Constitution Hall -Topeka

<br> <center><b>Free State Capitol of Kansas Territory, 1855-1861<br> Used as the Kansas Capitol, 1864-1869</b><br><br> Constitution Hall is Topeka's oldest building. In October 1855, Free Staters held Topeka's first convention here, to organize a free state government and ratify the Topeka Constitution. This was the first of the four constitutions leading to Kansas statehood.<br><br> The Topeka Constitution was far reaching for its time, proclaiming <i>There shall be no slavery in this state</i>. The Topeka Legislature stood against the proslavery Territorial "bogus" government in Lecompton, 17 miles northeast of Topeka. Proslavery forces terrorized the Free State citizens and cut off their supplies from Kansas City.<br><br> Constitution Hall-Topeka played a nationally significant role in Bleeding Kansas.<br><br> <b>The Mural</b><br> Painted in the summer of 2006 by community volunteers, this commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Dispersion of the Free State legislature by Col. Edwin V. Summer and federal troops, on the Fourth of July in 1856. It depicts the front of Constitution Hall from the 1856 lithograph, shown above. Colonel Summer, standing third from the left, is based on a photograph of him at about that time.<br><br> <b>The Constitution Hall Restoration Project</b><br> The building was purchased in 1998 by Friends of the Free State Capitol, an all-volunteer, not-for-profit organization, with funds appropriated by the Kansas Legislature.<br><br> Preliminary architectural analysis was been [sic] performed by the Historic Resources Committee, Kansas Chapter, American Institute Of Architects. White House historian and Kansas Capitol restoration consultant William Seale, PhD, under a National Park Service grant award, prepared historical study and restoration recommendations.<br><br> Building stabilization has been funded by generous Topekans and Kansans.<br><br> In 2001, the National Park Service officially recognized the building by permanent listing in the National Underground Network to Freedom Program.<br><br> The National Park Service, the City of Topeka, the Kansas Historic Preservation Office, and Downtown Topeka, Inc. have awarded preservation grants.<br><br> The City of Topeka officially recognized Constitution Hall-Topeka as a Topeka Landmark in 2006. </center>