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Abilene Tourism Advocate
November 10, 2022
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Favorite & Friendliest Small Town in the U.S. - TravelAwaits Readers (2022) |
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The countdown to a Cowtown Christmas is on! Make plans to visit Abilene on December 3 & 4. |
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World's Largest Belt Buckle Nearing Completion |
Efforts are underway to construct the World's Largest Belt Buckle, a new roadside attraction, in Abilene.
Get Involved
With the holiday season quickly approaching, the CVB is offering community champions, history lovers, cowboys and collectors a fun way to get involved and support the project.
"Donors contributing $200 will receive one of only 100 numbered commemorative buckle replicas of Abilene's World's Largest Belt Buckle suitable for wearing or displaying. As an added bonus, their name will also be listed on the back of the real buckle," said Julie Roller Weeks, Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau director. "Sponsoring is a fun way to show support and have your name on the big buckle for all to see."
While the final design is being kept secret until the unveiling, the buckle features Abilene icons, including Wild Bill Hickok, C.W. Parker Carousel Horse, Vintage Telephone (representing C.L. Brown's Untied Telephone), Dwight D. Eisenhower, Historic Seelye Mansion, Greyhound (representing Abilene as the Greyhound dog Capital of the World), Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Steam Engine, and 1867 Chisholm Trail Longhorn.
A Kansas Tourism Attraction Development Grant is helping to fund the project.
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45th Homes for the Holidays Tour |
From homes with connections to C.L. Brown, C.H. Lebold, bank presidents, WWII Veterans and immigrants to a special farmhouse and growing church, you won’t want to miss the Heritage Homes Association's 45th Homes for the Holidays Tour!
Tickets are $10 and are available in advance starting November 15 at West’s Plaza Country Mart, SK Designs and Abilene Downtown Antique/Mud Creek Malls, and during the tours at Community Bible Church.
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Eisenhower Mural Completed |
"Ike Wins" by artist William Counter, completed on November 5, 2022 - 70 years to the date that his win made Abilene Reflector front page news - a historic moment in Abilene.
A total of nine out of 10 voters in Abilene voted for Ike in the 1952 Presidential election.
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Iron Horse Trail Receives Grant |
The Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad recently received a nearly $50,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks’ Recreational Trails Program for Phase 3 of the Iron Horse Trail. Phase 3 is a half-mile long section, beginning at Bridge Street in Enterprise and traveling west across the Smoky Hill River Bridge. |
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Cowtown Christmas Light Showdown |
1st Place - $2,000
2nd Place - $1,000
3rd Place - $500
Mayor's Choice (4) - $100 each
Call Abilene Parks & Recreation at (785) 263-7266 to learn more!
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Visit Abilene, Kansas and experience its unique Cowboy Art Trail!
Celebrating its cowboy roots, the Cowboy Boot project pays homage to T.C. McInerney's Drovers Boot Store from the 1870s.
The latest boot depicts the "History of Farming in Dickinson County" and is on display at the Dickinson County Courthouse.
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A Postcard from Abilene, KS |
After months of research on U.S. intelligence sites using digital resources such as the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series and the CIA’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) electronic reading room, I was fortunate enough to finally conduct in-person archival research at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home. The library is located in Abilene where President Eisenhower spent much of his childhood, and is the main attraction in the small Kansas town. The museum is well-designed, documenting Eisenhower’s journey from his childhood in Abilene, his stints in the army, to his time as President and later post-presidency. My visit to a U.S. presidential library was possible because I work as a researcher for Professor Austin Carson.
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25th Annual Abilene Motorcycle Toy Run
All toys and proceeds will benefit the Abilene Toys for Tots program. Learn more
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Pink Friday
We've all heard of Black Friday, American Express Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, Giving Tuesday, but what about Pink Friday?
Pink Friday is a small business spin on the traditional Black Friday shopping experience, reminding people to #ShopSmallFirst. Learn more
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The Christmas Schooner - A New Musical at Great Plains Theatre
This Holiday treat will have you leaving the theatre with warm fuzzies about a story of the Great Lakes voyages of Christmas Tree ships and a family’s positive spirit to share the power of classic inspiration and Christmas miracles. The heartbeat of life is in our stories and our songs! Learn more
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Cowtown Christmas
Visit Abilene December 3-4, 2022, for the Heritage Homes Association’s Homes for the Holidays Tour, enjoy an Old Fashioned Christmas at the Dickinson County Heritage Center and Old Abilene Town, tour the historic Seelye Mansion and see more than 60 beautifully decorated Christmas Trees, ride the rails with Santa and the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, see the live production of The Christmas Schooner - A New Musical at Great Plains Theatre, take an evening cruise and see Griswold-style decorations, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see Santa, and remember to shop small all season long at Abilene’s small businesses. Learn more
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Have an Abilene tourist-related event that isn't listed? Submit it here!
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Experience Art & Culture
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Journey to the Old West
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Live the American Story
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Explore Ike's Life & Legacy
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Enjoy Family Fun and Learning
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201 NW Second St.
Abilene, Kansas 67410
785-263-2231
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Office Hours:
Monday - Friday:
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday : Closed
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