5 Examples of Americana

By Cecilia Harris on June 30, 2020

Celebrate Independence Day by viewing these five sites that are excellent examples of Americana.

1. Eisenhower Park and Rose Garden

Garden enthusiasts love the more than 50 varieties represented in over 100 roses among the 3,000 blooming plants, and features like a water fountain, gazebo, and limestone pergola in this park and rose garden established in the 1930s and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location: 500 Pine Street

2. Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad

Step back in time when the railroad was the fastest means of transportation by riding in the dining car or in one of the open air cars of this excursion train that travels through the Smoky Hill River Valley. Check the schedule for when it is pulled by a steam engine for the full experience.

Location: 200 Southeast Fifth Street

Information: (785) 263-1077 asvrr.org

3. Big Spur

This 28-foot-tall replica of a cowboy’s spur well represents Abilene’s history as an early-day cattle town in the late 1860s and as the home of today’s men and women who raise cattle for a living. It was named the World's Largest by Guinness World Records until 2017.

Location: 1810 North Buckeye

Information (785) 263-7777

4. Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home

Discover how growing up in a small town in the Midwest shaped Eisenhower into the leader he became as a Five Star General in the Army and President of the United States. Be sure to tour his humble boyhood home.

Location: 200 Southeast Fourth Street

Information: (785) 263-6700 x877 eisenhowerlibrary.gov

Note: the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home is temporarily closed due to COVID-19. Visit their website for the latest information.

5. Greyhound Hall of Fame

Pet the greyhound greeters and discover their gentle nature at this museum where interesting displays feature the fastest dogs in the world from ancient times to the present.

Location: 407 South Buckeye Avenue

Information: (785) 263-3000 or (800) 932-7881 greyhoundhalloffame.com