Beautiful Small Towns We Want to Live In

Thanks to HouseBeautiful Magazine for selecting Abilene as the most beautiful town in Kansas.
 
 
World's Largest Spur

The Guinness World Record's "World's Largest Spur" has a new home at Rittel's Western Wear.

Click Image to View Campaign Announcement

Throwback Thursday

General Dwight D. Eisenhower Announces Candidacy

From the Eisenhower National Historic Site: 
On June 4, in 1952, General Dwight D. Eisenhower officially announced his candidacy for the presidency in his hometown of Abilene. The announcemen t was televised. Unfortunately, the event was held outside and as soon as Ike began his speech there was a downpour and half the assembled crowd scattered for cover while Ike tried to read his prepared remarks with the wind blowing and rain dripping from his glasses. The announcement occurred just one month prior to the Republican Convention and only five months before the election. No one was even sure Ike was a Republican until he had revealed his party affiliation back in January. 
2017 Best of the Best! 
Salina Journal Readers Choice Awards 

Abilene businesses need your help to win this important award! 

Everyone is eligible to vote once a day starting June 1st through June 18th.

  Voting for a business is as Easy as 1-2-3!
  1. Visit the ballot page at Salina.com/contest and click Register/Login to register to vote.
  2. Provide your email address and create a password or Login if you are already registered.
  3. Vote on 25 or more sub-categories, to be registered to win a $500 Gift Card!
Make sure to check all categories for Abilene businesses. For example) Abilene's Holm Automotive is listed in multiple categories.

Thank you for being a part of the Best of the Best Awards!


Symphony at Sunset

Thank you to the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home and Eisenhower Foundation for hosting a widely-attended Symphony at Sunset.
 
Cowgirls on the Chisholm Trail

It wasn't only cowboys who traveled the Chisholm Trail, this enterprising cowgirl did as well! 

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
Memories of the Prairie: Blue River Valley

The Dickinson County Historical Society will host Kevin Larson's program Blue River Valley on Saturday, June 10 at 7 p.m. at the Dickinson County Heritage Center as part of its summer Memories of the Prairie program.

In 1956 Philip Meyer took a series of photographs showing residents of the Blue River Valley as they prepared to move from their homes and farms as part of the Tuttle Creek reservoir and dam relocation project. He captioned one particular photograph "another farewell to the valley".  Larson brings a collection of aerial photographs and discusses the abandoned towns in the Blue River Valley.

The Dickinson County Historical Society would like to invite everyone to come to the program, which is free of charge. However, donations are always welcomed. The Memories of the Prairie Lecture Series is part of the Dickinson County Historical Society's continuing education program.

For more information on the program or how you could help support the preservation of our county's heritage you may call 785-263-2681 or visit our Facebook page at Dickinson County Heritage Center. 
Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum & Boyhood Home
The Eisenhower Presidential Library partners with Kansas Humanities Council to promote Kansas literature program.

Join the "Ike Book Club" in discussing  Sod and Stubble on Monday , June   12 at  7 p.m.  in the Visitors Center Auditorium. This  Talk About Literature in Kansas (TALK)   program is free and open to the public.
 
Jim Hoy of Emporia State University will facilitate the discussion. Hoy   is an authority on the folk life of ranching, a topic on which he has lectured throughout the world. His publications include 12 books and more than 100 articles. He is the coauthor of  Plains Folk , a syndicated newspaper column and charter member of the KHC Speakers Bureau, serving since 1985, and has been leading TALK discussions since 1986.

Hoy received his PhD in medieval English literature from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is a professor of English and the Director of the Center for Great Plains Studies at Emporia State University. 
 
The TALK series is conducted through a partnership with the Kansas Humanities Council, the Abilene Public Library and the Eisenhower Presidential Library. "The Best of the West" theme celebrates the Chisholm Trail 150th and Eisenhower's love of western novels.

All of the books in this series are available to check out from the Abilene Public Library or purchase at the Eisenhower Presidential Library Gift Shop. The complete series   schedule   is available at   www.eisenhower.archives.gov.

 
Great Plains Theatre
Mamma Mia! Season Opener

Check out this great story from the Salina Journal and the 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 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
 
 
Greyhound News
Spring Meet 2017 Results

Abilene is the Greyhound Capitol of the World, but have you ever wonder what takes place at the National Greyhound Association Spring Meet? Check out these exciting videos!
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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