Looking for a weekend getaway? Here are some Kansas day trips

Need help planning your road trip? Check out these great suggestions from  The Hutchinson News  and the  Kansas Sampler Foundation ! And don't forget to pick up a copy of the *new* Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers at the Abilene Visitors Center. 
 
 
First Lady Tea Room

Abilene's  First Lady Tea Room  is now accepting reservations! Enjoy tea and a delicious assortment of special treats while dining on fine china in a beautiful setting. The tea room can seat up to 32 special guests at once. This is the perfect bus tour stop on the way to a show at the  Great Plains Theatre.

First Lady Tea Room
300 N. Cedar (inside of Cedar Street Market)
Ph: (785) 307-5309


Throwback Thursday

Abilene: Midwest Tourist Capitol

Check out this fun vintage license plate! Abilene has a long-withstanding history in the tourism industry.
Kansas Brooches

The Abilene Visitors Center's Gift Shop has a new stock of Kansas Brooches. Get yours today!


Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Regular Passenger Trains

*SUMMER HOURS* Memorial Day - Labor Day
  • Wednesday-Saturday - Departures at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
  • Sunday - Departure at 2:00
The trips are narrated and last approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Dickinson County Heritage Center
Trails, Rails and Tales

Trails, Rails and Tales is proud to announce the addition of Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show coming on September 2nd and 3rd at Old Abilene Town. The arena will b e constructed in the field to the east of Old Abilene Town. This group has been re-enacting the famous Wild West Show since 1988. We are honored to host this phenomenal group coming in from Pawnee, Oklahoma. Click here to meet the people behind the Pawnee Bill's Original West West Show.
Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home
Symphony at Sunset
Click Image to View Video

This year's concert pays tribute to the Chisholm Trail 150th Celebration and features renowned country fiddler Mike Ito.

Symphony at Sunset 2017 presents a heartwarming patriotic concert June 3 at 8:30 p.m. with the Salina Symphony and special guest artist, Mike Ito performing on the steps of the Eisenhower Presidential Library. The annual concert commemorates D-Day and honors all veterans.

Come early to enjoy the multitude of festivities, starting at 4 p.m.:
  • Fort Riley Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard
  • Best of the West Pop-Up Museum
  • Kid's Activities for all ages
  • Food and Beverage Vendors
Music:
  • 5:30 p.m. - Everyday Lights, a local band favorite
  • 5:30 p.m. - KWU Cello & Violin Camp Recital (Visitors Center Auditorium)
  • 7:00 p.m. - 1st Infantry Division Band
  • 8:30 p.m. - Salina Symphony headlines the event just as the sun sets 
In addition to honoring veterans with a number of patriotic songs, the Symphony will pay tribute to the Chisholm Trail 150th Celebration featuring fiddler Mike Ito as the guest artist. Ito recently retired from the Baldknobbers show in Branson after 46 years in the country and western music field. He has played with many country music legends including Buck Owens, Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty and Waylon Jennings.   
 
This is a "pay what you can" event. Bring your lawn chairs. Rain location is the Abilene High School Auditorium. The event is generously sponsored by Marshall Motors and your donations.
 
A charter bus is available from Salina to the event. The bus departs Central High School south parking lot at 4:30 p.m. and returns following the concert. Reserved folding chair seating is provided for bus travelers. Cost is $30, with reservations on a first come basis. Call the Symphony office at 785.823.8309 by May 31.  

 
Great Plains Theatre
Mamma Mia! Season Opener

Check out this great story from the Salina Journal and the upcoming Mamma Mia! production at Great Plains Theatre. Few tickets remain, so get yours today! 

"Great Plains Theatre has a vision to create a performing arts institute in Abilene. This would include educational programs for people of all ages, film and television workshops, audition classes and development of shows that would incorporate both professionals and people from the community and region."

June 2, 7:30pm   Followed by Afterglow
June 3, 7:30pm
June 4, 2:00pm

June 6, 2:00pm
June 7, 2:00pm
June 8, 7:30pm
June 9, 7:30pm   Followed by Cabaret
June 10, 7:30pm
June 11, 2:00pm 

A young woman about to be married decides she wants her father to walk her down the aisle, except she doesn't know who that is!  She invites all three potential fathers to the wedding without telling her mother, Donna.  Worlds collide on a tiny Greek island in a musical wedding extravaganza!

Rated PG
 
 
Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum
Thoms Kirby Home

Thomas Kirby came to town in 1872 and opened the Kirby Bank in 1878. The Kirby home was built in 1885 at 205 N.E. 3rd Street and later sold to the Abilene Commercial Club in 1914 (the forerunner to the Chamber of Commerce). It underwent several renovations including adding large pillars to the front porch entryway. It was used as the Commercial Club until 1930 when it was divided into apartments. Terry and Jerry Tietjen bought and restored the home in 1986 and it opened as a fine dining restaurant in 1987. Fire destroyed the home in 2013
Seelye Mansion
8 Wonders of Kansas - Architecture 

The Seelye Mansion was voted one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture because of the grandeur of this well-restored three-story Georgian style mansion.

A New York architect designed this beautiful 25-room home in 1904 for Dr. A.B. Seelye, a patent medicine magnate, and his wife. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and contains most of the original furniture and the Edison light fixtures.

The Grand Hall fireplace is by Tiffany of New York, a handpicked 1920 Steinway piano and a 1905 Edison Cylinder Phonograph grace the music room, while the dining room displays many pieces of glassware and other items used by Mrs. Seelye. After dinner the "men" would traverse down the curved oak stairs to the bowling alley, one of many items brought from the 1904 World's Fair. It is likely the oldest existing bowling alley in Kansas.

The Seelye family manufactured patent medicines, the best known were Wasa-Tusa, Ner-Vena, and Fro-Zona, cures for man or beast. Over 84 different products were produced around the turn of the century, many of which can be seen in the Patent Medicine Museum.

Calendar of Events


Bike Across Kansas
Bike Across Kansas will pass through 
Abilene on Wednesday, June 14.

Air Race Classic
The Air Race Classic is June 20-24. We anticipate pilots as soon as June 21, though all will depend on weather.



Stay in Abilene
Abilene Lodging Establishments

Abilene  is home to 202 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 and spend the night and enjoy all  Abilene  has to offer.
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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:  director@abilenecityhall.com .

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