Brown v Board National Historical Park
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Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Photography Guide

National Historical Park · Kansas

  • Bortle 7
  • 0 photo spots
  • Clearest: September
Photo: NPS Photo · Public domain (NPS)

Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Kansas. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.

The path to equality has been anything but smooth. It's taken courage and dedication by everyday people coming together for a common goal to carry the country toward true equality. Parents, teachers, secretaries, welders, ministers, and students drove their communities, and the country along with them, toward justice in a series of often unsteady turns leading to the Brown v. Board decision.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
0
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 7
Suburban / urban transition
Clearest month
September
42% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
Mar–Sep
Nearest town
Topeka
1.2 km (0.7 mi)

Light at Brown v. Board of Education

Live
Sunrise
7:38 AM
Sunset
6:38 PM
Golden hour AM
7:21 AM – 8:14 AM
Golden hour PM
6:02 PM – 6:55 PM
Blue hour AM
7:11 AM – 7:21 AM
Blue hour PM
6:55 PM – 7:05 PM
Full darkness
8:07 PM – 6:10 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:50 PM / 1:42 AM
Day length
11h 01m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Chicago. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Brown v. Board of Education the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 28° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January7:41 AM8:22 AM4:44 PM5:25 PM243°9h 44m
February7:15 AM7:52 AM5:23 PM6:00 PM255°10h 45m
March7:35 AM8:10 AM6:55 PM7:30 PM268°11h 55m
April6:47 AM7:23 AM7:24 PM8:00 PM284°13h 13m
May6:11 AM6:49 AM7:51 PM8:29 PM296°14h 18m
June5:57 AM6:37 AM8:11 PM8:51 PM302°14h 54m
July6:10 AM6:49 AM8:10 PM8:49 PM299°14h 39m
August6:37 AM7:14 AM7:43 PM8:19 PM289°13h 42m
September7:05 AM7:40 AM6:58 PM7:33 PM275°12h 28m
October7:33 AM8:09 AM6:09 PM6:45 PM260°11h 13m
November7:07 AM7:46 AM4:31 PM5:10 PM247°10h 03m
December7:35 AM8:17 AM4:20 PM5:02 PM240°9h 27m

Computed for the park's reference point (39.0379, -95.6761); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From Brown v. Board of Education, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
February5:30 AM – 5:40 AM0.212°
March4:39 AM – 5:59 AM1.319°
April2:35 AM – 5:05 AM2.522°
May12:37 AM – 4:17 AM3.722°
June10:50 PM – 3:50 AM5.022°
July10:43 PM – 2:33 AM3.822°
August9:59 PM – 12:29 AM2.522°
September9:04 PM – 10:24 PM1.319°
October8:15 PM – 8:25 PM0.212°
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.

Weather & best time to visit

Kansas has a temperate but continental climate, with great extremes between summer and winter temperatures but few long periods of extreme hot or cold.

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 42% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (61%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Photography permits, drones & fees

Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.

Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.

Getting there

The park is located in downtown Topeka, Kansas at 1515 SE Monroe Street.

Directions: National Park Service.

Activities

  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store

Nearby parks

Harry S Truman National Historic SiteMO
Harry S Truman National Historic Site101 km away · National Historic Site
Tallgrass Prairie National PreserveKS
Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve102 km away · National Preserve
Fort Scott National Historic SiteKS
Fort Scott National Historic Site157 km away · National Historic Site
Homestead National Historical ParkNE
Homestead National Historical Park171 km away · National Historical Park

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Brown v. Board of Education?
Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Can you fly a drone in Brown v. Board of Education?
Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Can you see the Milky Way in Brown v. Board of Education?
Yes — from March to September, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 7.
What time is sunset in Brown v. Board of Education?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:45 PM local time; see the live widget for today.