Abilene CVB

The Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is the marketing arm of the City, providing services to tourists, groups convening in Abilene and marketing of the community.


Abilene Named "Most Adorable Small Town in Kansas" by MSN

Abilene, Kansas is most famous for being the hometown of President Eisenhower, and no first-time visit would be complete without visiting his house at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum, where he is now buried. The Georgian-style Seelye Mansion is also a popular attraction. - MSN

10 Scrumptious Restaurants You Can Find in this One Small Town in Kansas

brookville hotel
Abilene is home to a number of wonderful restaurants. Thanks to OnlyInYourState.com for highlighting ten of Abilene's restaurants. 


America's undiscovered heartland: 5 Kansas Culture gems along I-70

Last month the Abilene CVB hosted international travel journalist, Ron Stern. Check out his story online at Communities Digital News. 

According to Stern,  Communities Digital News articles can be found on the site, Apple News, Google News Articles and iCopywrite/RePubHub.com syndication service as a top rated contributor. Page views for the site vary month to month, but average 750K - 1m with a 25% unique visitor rating.

Communities Work Together to Host Group Tour

The Abilene CVB is happy to coordinate with group tours to our community. Yesterday, we welcomed Great Adventure Tours from Topeka. After visiting with the group tour operator about their interests, we partnered with Chapman to enhance their visit. Visitors not only toured barn quilts in the "Barn Quilt City of Kansas", but also spent lunch and the afternoon in Abilene at the Brookville Hotel, Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum, AuBurn Pharmacy Soda Fountain, Abilene's Victorian Inn, Russell Stover and other downtown businesses. This is an awesome example of two communities working together to better serve their customers. 


Holiday Homes Tour

A rich assortment of homes, from
quite small to positively generous, will be featured in the 2017 Homes for the Holidays tour,  Dec. 2 and 3 .

A beautifully preserved Craftsman style home owned by Lauren Baune and Sandra Bacon,  904 N. Kuney , was built in 1919 by T. Lester Welsh, an executive with Abilene Flour Mills. One of its features is quite uncommon - a walkway across the stairs leading to the second floor. The home was owned by immediate family members until 2014.

Another home with strong ties to Abilene's essential history is owned by Mark and Kathy Struss 1106 N. Buckeye . It was 1955. Dwight D. Eisenhower, perhaps the most famous living general in the world, was now president of the United States, and the Eisenhower museum had just been completed. J. Earl Endacott, the museum's first director, built this home. Today, Kathy works for the presidential library.

One of the more memorable homes on the tour is owned by Connie Brunner, 305 N. Vine. Built in 1895 and modest from the outside, it is stuffed with extraordinary collectibles from around the world.
Another outstanding example of Craftsman style is the home owned by Mary Burtzloff,  702 N. Cedar . It was built by Henry Litts, mayor of Abilene from 1924-29, and today exhibits an appealing mix of original woodwork, period accessories and modern conveniences.

Homes that pass through many owners often reflect the individual tastes and preferences of the people who lived there. The house at 803 N. Cedar is a case in point. Built in 1886, it has been home to a hardware store owner, retired farmer, accountant, teacher and a railroad conductor. Today it houses the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, which provides a space for women to network and refresh.

Rounding out the line-up are the First United Methodist Church 601 N. Cedar , and the Volkmann Cabin at the Dickinson County Historical Society. 412 S. Campbell. Both locations will offer refreshments.

Tickets for the tour, which will be from  4 to 8 pm  on  Saturday, Dec. 2 , and from  1 to 5 pm  on  Sunday, Dec. 3 , are $10 and will be available from the Abilene CVB and the historical society.

For more information, contact the Abilene CVB at  (785) 263-2231 , or  800-569-5915 .

Trip Advisor - Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home

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Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad

Santa Train

Date: Saturday, December 9 
Depart Time: 1:00 p.m. 
Ticket Price: $10.00 (All Ages) 
Location: Abilene Smoky Valley Train Depot 200 S.E. 5th St., Abilene 

Buy your tickets early! Seats are limited. The Abilene Parks and Recreation is sponsoring a holiday train ride with the Abilene Smoky Valley Railroad Association. Santa always enjoys the ride with everyone. He also enjoys seeing old and new faces. The train ride is approximately 45 minutes long. It travels from the historic Abilene Depot to one mile west of Enterprise and back. 

The passengers will ride in the enclosed heated car with Santa. 

Ms. Cheryl from the Abilene Children's Library will be aboard. 

Santa will be available to listen to your Christmas wish list and you may have your picture taken with him. 

You must pre-register for this train ride. There will be no tickets sold the day of the train ride! No exceptions! Register by calling: (785) 263-7266.

Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home

Veterans Day Ceremony
November 11, 9:45 a.m.
Pylons
Hosted by local VFW / American Legion Chapters.

Veterans honored with free admission on Veterans Day
The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home will honor and thank our country's veterans for their service by offering free admission and a 20% discount in the gift shop on Saturday, Nov. 11 to all veterans and their families.

A ceremony hosted by the local VFW and American Legion will be held at the Eisenhower Presidential Library on Saturday, Nov. 11. The Veterans Day Homage to Veterans of all Wars will begin at 9:45 a.m. near the Pylons at the east end of the campus. 

Remarks during the ceremony will be given by Todd Hokanson, Commander of General Dwight D. Eisenhower VFW Post #3279 and Eddie Avinger, Commander of the James R. Cutler American Legion Post #39. The ceremony includes a wreath laying, rifle salute, and bugler. 

The Eisenhower Presidential Library ceremony is one component of the ceremony procession. Full schedule as follows:
  • 8:20 a.m. - St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery (north of Abilene)
  • 8:45 a.m. - Village Manor
  • 9:20 a.m. - Dickinson County Heritage Center
  • 9:45 a.m. - Eisenhower Presidential Library Pylons
  • 10:15 a.m. - Brown Memorial Home
  • 10:55 a.m. - 8th Street Bridge over Mud Creek
  • 11:20 a.m. - Abilene Place
  • 11:45 a.m. - Abilene Cemetery

Chisholm Trail and the Cowtown that Raised a President
Exhibit in the Museum Temporary Gallery until 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 

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Calendar of Events

DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
DETAILS
11/11/2017 Veterans Day Ceremonies Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum 10:30 a.m.
11/27/2017 - 12/31/2017 Seelye Mansion Christmas Tours Seelye Mansion Daily
12/1/2017 - 12/31/2017 Christmas Tree Lane

12/1/2017 - 12/10/2017 GPT Mainstage Production "Peter and the Starcatcher" Great Plains Theatre
12/2/2017 7th Annual Christmas Tea Party Abilene's Victorian Inn 1:30 p.m.
Call for reservations (785) 263-7774
12/2/2017 Night of Christmas Magic Downtown Abilene / Abilene Civic Center
12/3/2017 Abilene Municipal Band Holiday Concert Eisenhower Visitors Center 2:00 p.m.
12/2/2017 - 12/3/2017 Homes for the Holidays Tour

   
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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