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John and Mary Ritchie House

Topeka, Kansas played a major role in the UGRR, serving as a place of refuge and conduit of slaves who traveled along established routes between the south and freedom.  During the tumultuous Bleeding Kansas period, John and Mary Ritchie and other Topeka residents turned their homes and property into safe havens for escaping slaves tracked by owners, federal law enforcement, and the slave catchers who prowled reiver banks and towns hoping to catch the fugitives and drag them south for cash. 

Visitor Information: Currently not open to public.

Location: 1116 SE Madison Stret, Topeka, Shawnee, 66607

National Park Unit: No

Ownership: The Shawnee County Historical Society

Location Type: Site