A Chapter of Our History Preserved by the Lansing Historical Society
On this day, we remember Truman Capote, born September 30, 1924.
Best known for his groundbreaking work “In Cold Blood,” Capote spent time at the Kansas State Penitentiary while researching the lives of Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, the two men convicted of the Clutter Family murders. He referred to the penitentiary as “the black-and-white castle.
Capote’s visits here were pivotal – without them, In Cold Blood would not have become the landmark of American literature that it is today. Though no scenes from the book’s film adaptation were shot inside KSP, the penitentiary’s history is deeply entwined with the story.
Capote is a part of our community’s history, and the Lansing Historical Society and Museum is proud to preserve and share this chapter through our exhibits and tours of the historic Kansas State Penitentiary.
Book your tour before the season ends on November 9, 2025.