Grace Episcopal Cathedral Church: Origins of Topeka High's Building

Topeka High School (THS) has not always been located at its 800 SW 10th street address. The school has actually been housed at several different locations throughout Downtown Topeka as the school's population required more and more room. It was not until 1928 when Bishop James Wise of the Grace Episcopal Cathedral Church offered to sell some of the church's property that the THS would receive its iconic building and location.

Before Topeka High was built in 1931 at its current (800 SW 10th St) location, it was originally established in 1871 and its classes were held on the third floor of Lincoln College where the Memorial Building or G.A.R. Memorial Hall is located today (120 SW 10th Ave).

The school has moved around several locations over the years and as the school’s attendance grew, it continued to outgrow the capacities and capabilities of facilities until the decision to construct a new building for the high school was made in 1894. The school sat on the northwest corner of 8th & Harrison from 1894 to 1924 and underwent many additions to fit the still growing population as many people during this period were moving from rural communities and small towns to big cities.

In 1924, the school’s population grew so much that the students overcrowded its new facility to the point where the Topeka Fire Marshall had to close the school’s fourth floor stating that it was “the biggest firetrap in the city.” After this, recommendations were made to construct one large school that would occupy an entire city block to deal with the size of the still growing student population. 

In 1928 when Bishop James Wise of the Grace Episcopal Cathedral Church offered to sell the grounds of the recently closed Bethany College and other property owned by the church due to the economic difficulties the church, just like many Kansans during this period, suffered from. That same year, Topekans voted to approve the $1.1 million dollars needed to finance the construction of the new Topeka High School, making it the first million high school built west of the Mississippi River. In September of 1931, the school’s current 10th street location was opened. 

Just like the church, the school was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style.

Spencer, Brenda R. Topeka High School, National Register of Historic Places. April 26th, 2005. Accessed April 24th, 2023. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/05000550_text.

The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. A Brief History of the Diocese, The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. April 4th, 2004. Accessed April 24th, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20080227010326/http://www.episcopal-ks.org/history/index.html.