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Make plans for a packed itinerary of Kansas adventures in 2019, highlighted by a trek to the unearthly badlands of Little Jerusalem state park. Fan out across the state to the updated Eisenhower Presidential Museum in Abilene, Wichita's new shipping-container mall, sesquicentennial shindigs, and other road-trip-worthy celebrations and attractions.
Much-anticipated
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park near Oakley is expected to open to the public by mid-year. The mile-long valley of 100-foot-tall spires and cliffs encompasses the state's largest Niobrara Chalk formations, which previously had no public access. Trails cross the historic territory that once saw the likes of "Wild Bill" Hickok and "Buffalo Bill" Cody pass through, and today is home to wildlife and plants rarely found anywhere else in the world.
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Where did the Seelye's get their inspiration for their Georgian Revival home? Look no further than World's Fair in St. Louis.
From the National Register of Historic Places, "The styling of the Seelye residence was the result of designs Alfred and his wife Jennie had seen at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair...minor changes were made by the Topeka architectural firm of Holland and Squires. The building was constructed by Jacob L. Krueger, an Abilene contractor responsible for many of the community's early Twentieth Century residences, commercial and public structures, including the Old Belle Springs Creamery and Produce Building and the Abilene Carnegie Library."
This week, we were visited by a traveler from Connecticut that helped us connect to the exact building that served as inspiration for the Seelye Mansion. The architecture of the original Connecticut Building built for the 1904 World's Fair is the design that James C. Holland used to create the Seelye Mansion. The Connecticut Building was moved to LaFayette, Indiana, restructured with brick, and is now home to the Haan Museum of Indiana Art.
Thanks to the Seelye Mansion for sharing! Follow them on Facebook for more interesting updates about this iconic attraction!
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Abilene's lodging industry partners support more than tourists, they are also an important part of what makes Abilene a great place to live. Thanks to Abilene's Victorian Inn Bed & Breakfast for supporting our community's first responders!
"Happy First Responder Appreciation Day! We had a great success yesterday and today with a yummy menu for lunch and dinner. Thank you to all of our generous helpers from Kansas City, Topeka and Abilene. Thank you First Responders for keeping us safe. You bless us abundantly."
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Abilene Flag Project
Thank you to everyone for supporting this special project!
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Flag sponsors as of 1/15/2019
24/7 Travel Stores
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Abilene Auto Parts Inc.
Abilene Haircuts, Russell & Wanda Pitney
Abilene Machine Inc.
Abilene Printing & Office Products Co., Inc.
Abilene Rent-All & Sales
American Family Insurance
AuBurn Pharmacy
Bert & Wetta Sales Inc
Bill & Nanc Scholl
Black & Company Realtors
Bob Burns- State Farm Insurance Agent
Brian's Plumbing Inc
Brown Memorial Foundation
Bruce & Denise Youtsey
Casey & Jane Foltz
Central Kansas Free Fair
Chuck & Ann Brussow
Copeland Insurance
Dan & Dana Eye
Dan & Marilyn Holt
Danner Funeral Home
Dennis & Teresa Weishaar
Don's Tire & Supply Inc
Dickinson County Heritage Center
Eisenhower Foundation
Emilies Bauernhof
Everett's Inc.
Faith Lutheran Church
First Bank Kansas
George & Carol McCormic
Geske Interiors
Great Plains Federal Credit Union
Greyhound Hall of Fame
Harold & Sue Courtois
Hettenbach & Langdon CPAs
Holm Automotive Center
Jessica Weissenbach
Jim & Pattie Mayhew
John & April Barker
John & Judy Anguiano
Kay Quinn
Kenton & Stephanie Clark
KJIL - Mark Hinca
Kohler Family (Jason & Kim)
Dr. Lawrence Cooper
Larry & Tina Rankin
Linder Electric Inc.
M & M Tire & Auto
M & R Grill
Marcus Rothchild
Martin Becker Carlson Funeral
Martin Schneider in Memory of Jack Schneider
Memorial Health System
Mildred Hanson
OCCK, Inc.
Patterson Healthcare Pharmacy
Peterson Monuments & Designs, Inc.
Pinnacle Bank
Pottberg, Gassman & Hoffman
Rawhide Portable Corral
RHV / Ken & Ann Manning
Rick & Marcia Williamson
Rivendell Bookstore/Picture This Plus
Rob & Dawn Hammatt
Robson Oil Co Inc
Rod & Tracey Kuecker
Russell Stover Chocolates
Smart Insurance
Solomon State Bank
Sonic Drive In
Stan Foltz
Steve & Glenda Schmidt in memory of Lowell K. Schmidt, WWII Veteran
The Teck Shop
Tim & Kathy Horan
Tom & Janet Whitehair
Twila Jackson
UMB Bank
Wendell & Nancy Gugler
West's Plaza Country Mart
William & Phyllis Peterson
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Throwback Thursday
From Henry B. Jameson's Heroes by the Dozen
Abilene - Cattle Days to President Ike
The All-American City of 1960
The slogan "Biggest Little City" in the midwest is a most appropriate one for modern Abilene, which strikes strangers as being a considerably larger city than the 7,200 population counted by the assessors. Its tree-lined streets, fine homes, skyline, consolidated business district without the old fashioned town square, and many unusual attraction reflect the metropolitan atmosphere....
... What had started out as a small county fair in Bell's pasture out south of the city dump has grown into the third largest fair in Kansas. It is held for a week each Austin in conjunction with the Wild Bill Hicokok rodeo which attract the top cowboy performers from all over the country. The Chamber of Commerce sponsors a premium livestock sale for all 4-H club top winners at which the boys and girls are guaranteed at least $3.00 per hundreds pounds premium over marketing price for their prize animals. The idea is to encourage the raising of better livestock in the county.
The Abilene Coursing Club was holding greyhound races as far back as 1901 but it was many years later that Abilene became established as the greyhound capital of the world through location here for the National Coursing Association headquarters offices and park. The NCA keeps the files and breeding records for dogs of all ages here each spring and fall. Each meet lasts eight days and brings greyhounds, owners and handlers from all parts of the country to Abilene for periods of three to four weeks every year.
The National Coursing Association has been of great economic benefit to Abilene in many ways, not the least of whwich has been the development of a dozen or more greyhound breeding and training farms around the city in recent years, in addition to another dozen or more smaller kennels. SOme of them are quite elaborate on the border of the Kentucky horse farms, boasting theor own butchering plants for food and lighted tracks for training. Pat McMahon, executive secretary of the National Coursing Association, estimates the greyhound business amounts to approximately $500,000 a year to Abilene. Dog food is purchased in carload lots to the tune of about $150,000 a year.
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5 Star Reviews - Amanda's Bakery & Bistro
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2019 Calendar of Events
2019 marks 150 years since the City of Abilene's official incorporation. Community events make Abilene not only a great place to live, but also a great place to visit. Make plans now to visit Abilene, Kansas and enjoy these great events!
Take the Abilene Event Challenge - how many can you attend? Snap a photo and tag us in your Facebook posts @VisitAbilene.
EVENT
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WHEN
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LOCATION
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LEARN MORE
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Kansas Day Celebration
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Saturday, January 26 @ 2-5 pm
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Dickinson County Heritage Center
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Website |
Plain Great Players Cabaret |
Saturday, January 26 @ 6 pm |
Great Plains Theatre |
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Moulin Rouge: A Party In Paris
GPT FUN-Raiser kicks off our 25th Anniversary Season in style!
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Saturday, February 23 @ 6 pm |
Great Plains Theatre |
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Les Misérables performed by PGP
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Thursday, February 28 @ 7 pm
Friday, March 1 @7 pm
Saturday, March 2 @7 pm
Sunday, March 3 @ 2 pm
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Great Plains Theatre
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30th Annual Ida Stover-Eisenhower Memorial Quilt Show |
March 11-24 |
Dickinson County Heritage Center |
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KS Gift & Craft Show |
Sunday, March 31 @ 1pm |
Sterl Hall |
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Eisenhower Marathon
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Saturday, April 6 @ 7 am
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St. Andrews Parish Hall
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Easter Bunny Train |
Saturday, April 13 @ 1 pm |
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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National Greyhound Association Spring Nationals |
April 15-20 |
National Greyhound Association |
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Reitz & Rust Vintage Market
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Saturday, April 27 @ 10 am
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Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
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Arts & Ales |
Saturday, April 27 |
Downtown Abilene |
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Abilene Aviation Association Fly-In |
Saturday, May 4 |
Abilene Municipal Airport |
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National Travel & Tourism Week |
May 5-11 |
Abilene |
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Antique Fest |
Saturday, May 11 |
Downtown Abilene |
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Mother's Day Tea |
Saturday, May 11 |
Eisenhower Presidential Library |
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Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides |
Saturday, May 25 @ 10 am & 2 pm Sunday, May 26 @ 2 p.m. Monday, May 27 @ 10 am & 2 pm |
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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Symphony at Sunset
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Saturday, June 1
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Eisenhower Presidential Library grounds
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75th anniversary of D-Day |
Thursday, June 6 |
Eisenhower Presidential Museum |
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Pirates of Penzance |
June 14-23 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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Heart of America Greyhound Gathering |
June 20-23 |
Sterl Hall |
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Disaster! |
July 12-21 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration |
July 4 |
Eisenhower Park |
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Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
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Thursday, July 4 @10 am & 2 pm Friday, July 5 @ 10 am & 2 pm Saturday, July 6 @10 am & 2 pm |
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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Wild Bill Hickok PRCA Rodeo
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Wednesday, July 31 - Saturday, August 3
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Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
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Central Kansas Free Fair
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Wednesday, July 31 - Monday, August 5
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Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
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August 2-18 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo |
August 2-3 |
Shockey & Landes Building |
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Vintage Base Ball Game |
August 3 |
Eisenhower Presidential Library grounds |
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Chisholm Trail Days |
Saturday, August 31 - Sunday, September 1 |
Old Abilene Town |
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Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
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Saturday, August 31 @ 10 am & 2 pm Sunday, September 1 @ 2 pm Monday, September 2 @ 10 am & 2 pm |
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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Heritage Days |
Saturday, October 5 |
Dickinson County Heritage Center |
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Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
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Saturday, October 5 @ 10 am - 3 pm (hourly departures)
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Dickinson County Heritage Center |
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Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
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Sunday, October 6 @ 2 pm (last steam run of the year)
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Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad |
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Empires Fall |
October 18-27 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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Tombstone Talks |
Saturday, October 26 |
Abilene Cemetery |
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Makin' Magic - 25 Years of Fun |
November 29 - December 15 |
Great Plains Theatre |
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Abilene's Victorian Inn Christmas Afternoon Tea |
Saturday, December 7 |
Abilene's Victorian Inn |
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Heritage Homes Association's Homes for the Holidays Tour |
Saturday, December 7 Sunday, December 8 |
Varies each year |
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Night of Christmas Magic |
Saturday, December 7 |
Downtown Abilene |
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Share your news!
Have an upcoming event? Help us, help you. We do our best to stay up-to-date, but please make sure to include us in your event and special promotions. Please send announcements to
Julie@abilenecityhall.com.
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Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum
Due to the Federal Government shutdown, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum is closed. Check
archives.gov for details.
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Kansas Day Celebration
Join the Dickinson County Historical Society in a Kansas Day Celebration Saturday, January 26th from 2-5 p.m.
Activities include:
- Scavenger hunt with prizes
- Refreshments - cooking from the 1860s era complete with recipes
- Joe Bassoe sharing traditions and customs that people brought with them as they traveled from across the ocean to the east coast before eventually settling in Kansas.
- Games from the 1860s
- Photo booth with period costumes
- Music by Peggy Meuli
Admission: $5 (Includes copy of the Kansas History Journal featuring Joseph McCoy and the Chisholm Trail).
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Great Plains Theatre - Moulin Rouge: A Party in Paris
Moulin Rouge: A Party In Paris
GPT FUN-Raiser kicks off our 25th Anniversary Season in style!
February 23rd at 6:00pm
Join us for an evening of food, fun, and frolicking!
There will be cabaret style music, games, tastings, entertainment, heavy hors d'oeuvres, a silent and live auction, prizes and more!
Advance reservations are just $25 or $35 at the door, and are only available to those 21 years of age and older.
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Greyhound Hall of Fame
Dr. Al M. Bissing
Dr. Bissing, a dentist from Wichita, Kansas, sculpted these bronze, life size Greyhound statues in 1963. They can be seen at the Greyhound Hall of Fame and the National Greyhound Association Coursing grounds in Abilene, Kansas. Many others were purchased to adorn track infields around the world.
The original was modeled in Plaster of Paris then in cast bronze weighing 358 pounds. The model was Craig Lady, an import from Ireland.
Dr. Bissing began Campus Kennel in 1928 in Dodge City and moved it to Wichita in 1946. He was inducted into the Pioneer section of the National Greyhound Hall of Fame in 1981.
Dr. Bissing used the same sculpting techniques on these Greyhounds as he and Dr. Simpson used for the life size "Cowboy" statue that has stood on Boot Hill in Dodge City, Kansas since 1928.
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About us
The Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau
is the marketing arm of the City of Abilene and provides services to tourists and groups convening in Abilene.
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Sign Up!
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Join the Abilene Tourism Advocate e-newsletter list.
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