The Woodward Collection

For more than three decades, The Woodward has been one of Topeka’s most celebrated bed and breakfasts, a place to stay, gather, and celebrate. Now, for the first time, the collection is offered together: three fully furnished historic homes totaling more than 14,600 square feet, plus four additional parcels, all within one block of Historic Holliday Park.

The Woodward
Built in 1923 for Chester and Frederica Woodward and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 8,646-square-foot Gothic English Tudor estate has long been known as “Topeka’s Most Artistic Home.” It was Mr. Woodward’s final grand home after a lifetime of world travel, and he set out to make it as authentically English as possible, importing hand-hewn timbers and large stones from England for its structure and bay windows.

The heart of the home is the Chester Woodward Library. Measuring 26 by 52 feet and rising two and a half stories, it was inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s library at Abbotsford. Floor-to-ceiling stained glass fills the front and rear walls, English Brown Oak shelving lines the others, and an upper gallery wraps two sides of the room, reached by a small circular stair. A five-foot carved stone fireplace anchors the space, and Mr. Woodward’s original safe, where he kept his rarest books, remains in the back corner. In its day, his 6,000-volume collection ranked among the prominent private libraries in Kansas.

Throughout the home you’ll find an English Brown Oak front door with hand-hammered iron hardware, original Tudor rose chandeliers, gothic stone mantels, leaded glass, a richly detailed multi-level plaster ceiling, and the original oak dining table and buffets made for the dining room. Upstairs, Frederica’s sitting room once overlooked the park, and her hand-tiled fireplace, rendered in soft teal and cream, depicts covered wagons in honor of the Chisholm Trail pioneer families. Six fireplaces, all-brick construction, a slate roof, a four-car attached garage, and a treed corner lot complete the estate.

The Woodward Max
Directly across the street, this 3,502-square-foot Queen Anne-style home features a wraparound porch, brick piers, and fish-scale shingles. Fully renovated between 2006 and 2008 and operated as a guest inn since 2007, it offers four bedrooms, four baths, a great room for intimate gatherings, a loft-style suite with a copper slipper tub, and a roomy front porch made for long evenings.

The Woodward Executive
This 2,507-square-foot historic home has accommodated executive and extended stays for years. A primary suite with an original wood-burning fireplace, a full guest kitchen, and dining and living rooms with fireplaces offer flexibility for guests, family, or staff.

The Land
Four additional parcels provide opportunities for a wedding chapel, gardens, recreation, housing, or event space, subject to approvals.

A Legacy of Hospitality
Over the years, The Woodward has hosted weddings, receptions, retreats, business travelers, and community events, including KTWU’s 2020 holiday broadcast. It has been recognized by Midwest Living’s Best of the Midwest travel guide, featured on HGTV and in the Topeka Capital-Journal and Topeka Lifestyle, and has served as a filming location for CBS and NBC productions. The grounds were redesigned by Cornerstone Landscape Studio, including custom pergolas over the rear patio.

Minutes from downtown Topeka, the Kansas State Capitol, and Washburn University, The Woodward Collection offers a rare chance to continue a beloved lodging and events legacy or to create a remarkable private estate or family compound.

All three homes are offered fully furnished. Individual acquisitions may be considered upon request. Buyer to verify permitted uses with the City of Topeka.