History

  • Cowboy Trail - Abilene, KS

    Explore Wild Bill Hickok's Abilene

    April 10, 2023

    Named Best Historic Small Town to Visit by USA TODAY and True Western Town of the Year by True West Magazine, this Chisholm Trail Cowtown is the perfect stop for cowboys, cowgirls and cowboy history...

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    National Magazine Recognizes Abilene’s Cowboy History

    January 23, 2023

    The Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau is off to a great start in 2023. Following a banner year for national recognition, True West Magazine named Abilene one of the Top 10 True Western Towns of...

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  • Cowboy-Boot-Art - Abilene, KS

    Celebrate The Old West Along Abilene's Cowboy Art Trail

    January 19, 2023

    Named a Top 10 True Western Town of the Year by True West Magazine, Abilene continues to celebrate and promote its wild and wooly Cowtown days by adding new tourism attractions and art. 1. Big Spur...

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  • 45th-Homes-For-The-Holidays-Tour-Abilene,KS

    45th Homes for the Holidays Tour

    November 2, 2022

    Saturday, December 3, from 4-8 pm Sunday, December 4, from 1-5 pm From homes with connections to C.L. Brown, C.H. Lebold, bank presidents, WWII Veterans and immigrants to a special farmhouse and...

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  • HHA-Cover-Photo-Abilene,KS

    44th Heritage Homes Association's Homes for the Holidays Tour

    October 27, 2021

    Saturday, December 4 from 4-8 pm Sunday, December 5 from 1-5 pm From a reimagined former school to a downtown upper story apartment and AirBNB, to beautifully restored and decorated homes on...

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  • Old-Abilene-Town-Can-Can-Dancers-Abilene,KS

    5 Ways to Re-Live the Old West at Old Abilene Town

    July 27, 2021

    If you love the old west, Old Abilene Town is the place for you! Named True Western Town of the Year by True West Magazine, Abilene loves to celebrate its wild and wooly cowboy days. 1. Watch the...

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  • Central-Kansas-Free-Fair-Parade-Abilene,KS

    History of the Central Kansas Free Fair

    July 6, 2021

    The first Fair on record in Dickinson County was held October 18 & 19, 1870, in the James Bell meadow immediately south of the old Abilene City Dump. In 1879 the directors of the Dickinson...

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  • abilene_-_george_hamilton_iv.jpg

    Abilene - George Hamilton IV

    June 8, 2021

    Abilene is a song written by Bob Gibson, Albert Stanton, Lester Brown and John D. Loudermilk, and recorded by American country music artist George Hamilton IV. The song reached number one on the U. S...

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  • abilene_town_1946.jpg

    Abilene Town (1946)

    June 8, 2021

    A great place to live, work and visit, Abilene can be found in both film and song. In the years following the Civil War, the town of Abilene, Kansas is poised on the brink of an explosive...

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  • judge_beeghly.jpg

    Celebrate Women’s History Month

    March 23, 2021

    March is Women’s History Month and Dickinson County is rich with iconic women from Elizabeth Hersey, who gave Abilene its name, to Ida Stover Eisenhower, mother of President Eisenhower. In 1920, the...

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  • tom_smith.jpg

    Tom Smith: The Marshal Who Fought with his Fists

    December 21, 2020

    "Bear River" Thomas James Smith was born around 1830 in New York.  We do not know his birth date for certain since records have not been found.  This can be a fairly common problem when researching...

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  • kirby_house.jpg

    The Kirby House: Losing an Abilene Landmark

    December 21, 2020

    On Wednesday evening, February 20, 2013, Abilene lost a 128 year old landmark. The Kirby House had stood at 205 Northeast Third Street since 1885, and was a well-known Abilene staple. The Abilene...

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  • a.b._seelye_med._co._1.jpg

    A Brief Look at Abilene's Historic Buildings: the A.B. Seelye Medicine Company, Plaza Theater

    December 21, 2020

    This theater was known by several names over the years: the Seelye Opera House, Bonebrake Opera House, and Plaza Theater.  In addition to being a theater, the building was also utilized as the...

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  • lebold_mansion.jpg

    A Brief Look at Abilene's Historic Buildings: the Lebold Mansion

    December 21, 2020

    This beautiful Victorian home was constructed on the original site of the home of Timothy and Elizabeth Hersey, founders of Abilene.  Conrad H. Lebold had great success as an Abilene banker and land...

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  • chisholm-trail.jpg

    Joseph G. McCoy and the Chisholm Trail, 1867-1871

    December 21, 2020

    You cannot write anything about the history of Dickinson County, Kansas without covering Joseph G. McCoy and his effect on cattle driving. Joseph G. McCoy left a prosperous farm in Illinois and...

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  • C.L. Brown and his Affect on Abilene, Kansas

    December 21, 2020

    Someone who deserves more credit for the changes he brought to Abilene, Kansas is Cleyson LeRoy Brown.  It seems like many people forget or do not even know about what Brown did for his community.  A...

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    C.L. Brown, Kansas Independent Telephony, and a Spirit of Giving

    December 21, 2020

    In this post, the Dickinson County Historical Society shares about C.L. Brown and Kansas Independent Telephony, a look at notable Abilene patriarch Cleyson L. Brown and the spirit of giving that he...

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    C.L. Brown and Kansas Independent Telephony

    December 21, 2020

    In addition to owning 85 companies, C.L. Brown gave back to the Abilene, Kansas community in fantastic ways. This spirit of giving is still found in Kansas independent telecommunications companies...

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  • t.c._henry.jpg

    T.C. Henry: The Wheat King of Kansas

    December 21, 2020

    Abilene is a city with an eclectic history.  Whether it is the cattle trade, greyhound history, notable figures, or farming, the town has had many interesting stories and events over the years. ...

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  • cw_parker.jpg

    The Amusement King

    December 16, 2020

    Charles Wallace Parker was born in Griggsville, Illinois in 1864.  At the age of five, his family moved to Abilene, Kansas.  As Parker grew into adulthood, he became interested in creating and...

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