09/24/2026
The Topeka Landmarks Commission, in partnership with the City of Topeka’s Planning Division, has begun developing a preservation plan for Ritchie Cemetery, located at SW 27th St. and SW Boswell Ave. Many individuals interred at Ritchie Cemetery played significant roles in Topeka’s history, including formerly enslaved Exodusters who settled in Topeka before moving west, ancestors of those involved in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education (1952) case, and African American veterans of the Spanish-American War.
Ritchie Cemetery was added to the Register of Historic Kansas Places in 2022 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in January 2023. The site represents an important chapter of African American history from the late nineteenth through the twentieth century. Originally established as a rural cemetery in the 1850s, it became predominantly used for African American burials beginning in the 1880s. The cemetery was annexed by the City of Topeka in 1952 and designated an abandoned cemetery in 1962. Recent efforts by volunteer groups have helped improve conditions at the site.
Most graves within Ritchie Cemetery are unmarked, and the last known burial occurred in 1941. A formal preservation plan will help ensure consistent maintenance and long-term stewardship of the cemetery while supporting expanded African American genealogical and historical research. Once completed, the plan will serve as a guiding document for future preservation and restoration efforts.
The City and Landmarks Commission will host a public meeting for community members to learn about the preservation plan and share feedback. The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 8 at 5:30 PM in the first-floor conference room of the Holliday Building, located at 620 SE Madison.
Additional project partners include Stantec, the Kansas Historical Society, the National Park Service, and the Ritchie Cemetery Friends Group.
