Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center
Calling animal lovers of all ages! From long-time exhibits like the Tropical Rainforest and Black Bear Woods to newer additions like Camp Cowabunga, the Kay McFarland Japanese Garden, and the state-of-the-art Giraffe & Friends habitat, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at this Topeka staple in glorious Gage Park.
Upcoming Exhibits & Events
Visit often to see the latest, as the Topeka Zoo is constantly growing and has another expansion on the horizon! Keep an eye on the zoo’s website, TopekaZoo.org, to learn about new installments and upcoming events. Don’t miss after-hours beer and wine tastings, zoo-wide trick-or-treating for Halloween, Party for the Planet on Earth Day, Zoo Lights (see page 100), and more!
Carousel & Mini Train
Built in 1908, the grand carousel in Gage Park allows visitors to step back in time and enjoy the timeless music of an original Wurlitzer band organ! After a whirl on the carousel, hop over to the park’s mini-train depot for a chance to take a joyride on the Gage Park Mini Train. Tracks for the original diesel-powered mini train were first laid in the late 1960s. After running for more than 55 years, that diesel-powered engine was retired and replaced with the new fully electric locomotive you see today.
Kansas Children’s Discovery Center
The Discovery Center is a hands-on children’s museum where families can explore, create, and learn through play! It features 15,000 square feet of indoor exhibits that delve into science, art, construction, careers, and more. Children can paint on the walls, experiment with light, run a grocery store, build a tower, and so much more! Special areas for babies and toddlers provide a play place for everyone.
Just outside, families can traverse a 4.5-acre certified Nature Explore Classroom, home to adventures like a trike trail, pirate ship, treehouse, natural stream, and educational gardens. For more, visit KansasDiscovery.org.
Don’t Miss This 2025 Exhibit
Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails! Step onto the Island of Sodor from Jan. 18 through May 11. Visitors can climb aboard a large model of Thomas the Tank Engine, race trains along a giant track, work together to sort and load cargo, and more.
Discovery Center Developing
In September 2024, the Discovery Center broke ground on a $10 million expansion that will double the size of the museum. Get ready for 11 new exhibit experiences, three new learning lab spaces, a new traveling exhibit gallery, the world’s largest climbable sunflower, and so much more! The expansion is anticipated to be complete by late 2025, and the Discovery Center will remain open throughout the expansion.
