Sharing Abilene with International Visitors
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The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau strives to share Abilene with the world - including connecting France and Germany with our wonderful community! Check out this video on the Chisholm Trail, which features Michael Hook -  Dickinson County Heritage Center Old Abilene Town Seelye Mansion Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad  and many other familiar sites. Enjoy! 
Fork in the Road: Brookville Hotel
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Thanks to WIBW's Erika Hall for featuring Abilene's Brookville Hotel in this week's edition of "Fork in the Road"! 
KANSAS PROUD: Bed and breakfast serves meals to first responders

Abilene's Victorian Inn Bed & Breakfast makes us Kansas Proud by
hosting their annual first responder appreciation meals.

The bed and breakfast served over 60 meals to Abilene first responders. The police department, fire department, Sheriff's Office, jail, EMS, highway patrol and dispatchers came to the Inn for a home-cooked meal.

"These folks put their lives on the line every day and we wanted to show our appreciation and thanks in a small way. May the Lord Bless them."
In a Facebook post on Sunday, they thanked those who helped coordinate the event.

Bob C. from Topeka Perkins and Pam and Dale S. from Kansas City were mentioned as helpers. 

Story featured on KWCH Channel 12.
Thanks for "Liking" Visit Abilene Kansas!

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The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau Facebook Page recently passed 10,000 likes. 

Top 10 Cities:
  • Abilene, KS
  • Salina, KS
  • Wichita, KS
  • Manhattan, KS
  • Topeka, KS
  • Kansas City, MO
  • Junction City, KS
  • Chicago, IL
  • Dallas, TX
  • Oklahoma City, OK
Top 10 Countries:
  • United States of America
  • France
  • Germany
  • Japan
  • United Kingdom
  • Mexico
  • Canada
  • Indonesia
  • Italy
  • India
The 12 Kansas Restaurants You Must Try In 2018
brookville 2

Abilene is home to a number of wonderful locally-owned restaurant including #5 on this list! Click here to read story.

 
Why Like Ike: The Bathurst Girls Like Ike
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The new episode of "Why Like Ike" marks Kansas Day! Find out the impact our 34th President from the 34th State has on some of our local youth. 

 
2018 Eisenhower Marathon

Get a jump start on your New Year's resolution - register for the 2018 Eisenhower Marathon, Half, 10k or 5k. 

The Eisenhower Marathon was created as a benefit to low-income families in Dickinson County, Kansas.  Annually the profits are divided among up to 24 nonprofits which also assist in running the event.  Those nonprofits then use the funds to help families according to the mission of each organization.  In helping those nonprofits, Viola Family members carry out the teachings of their grandparents, Ralph and Mattie Viola, who believed in giving to those less fortunate in need. 

Click here to learn more.

Five-Star Reviews

Seelye Mansion
Throwback Thursday

Carnegie Library

Abilene's Carnegie Library is a gem! Check out this photo of the Abilene Public Library from the early 1900s.

Photo courtesy Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum.

Abilene & Smoky Valley  Railroad

The One Train Ride in Kansas that will Transport You to the Past
train
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Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home

Sully, Arts Council of Dickinson County Winter Film Festival
Sunday, January 14 | 2:00 p.m. | Visitors Center Auditorium
Tom Hanks stars in this portrait of airline pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, which depicts his "Miracle on the Hudson" emergency landing of a disabled Airbus on the frigid waters of the Hudson River in January 2009, saving the flight's passengers and crew.

The Arts Council of Dickinson County presents their Annual Winter Film Fest, showing at the Eisenhower Presidential Library Visitor Center beginning Sunday, January 14th, and will run through February 18th. Movies will start at 2:00 p.m. This series is sponsored by the Arts Council of Dickinson County in partnership with the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. In conjunction with the free movie series, the Arts Council is accepting canned goods to donate to the Abilene Area Food Center. Admission to all movies is free and open to the public. Popcorn will be provided at no charge.  Drinks may be purchased at the Visitor Center Gift Shop.  

2016 | PG-13 | 1hr 36min
 
Kubo and the Two Strings, Arts Council of Dickinson County Winter Film Festival
Sunday, January 21 | 2:00 p.m. | Visitors Center Auditorium

Kubo lives a quiet, normal life in a small shoreside village until a spirit from the past turns his life upside down by re-igniting an age-old vendetta. Kubo must locate a magical suit of armor once worn by his late father, a legendary Samurai warrior, in order to defeat this vengeful spirit. This stop-motion film features the voices of Charlize Theron, Ralph Fiennes and Matthew McConaughey.

2016 | PG | 1 hr 41 min

Chisholm Trail and the Cowtown that Raised a President
Exhibit in the Museum Tem porary Gallery u ntil May 2018

Celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail, which brought nearly two million cattle from Texas to the railhead in Abilene, Kansas, between 1867 and 1871. See rare artifacts and historic photographs. Learn about the square meal, the real McCoy, origins of the cowboy boot, and "the wickedest town in the West." Discover stories behind the legends of T.C. McInerney, Bear River Smith, and Wild Bill Hickok among others. Find out why Dwight Eisenhower developed a love for all things western in the Cowtown that raised a President!

Eisenhower and the Great War
Exhibit in the Upstairs Library Gallery until May 2018

War erupted in Europe in 1914 and soon involved nations around the globe. The Great War, as it became known, shocked the world with its massive scope and the industrial-like slaughter created by advances in military technology. The United States reluctantly joined the conflict in 1917 and began to build a large professional army from the ground up. One of the young officers who helped in this endeavor was a lieutenant by the name of Dwight Eisenhower. Eisenhower showed remarkable talent for organization and leadership during the years of American involvement in the war. Tasked with training thousands of inexperienced troops in the new and untested art of armored warfare, Eisenhower quickly built a strong and motivated group of soldiers while overcoming severe obstacles and setbacks. This exhibit tells the story of the Great War and its influence on Eisenhower's leadership abilities. World War I, as it would become known later in the century, proved critical to the making of this American Icon.

Great Plains Theatre

Great Plains Theatre Cinema

   Great Plains Theatre Stage Right
 



Season Sponsor: Astra Bank
Show Sponsor: Jeffcoat Foundation

1776: The Musical

March 1-4, 2017
 
The theme this season at GPT Academy is history, and what better way to learn American History than with a musical!  This is a large cast, 27 characters, mostly male.  So, in keeping with the tradition that started in a Kansas City production, we are using females to play members of the 2nd Continental Congress when needed. Imagine, females in Congress!  
 
This is a different kind of musical in that there is a little dancing and many wonderful songs, but there is considerable dialogue, much of it  taken directly from letters of the time, which provides a great opportunity for actors who don't usually do musicals to portray our colorful historic founding fathers; Ben Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, not to mention Abigail Adams and Martha Jefferson.


Greyhound Hall of Fame  Museum

What's on your bucket list? Visit Gary & Ginger at the  Greyhound Hall of Fame Museum  in Abilene. The Greyhound Hall of Fame Museum is open daily from 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.

 
Seelye Mansion

Tourism Champion
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Abilene's Terry Tietjens is not only known for developing tourism attractions such as the  Seelye Mansion , but also the  Sycamore Springs Resort  in Sabetha. Learn about Terry's former project on this edition of  KTWU's Sunflower Journeys

 
Stay in Abilene

Abilene Lodging Establishments

Abilene  is home to more than 200 rooms. Whether you're in town to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum, enjoy a show at the Great Plains Theatre, attend the Central Kansas Free Fair, meet with greyhound industry leaders or take a ride on the  Abilene  & Smoky Valley Railroad, we invite you to extend your visit, spend the night and enjoy all  Abilene  has to offer.
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