

Construction of the Kansas State Capitol Building began in 1866. Although the Capitol Building was in use by the legislature starting in 1869, it took 37 years and $3,200,000 to complete. The Capitol is 399 feet by 386 feet, and 304 feet to the top of the cupola. The stone is brown sandstone from the bluffs along Deer Creek, near Vinewood, in Shawnee County, Kansas.

Major renovation of the Capitol Building began in 2002 and cost $330,000,000. That work was completed in early 2014 and the popular free tours to the top of the capitol dome (taking 45 minutes and climbing 296 steps from the 5th floor of the building to view both the interior and the surrounding community) have been restarted.

The easiest way to visit the Capitol Building is to park in the free visitor parking in the underground garage at the north side of the building. An elevator will take you up to the north security entrance and after passing through a scanner, you are right next to the gift shop and the Capitol Visitors Center where you can get information and where the general tours depart.