The Grandest Historic Mansion in Each State 

Before neighbors could show off their wealth by purchasing the latest sports car, wealthy people in America flaunted their money by building opulent mansions. Because of modern advancements in building technology, erecting mansions is easier than ever. But in the early days of America, commissioning a grand homestead was a luxury very few could afford. Many of these homes cost millions of dollars to build at a time when spending that much money on a home was practically unheard of.

There are massive homes in each U.S. state - from plantation homes in the South, to sprawling British-inspired castles in New England, to mansions out in the deserts of the West. These massive single-family homes are now steeped in history, telling the stories of the people who built them and the time when they were constructed.

24/7 Wall St. compiled a list of the largest historic mansion in each state by reviewing information from media sources, historical societies, and museums.

Killer ghost visits Lebold Mansion

The vengeful ghost of Mary Wallace haunted the Lebold Mansion, killing some of its guests last weekend.

She only stayed a couple days and no one was allowed to show her face . . . at least until the film comes out in October.

Four actors and a film crew of eight took over Abilene's famous mansion Friday and Saturday filming the short film "The Haunting of Pottersfield."

 

Transform Your Business into a Consumer Destination

Join other Abilene businesses and attend the 
Transform Your Business into a Consumer Destination workshop with Jon Schallert on Wednesday, March 20 from 8 am - 3:30 p.m. at the Memorial Union Ballroom, Fort Hays State University.

This session is targeted towards entrepreneurs, retailers, restaurant owners, service businesses, independent business owners and economic development organizations. Jon draws on his on-site consulting experience with thousands of independent businesses and shows any business how to use his trademarked 14-point process for reinventing a business into a Consumer Destination. No other marketing speaker, consultant, or small business coach in the world has analyzed the steps Jon illustrates in this business improvement workshop to become a Consumer Destination.

Attendees will leave with a new understanding of Jon's Destination Business strategies and tactics. Attendees will understand why location, location, location no longer matters for independent business success, and why waiting for "Big Brother" to reinvent a marketplace fails the majority of the time. Following this session, attendees will understand the importance of reinventing their businesses in order to create the most successful consumer-oriented businesses available.

Registration  required. This workshop is free to attendees as part of a USDA Rural Business Development Grant.

Throwback Thursday - Seelye Sisters: Journey to the Mansion
 
A Series of Seelye Laboratories. 3rd Lab (1900-1961). The Bonebrake Opera House was a 75 x 120 foot vacated 2-story building that proudly stood on Northwest 2nd Street since 1879. 

In 1900, Dr. Seelye's business was now expanding to 14 different states. His Wasa-Tusa, Fro-zona, Ner-Vena and almost 100 different products were now becoming household names. It was time to move the global operation to a building worthy of its size. 

Seelye worked with contractor J.L. Kruger an d architect James C. Holland to renovate the building to a scale of grandeur unheard of along the Kansas prairie.  Golds and ivories and frescoes were installed to bring the upscale cosmopolitan world of Broadway to Abilene. 

Dr. Seelye housed his laboratory on the east side of the building and the Opera House was on the west side. 800 seats, balcony, box seats were filled up on the opening night of October 6, 1900 for the live theatrical play called "Prince of the World". The Seelye daughters were only 4 and 5 years old, but they remembered that special night vividly with live lion on stage during the performance. Prince of the World would appear on Broadway four years later. 

The Seelye's would host plays, presidents, orphans, silent films, movie premieres and much more. Below is one of the few interior shots of Seelye Theatre, also pictured is a drawing of Seelye's Medical Company and Theatre that appeared on the front of Seelye's Health Guide and Cook Book, the newspaper article from opening night at the theatre and a photograph of Dr. Seelye's office on the ground floor of the building. 

The Strowig's already were running the Lyric Theatre on Spruce Street, bought the Seelye Theatre in 1936 and changed the name to the Plaza which ran movies until 1999. The Seelye's rented their space for the laboratory until 1961. In 1992, Terry Tietjens was able to build the museum building behind the mansion and saved the bottles and machines that were still being stored in the upstairs of the Plaza Theatre. 

Come visit the Seelye Mansion to see all of these treasures. Open daily for guided tours, 10-4, Sundays 1-4.
5 Star Reviews - Engle House Bed & Breakfast
 
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

WHEN

LOCATION
LEARN MORE
30th Annual Ida Stover-Eisenhower Memorial Quilt Show
 March 11-24
 Dickinson County Heritage Center
Most Hallowed Ground with Tom Tudor Thursday, March 28, 
Noon - 1 pm		 Eisenhower Presidential Library Visitors Center Auditorium
Kansas State Geography Bee Friday, March 29 Eisenhower Presidential Library
KS Gift & Craft Show Sunday, March 31 @ 1pm Sterl Hall
Eisenhower Marathon
Saturday, April 6 @ 7 am
St. Andrews Parish Hall
Easter Bunny Train Saturday, April 13 @ 1 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
National Greyhound Association Spring Nationals April 15-20 National Greyhound Association
Eisenhower Easter Egg Roll Saturday, April 20 @ 1 pm Eisenhower Presidential Library grounds
Eisenhower with Louis Galambos Thursday, April 25 @ Noon - 1 pm Eisenhower Presidential Library Visitors Center
Reitz & Rust Vintage Market
Saturday, April 27 @ 10 am
Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
Arts & Ales Saturday, April 27 Downtown Abilene
Abilene Aviation Association Fly-In  Saturday, May 4 Abilene Municipal Airport
National Travel & Tourism Week May 5-11
Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Antique Fest Saturday, May 11 Downtown Abilene
Historic Home & Barn Tour Saturday, May 11 @ 12:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Mother's Day Tea Saturday, May 11 Eisenhower Presidential Library
The Road to Abilene with Tim Rives and William Snyder Thursday, May 23 @ Noon - 1 pm Eisenhower Presidential Library Visitors Center Auditorium
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, May 25 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Steam Locomotive)
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides Saturday, May 25 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Sunday, May 26 @ 2 pm
Monday, May 27 @ 10 am & 2 pm		 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Symphony at Sunset
Saturday, June 1
Eisenhower Presidential Library grounds
75th anniversary of D-Day Thursday, June 6 Eisenhower Presidential Library
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides Thursday, June 6 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Friday, June 7 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Saturday, June 8 @ 10 am & 2 pm


 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Steam Locomotive)
Historic Home & Barn Tour Saturday, June 8 @ 12:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad 
Dinner Train (Prime Rib by Mr. K's Farmhouse Saturday, June 8 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Steam Locomotive)
Pirates of Penzance June 14-23 Great Plains Theatre
Heart of America Greyhound Gathering June 20-22 Sterl Hall
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, June 22 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Disaster! July 12-21 Great Plains Theatre
Old Fashioned 4th of July celebration July 4 Eisenhower Park
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 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
Dinner Train (Prime Rib by Mr. K's Farmhouse Saturday, July 6 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Steam Locomotive)
Historic Home & Barn Tour Saturday, July 13 @ 12:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Wild Bill Hickok PRCA Rodeo
Wednesday, July 31 - Saturday, August 3
Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
Central Kansas Free Fair
Wednesday, July 31 - Monday, August 5
Dickinson County Fairgrounds (Abilene)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
 August 2-18 Great Plains Theatre
National Cowboy Poetry Rodeo August 2-3 Shockey & Landes Building
Vintage Base Ball Game Saturday, August 3 Eisenhower Presidential Library grounds
Historic Home & Barn Tour Saturday, August 10 @ 12:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, August 31 @ 6:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Steam Locomotive)
Chisholm Trail Days Saturday, August 31 - Sunday, September 1 Old Abilene Town
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 Saturday, August 31 @ 10 am & 2 pm
Sunday, September 1 @ 2 pm
Monday, September 2 @ 10 am & 2 pm		 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Historic Home & Barn Tour Saturday, September 14 @ 12:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Dinner Train (Prime Rib by Hitching Post Restaurant)
 Saturday, September 14 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, September 28 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Heritage Day Saturday, October 5 Dickinson County Heritage Center
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 Saturday, October 5 @ 10 am - 3 pm (hourly departures)

 Dickinson County Heritage Center
Steam Locomotive #3415 train rides
 Sunday, October 6 @ 2 pm (last steam run of the year)
 Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Historic Home & Barn Tour Saturday, October 12 @ 12:30 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
Dinner Train (Prime Rib by Mr. K's Farmhouse Saturday, October 12 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Empires Fall October 18-27 Great Plains Theatre
Dinner Train (Fried Chicken by Brookville Hotel) Saturday, October 26 @ 6 pm Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad (Diesel Locomotive)
Tombstone Talks Saturday, October 26 Abilene Cemetery
Makin' Magic - 25 Years of Fun November 29 - December 15 Great Plains Theatre
Abilene's Victorian Inn Christmas Afternoon Tea Saturday, December 7 Abilene's Victorian Inn
Heritage Homes Association's Homes for the Holidays Tour Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8		 Varies each year
Night of Christmas Magic Saturday, December 7 Downtown Abilene
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ATTRACTION & EVENT UPDATES

ACDC Annual Winter Film Fest
 
Our annual Winter Film Fest will begin Sunday, February 3, 2019. The list of films will show each consecutive Sunday. The free admission films start at 2:00 p.m. at the Eisenhower Visitor Center, 200 SE 4th Street, Abilene. Popcorn will be available, also free of charge. The Visitor Center has drinks available for purchase and will also be open for shopping. Joann Hettenbach of Abilene, will host the films. A brief discussion will follow the films for those who would like to stay and participate. 

Each year we ask our patrons to bring an item to contribute to the Abilene Area Food & Clothing Bank. This year we ask our patrons to please contribute toiletry items, i.e. tissues, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, toilet paper. Thank you in advance for the aid we give to one another.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN (PG) Celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

ROMAN ISRAEL, ESQ. (PG-13) Roman J. Israel, Esq., a driven, idealistic defense attorney, finds himself in a tumultuous series of events that lead to a crisis and the necessity for extreme action.

Eisenhower Presidential Library
 



Great Plains Theatre
 
Isn't It Romantic (PG-13) starts showing at GPT on Friday, March 8.   https://buff.ly/2LT88Qh

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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