As
one travels from east to west, the towns tend to grow
farther apart and the congestion of the east coast megalopolis
is left behind. By the time one enters the Sunflower
State, driving along Route 40 takes on an entirely different
feel. The pace is more relaxed.
As you approach Topeka, Route 40 follows
the path of the Oregon
Trail. In many places, the two thoroughfares are
one in the same.
Driving through Topeka is about as pleasant
as it gets in any Kansas community. The tree-lined streets
and the city's hospitality are especially noteworthy.
There are three alignments of Route
40 through Topeka. The original 1926 alignment enters
on 6th Street on the east then turns right on Topeka
Avenue and then follows what is now Route 24 west. In
the 1960's, when it was clear Interstate 70 was going
to run a different course west of Topeka, Route 40 continued
west on 6th Street to the path of I-70. When I-70 was
completed, Route 40 was once again realigned, turning
left on to Deer Creek Parkway on the east and then following
I-70 through town.
And speaking of I-70, history was made
along I-70 and Route 40. In 1956, a race was on to complete
a portion of the new Interstate Highway System. While
ground was first broken for I-70 in Saint Charles, Missouri
(another Route 40 city), the first section of completed
Interstate Highway was just west of Topeka.
Topeka
is also the home of the mighty fine Hotel Jayhawk. This
grand old hotel is now on the Register of Historic Places
and has been saved from the wrecking ball at least once.
The hotel features one of the finest neon signs on all
of Route 40. If you plan to be in Topeka, be sure to
spend an evening there so you can witness for yourself
the great sign atop the hotel.
Route 40 passes through many state capitols
along its 3,220 mile run between Atlantic City and San
Francisco, including Topeka. Here is a list of the state
capitols along Route 40:
- New Castle, Delaware (colonial capitol)
- Wheeling, West Virginia (temporary
capitol when statehood was established)
- Columbus, Ohio
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Vandalia, Illinois (second capitol)
- Saint Charles, Missouri (former capitol)
- Topeka, Kansas
- Fort Riley, Kansas (former capitol)
- Denver, Colorado
- Golden, Colorado (former capitol)
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- Sacramento, California
