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Fun Things to Do in Greensburg, Kansas During an Overnight Stay

July 13, 2022 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

Disclosure: Visit Greesnburg sponsored this post. However, all opinions and photographs are my own.

Greensburg isn’t just another small Kansas town on the map. Far from it. It’s a community made up of residents who care for one another. It was their resilience that rebuilt the town after an EF-5 tornado demolished 95% of Greensburg on May 4, 2007.

Today, the town is a flourishing community consisting of tourism-worthy attractions, shopping, and dining. It’s time you visit Greensburg.

GreensburgLocated in Kiowa County, less than a two hours drive from Wichita, Greensburg is a small town reimagined. Rebuilt with sustainability in mind, many of its homes and buildings put the “green” in Greensburg thanks to water-saving features, alternative energy, and earth-friendly design.

I found the town a charming place to spend an overnight trip. My first stop? One of 8 Wonders of Kansas!

The Big Well

DAY 1

THE BIG WELL MUSEUM & VISITORS CENTER

The Big Well Museum & Visitors Center (315 S. Sycamore St.) World’s Largest Hand-Dug Well is a must-see attraction to add to your travel bucket list. I was amazed by its impressive size. Down, down, down…109 feet! Visitors can walk down into the well via a sturdy staircase to get a closer look. Three million visitors visit one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas to descend into its depths and/or toss a penny to the bottom.

well Just as I contemplated if I wanted to venture into the well, a busload of gleeful schoolchildren arrived and eagerly walked to the bottom. I’m scared of enclosed spaces and heights, so I chose to stay on the ground floor. The American Water Landmark is truly a sight, and even if you don’t want to walk down into it, seeing it first-hand is worthwhile.

stairsIf you visit The Big Well Museum, you can also learn more about the town’s history pre and post-EF5 tornado that changed the lives of residents. A historical timeline telling the story of the night the tornado struck and the events afterward surrounds the space. Visual displays, artifacts, and video testimonials give context. I met residents who spoke of “before and after the tornado.” Want to learn more about the fateful day? The visitor’s center is the best place to start your exploration of Greensburg to truly understand the gravity of that night in 2007.

Another fact worth noting about the museum is that it is the home of the largest pallasite on display, the Space Wanderer, weighing 100o pounds. The meteorite is from the same shower as another meteorite found in the same area in 2005.

The grounds of the museum include a playground area for kids and free bikes you can borrow to tour the town. The Fleener Family Memorial on display outdoors honors those who perished in the tornado.

PRO TIP: Before visiting the museum, view its hours and admission rates here. If you’re driving an electric vehicle, you can recharge its battery at one of several charging stations in the parking lot.

charging station

EXPLORING GREENSBURG BY BIKE

I used one of the museum’s complimentary bikes to explore Greensburg and some of the 15 stops listed on the Green Tour map (available inside the museum, or you can download the app).

bikesStop 4 on the tour gave me pause. All that remains of a church that once stood there and later housed Fran’s Antiques Shops is a set of stairs. Red bricks, stairs, and a small pile of rubble.

At this moment, I realized the enormity of the tornado’s devastation. Most of the town consists of new homes and buildings, but during the self-guided tour, you will notice a few old homes remain.

stairsOther stops worth noting on the bike tour included Starlight Public Art Park and Main Street in the downtown corridor. The park is home to one-of-a-kind sculptures. Nearby native plants and Russian Sage decorate Main Street in concrete planters watered by rainwater captured in underground cisterns.

Visit the park at night to see “The Beacon” illuminated. The cylindrical sculpture commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Greensburg tornado. Read the quote on it.

sculpture

TWILIGHT THEATRE & COMMUNITY AUDITORIUM

You’ve never seen a theatre like the Twilight Theatre & Community Auditorium (200 S. Main St.). It is the largest one-screen movie theatre with Dolby 7 sound between Wichita and Denver.

theatre seatsGeorge, the theatre’s super friendly manager, welcomed me just as he does all theatre guests with a “Hello! How are you today?” As we chatted about the theatre’s features (400 seats!), the sound of popcorn popping and kids begging for candy could be heard.

Locals told me that the theatre’s Monster Mushroom Popcorn was delicious. George graciously gave me a bag of popcorn to try. No words can describe how scrumptious and dangerously addictive it tastes.

candy counterAs I sat enjoying my popcorn in the lobby on a couch flanked by framed movie posters, I watched as residents greeted one another in the lobby. From the refreshment counter, they shuttled kids into the theater for a showing of Jurassic World Domination.

The summer matinee was a popular choice. When not screening films. the theatre is used by the high school and area groups as a performing arts space.

PRO TIP: View the theatre’s hours and event schedule before visiting.

LUNCH AT KOOK’S MEAT & DELI

Kook’s Meat (115 W. Kansas Ave.) is where the locals go once, sometimes twice a day, to drink coffee and enjoy a delicious meal with friends. Part butcher shop, part deli, Kook’s serves heaping plates of meaty sandwiches and burgers. I ordered the Patty Melt with a trip to the salad bar for lunch.

Kook'sOpen six days a week for dine-in or drive-up orders, the restaurant is a local favorite. They show up for a hearty meal or select steaks or sausage from the refrigerated case to grill at home.

The conversation is free. But if you drop a swear word, expect to deposit money into the Swear Jar. Oh, and be mindful of where you sit. Some seating is reserved for first-responders and diehard diners. Expect the second wave of locals to arrive for a fresh pot of coffee at 2 pm.

Patty MeltPRO TIP: You need to leave room for dessert. Kook’s is where I rediscovered my love of pie. Regina knows how to make them better than anyone. She had me taste every pie and cake in the refrigerated case! They tasted divine.

pie

ONE-OF-A-KIND SHOPPING

Starla’s Stitch & Frame (122 S. Main Street) offers shoppers custom-made framing to beautify their photos and artwork. The opposite side of the retail shop caters to stitchers searching for embroidery supplies and finished pieces to use as wall art. People drive from miles around to stock up on supplies or get artwork framed.

frame shopWhere’d Find That Antiques (148 S. Main) isn’t your typical antique shop. It’s organized by theme, clean, and the inventory includes treasures you won’t find elsewhere. Voted by Best Things Kansas as one of the top six antique stores in the Sunflower State, it’s worth a visit when shopping for collectibles. The owners are delightful and eager to help you find what you’re looking for.

record playersCatherine’s Massage & Bodywork (101 S. Main, Suite 206) instantly transports you to a place of zen. The owner, a certified kinesiologist and massage therapist welcomes customers needing to improve their health. The retail space carries an abundance of personal care products, jewelry, and gift items. Don’t forget to check out the clearance shelf for marked-down deals.

gift shopTurquoise Ranch Boutique (300 W. Kansas) is one-stop shopping for “clothing and more in a western decor.” The latest in apparel with vintage, Texas-inspired style. Dresses, boots, jewelry, animal print shoes, you name it, you’ll find it. Aside from women’s clothing, the store carries a selection of menswear and kids’ clothing. Cowboy up!

boutique PRO TIP: Plan your visit when the majority of downtown shops are open Thursday-Saturday. Check each of the links above. I can’t wait to return to visit a few stores that were closed, including The Class Room.

5.4.7 ARTS CENTER

The building’s exterior caught my eye when I drove into town. 5.4.7. Arts Center (204 W. Wisconsin Ave.), a gallery and fine arts center, is a work of art itself. It was designed by University of Kansas architecture students using sustainable materials giving it LEED platinum status.

art galleryInside, visitors can peruse the gallery’s artwork at no charge; however, donations are gladly accepted. During my visit, I fell in love with the work of Kansas artist/farmer Andi Burnum. Her collage art, made of tiny strips of magazine pages, spoke to my love of both mediums. Her illustrations of cows and dogs living their best life made me chuckle.

PRO TIP: Inquire about art classes and workshops designed for all ages.

art

MULLINVILLE

My trip host drove me to Mullinville, Kansas (10 miles west of Greensburg) on a mission to show off two roadside attractions that more visitors need to see. As the car approached the last corner of town off Highway 400, I saw it, or should I say, all of it.

MT Liggett Art Environment (119 N. Elm) preserves the work of the Kansas folk artist, MT Liggett, who worked with metal to craft sculptures on his 70 acres of farm property.

art galleryAfter my indoor gallery tour, I walked the property and back buildings outside. The contents were left untouched since his death in 2017.

farm buildingsThe man collected 6,000+ coffee cups. Why? No reason. His work glove still sits on the ground near the building’s entrance. Welding tools, an old fan, and racks with splattered paint block the entrance. You simply have to walk the property, see his artwork, and imagine the artist welding metal together.

coffee cupsLiggett’s artwork has to be seen in person to appreciate it. Like the artist, it is unique, bold, and strikingly curious.

PRO TIP: Create your version of eccentric artwork using the supplies from the Make Your Own Sculpture box in the gallery. Perhaps a heart-themed piece?

public artFROMME-BIRNEY BARN (3.5 miles South, 1 3/4 miles west of Mullinville) is a roadside gem. People seem to have an affinity for historic round barns, so they travel from miles around to see this one and sign the guestbook. It’s an 8 Wonder of Kansas Architecture for a good reason.

round barnListed on the National Register of Historic Places, the barn was built in 1912. It stands 50’ tall and 70’ in diameter. The structure has fourteen hours stalls on a perimeter. The Fromme family were homesteaders who farmed the land and owned prize-winning horses.

barnRestored in 1995, people often reserve it for weddings and gatherings. I recommend walking upstairs for an awe-inspiring look at the incredible craftsmanship of the barn’s rooftop.

PRO TIP: Visitors can tour the barn for free. Go during the day, as outdoor lighting is limited.

windmills

LODGING ACCOMMODATIONS

I was ready to check into my hotel and take a short break before enjoying evening activities in town. The Best Western Plus Night Watchman Inn & Suites (515 W. Kansas Ave.) is a highly-rated hotel with the relaxing amenities travelers need.

You can expect comfortable beds, an indoor pool and hot tub, a fitness center, a complimentary hot breakfast, and free Wi-Fi with access to a business workspace. The price per night seems reasonable given the amenities.

PRO TIP: Check-in is 3:00 pm, check-out is 11:00 am.

KIOWA COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM & SODA FOUNTAIN

For me, the best way to truly understand a town and the people who founded it is to visit a historical museum. The Kiowa Historical Museum houses local artifacts, timelines, and video displays. Carve out at least 30 minutes or more to experience it.

museumA small town’s pride is undeniable. You rarely get to see it on permanent display, so I appreciate museums that include relics from the past that pay homage to school spirit. I imagine it wasn’t easy to curate items for the display after the tornado destroyed the town, but they managed to assemble a respectable collection.

Be sure to visit the restored Hunter Drug soda fountain near the museum’s entrance. It’s a great place to order a tasty Vanilla Coke or banana split. I nestled into a sunlit booth and enjoyed the view of the outdoor pond and landscaping. If traveling with kids, the outdoor area is a nice tucked-away spot to watch koi fish swimming in the pond.

soda fountainPRO TIP: Feeling super hungry and perhaps a little adventurous? Tell them you want to try the EF5 Challenge ($40). If you can eat 15 scoops of ice cream and 10 toppings in 30 minutes, you get your photo on the Wall of Fame.

soda

KIOWA COUNTY LIBRARY

The Kiowa County Library (320 S. Main) is only a few steps from the soda fountain. I found it a delightful place to relax and stay cool from the summer heat while perusing books and magazines. I appreciated the handcrafted diorama of Fromme-Birney Round Barn and the historical photographs on display at the library’s entrance.

barnPRO TIP: A table near the entrance houses new non-fiction books, and a good-sized library area is devoted to children’s books. Ask about upcoming events designed for kids, like the weekly craft session and reading programs.

library

CRAZY MULE RESTAURANT 

Where do you go when you want a hearty, home-cooked meal? Crazy Mule Restaurant (106 Kansas Ave.) serves Kansas classics like beef noodles over potatoes and steak dinners. I chose the Country Fried Steak with a trip to the salad bar for my dinner meal with a towering glass of iced tea. Other options on the menu range from burgers and sandwiches to pork chops and brisket. Dining for breakfast? They serve it all day.

Crazy MuleThe restaurant is furnished with farm-themed decor. Guests enter under a massive metal windmill covered in lights, and framed prints of horses cover the walls. Country music plays in the background. Light fixtures made of minnow buckets and tractor sets hang overhead.

PRO TIP: Check the restaurant’s Facebook page for the daily buffet special.

country fried steak

DAY 2

After a grab-and-go breakfast at the hotel, I checked out of the hotel, ready for more adventures. My travel host arranged for us to have a personalized tour of USD 422’s school building. Why? It isn’t your typical school building.

KIOWA COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL 

The residents of Greenwich had to build a new school after the tornado destroyed most of the town. USD 422 is the first LEED Platinum K-12 school facility in the United States, a recognition that is well-deserved because of thoughtful planning and design by Kansas City-based architects.

schoolOne step inside the building, and you immediately realize its design is unlike any school building you’ve seen before. The ceiling and walls are made from reclaimed wood from Southeast Kansas barns, which absorb sound. Natural light floods into every hallway, gymnasium, and classroom. In 2013, they added a new addition to the school outfitted with a limestone exterior and cypress wood salvaged from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Designed to be a Smart building, the HVAC system is state-of-the-art. Each classroom draws fresh air, which is recirculated outside. Underground geothermal wells maximize energy consumption. The same wells provide renewable energy to many of the town’s community buildings.

hallwaysLockers made from recycled plastic line the hallways for the students in the upper grades. School children sit in classrooms outfitted with top-notch technology, looking out of windows to landscape spaces. Outdoors, rainwater is collected on the rooftop and stored in four cisterns. Drought-resistant native grasses dot the open spaces.

outdoor common areaIf you get the opportunity to tour the home of the Mavericks, I recommend you do so. It’s an interesting tour showcasing how designing for sustainability and longevity is possible.

PRO TIP: Take a few minutes to stand in front of the framed panoramic photograph adjacent to the school’s common area. It shows the town’s devastation and serves as a reminder of the community’s resilience.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

City parks beautify the town in several locations. In town, families use modern playground equipment and picnic tables when spending a day outdoors. If you like disc golf, Davis Park (600 E. Kansas) is the place to ring chains. The park has two picnic shelters, plenty of shade, playground equipment, and RV electric hookups.

disc golfGreensburg’s city pool lets locals and visitors cool off from the sun’s rays. Admission is $2 per person per day. For its size, the pool impresses with slides for big kids and water features young kids will appreciate.

PRO TIP: Check the pool’s Facebook page for upcoming events like Night Swim or Pooch Plunge.

CANNONBALL BAR & GRILL

My tour of Greensburg was ending, but not before I dined at Cannonball Bar & Grill (801 E. Kansas Ave.). The parking lot was active, and locals walked in the door when I arrived for lunch. People waited for to-go orders.

Seated at a booth with a window view, the waitress told me Chicken Fried Chicken Sandwich with Sidewinder Fries was the day’s special. I ate every bite. I was tempted to order a scratch-made slice of pie from the reach-in refrigerator, but I was too full from the hearty lunch plate. My advice? Split a meal and order the dessert.

PRO TIP: The restaurant is closed Sunday-Tuesday. View the restaurant’s hours here. If the neon Open sign is blinking, go on in. Local bands, a pool table, and a jumping jukebox make Cannonball an entertaining place to go on a Friday or Saturday night.

sandwichGreensburg is a town that will surprise you. The community’s determination to rebuild itself as a thriving community and now tourism destination is impressive. I encourage you to book an overnight stay or take a day trip from Wichita to experience its attractions first-hand.

Greensburg

 

Filed Under: Kansas, Travel Tagged With: antiques, art, bar & grill, barn, Best Western, biking, boutiques, butcher shop, deli, disc golf, electric car, farm, gallery, Greensburg, high school, Kansas, library, meteorite, movie theatre, Mullinville, museum, pallasite, park, roadside, sculpture, soda fountain, sustainability, sustainable, swimming pool, tornado, water, well, windmill

5 Essential Cookbooks You Shouldn’t Live Without

April 15, 2021 by Vanessa Whiteside Leave a Comment

Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.

You open the refrigerator and half-opened containers, ripe fruit, and leftover chicken are staring back at you. You wonder, “What recipe can I make to use up these items?” I’ve been there. When time is of the essence and I need to get dinner on the table in a hurry, I rely on my trusty cookbook library to help me out.

I don’t want you to ever stand in your kitchen again wondering what meal to prepare for your family. Each one of these five cookbooks will inspire you to put on an apron! Here are five of my go-to favorite cookbooks that I highly recommend adding to your collection.

“Eating in the Middle: A Mostly Wholesome Cookbook” by Andie Mitchell

I love this cookbook because Mitchell includes wholesome, healthy recipes that are admittedly a bit decadent. Eating is about balance and when you know you need to eat a nutritious meal yet still crave certain ingredients, “Eating in the Middle” is a must-use cookbook. She has taught me better ways of preparing ingredients (baked sweet potatoes, anyone?) and has taught me to appreciate foods that cut the calories but not the flavor. I highly suggest preparing her Argula with Orange Segments, Spiced Walnuts & Goat Cheese salad.

What Can You Expect:

Recipes with big flavor using fresh ingredients perfect for weeknight meals or weekend celebrations. The book includes a chapter “For Sharing” with recipes ideal for large families or hosting friends.

Buy the cookbook here.

“The Pioneer Woman Cooks Dinnertime” by Ree Drummond

Ree does it again! Comfort classic, 16-minute meals, and supper solutions are exactly what every home cook needs when the family is breathing down your back asking, “What’s for dinner?” You’ll find yourself adding these recipes to a regular rotation. Each fool-proof recipe comes with step-by-step photos. The cookbook includes recipes like Pork Chops with Wine and Roasted Garlic, Mexican Tortilla Casserole, and Dessert Panini. As a Kansan, I appreciate the beautiful photos and prairie life commentary included within its pages. I recommend trying her Sausage, Kale, & Potato Soup recipe.

What Can You Expect:

Tips for make-ahead meals, ingredient variations for each recipe, conversion charts, and recommendations for complementary side dishes or bread recipes. Don’t skip pages 370-371! Ree has created recipe lists based on the type of eater you’re serving from Fancy Friends to Kid-Friendly and Meatless Wonders to Neighbors in Need.

Buy the cookbook here.

“New Cookbook” by Better Homes and Gardens

The internationally recognized cookbook is a staple for every home chef. It was the very first one that I owned and it was given to me by my mother just after I graduated high school.  First introduced in 1930, it continues to provide cooks with dishes made with easy-to-source ingredients. From comfort classics like roasted chicken to fancier fare such as Gingered Plum-Glazed Halibut, the cookbook is the ultimate resource for cooks from beginner to advanced. I recommend preparing the Ribeyes with Grilled Garlic recipe.

What Can You Expect:

Each recipe includes nutrition facts and daily vitamin values. Expect to learn the basics of how to select meat, how to prepare food using various cooking methods, and how to select the perfect serving dish.

Buy the cookbook here.

“Family Food: Kitchen Tested, Home Approved” by Guy Fieri

A fan of “Guy’s Ranch Kitchen,” a Food Network show that features fellow chefs cooking together at Guys’ home, I’ve learned a lot about how to elevate my cooking using smoked, grilled, and fresh ingredients. The cookbook includes 125 “real-deal recipes” that pay homage to his family’s love of food. The chapters are filled with recipes ranging from stacked sandwiches and savory noodle dishes to recipes that families can get involved in making like kabobs and home-baked pizza. I prepared Poutine French French Fries, a recipe that I’m still daydreaming about today.

What Can You Expect:

Quick tips for selecting the best ingredients, Flavortown favorites, and recipes using southwestern ingredients.

Buy the cookbook here.

“Home Cooking Basics: Great Food Made Simple” by Southern Living

Have you ever dined in the South and wished you could make the same recipes at home? “Home Cooking Basics” includes easy-to-follow Southern recipes that take the guesswork out of cooking. The book is written to improve your cooking skills while expanding your flavor palette. I highly recommend buying the cookbook if you or someone you know would appreciate having a virtual chef by your side walking you through each step of a recipe. Fancy up your appetizer spread with recipes like Baked Fig Crostini or Curried Shrimp Tarts. Dive into dinner entrees like Southern Stuffed Rosemary Chicken or Braised Beef Brisket. I recommend making Big Daddy’s Grilled Blue Cheese-and-Bacon Potato Salad when hosting a backyard party.

What Can You Expect:

The book is an illustrated guide to Southern cooking. If you follow the steps shown in each photo, you’ll achieve culinary greatness by the time you’re ready to serve a meal. They make it easy!

Buy the cookbook here.

I hope that you find one of these cookbooks the perfect addition to your kitchen library or best suited as a gift for a fellow foodie. I’d love to hear your recommendations for a must-have cookbook. Leave it in the comments below!

cookbooks

 

Filed Under: Taste Tagged With: baking, books, chefs, cookbooks, cooking, foodie gift, guide, home cooking, library, reading, recipes, southern

The Power of Sharing Books: Little Free Library

May 29, 2018 by Vanessa Leave a Comment

Give a book. Take a book. Little Free Libraries are pop-up stands, located around cities, that contain books for people to donate books to, and if they need a book, take a book to read. It’s brilliant!

Have you seen a Little Free Library in your town? We have several in our city where stands are typically located near parks or civic organizations. I appreciate the thought behind the book kiosks because each one stands as a symbol for building community, a thoughtful ripple of pay-it-forward kindness. The book exchange concept is a fun way to donate books you no longer want and perhaps find a new book to read. Because it is free — everyone wins!

I dropped leftover classroom books off at two Little Free Libraries in my area. Inside each stand, I found deep shelves partially stocked with all genres of books from young adult literature to true crime dramas. Each library had plenty of room for me to add my donated books. All you have to do is open the front door of the library, place your book donations inside, and close the door. This act of kindness couldn’t be more simple!

Out of consideration of potential readers, your donated books should be in like new condition.

You can locate a book exchange location using this map! Don’t like the books within a Little Free Library, no problem! Simply located another kiosk in your area using the interactive map.

NOTE: If accompanying a child, you might need to help them open the door to a Little Free Library as they are built for an adult’s height.

Fun Fact: Little Free Libraries are also referred to as “mini-town squares.”

Want to learn more about starting a book exchange stand in your neighborhood? Interested in donating books on behalf of your kid’s scout troop or school? Learn more about Little Free Libraries here. 

I would love to hear about your experience donating in your community! Please comment below to tell me about it!

Free Little Libraries

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: book, book exchange, books, cause, donate, fiction, free, Free Little LIbrary, learning, libraries, library, non-fiction, pay it forward, random act of kindness, read, reading

Abilene, Kansas: The Boyhood Home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower

July 25, 2017 by Vanessa 8 Comments

“The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.” – President Dwight D. Eisenhower

The 34th president of the United States and 5-Star General was raised in Abilene, Kansas. Founded in 1857, the town grew when the railroad and the Chisholm Trail intersected causing it to become the first cowtown in America. Today, the small but bustling town draws history enthusiasts and day-trippers looking for an afternoon of entertaining tourist stops.

Just east of Salina on Highway 70, the town that raised a president includes sites for the young and old. Full of tourist stops and antique shops, you’ll be hard-pressed to see everything the town offers visitors in one day.

Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home, 200 SE 4th Street.

Tourists can explore all three sites on 22 acres of land that include five buildings housing artifacts and documents that trace his life from his childhood to his final days. In fact, Eisenhower and his immediate family were laid to rest on the property, a memorial that visitors can also visit.  Across from his library, the museum houses far more than nostalgic “I Like Ike” buttons. The museum curators painstakingly collected nearly everything bearing his name to the clothing he wore while at war.

After slowly making your way through his museum passing by artifacts documenting his achievements and his family life, you can step outdoors and see his small boyhood home in the distance. Visitors are able to tour the interior of the home led by a tour guide about every thirty minutes. Sightseers awaiting the next tour should sit outside on one of the shaded benches until the next free tour begins.

The three-bedroom 19th-century home is situated on its original site and the bottom level is open to visitors. The house and its contents look exactly as his mother left them before she passed on. It feels surreal to stand in a president’s boyhood home. You will feel a real connection to Eisenhower by the end of your tour.

A man liked by nearly everyone who met him or admired his career, you’ll find yourself looking up to the man in more ways than one while standing near his statue.
You will be enamored by this house from it’s size (it housed his whole family!) to the family’s rich traditions recorded inside.
See the blue ceiling on the porch? It’s supposed to mimic the sky. A famous photograph of the family taken on this porch is on display in the museum.
This stained glass window is part of the Eisenhower Memorial where his wife and children are buried.

Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau, 201 NW 2nd Street

This quaint visitor’s center employs one super helpful tour guide! Ask her anything. She is a proud resident prepared to give you historical facts and free maps too. The building is actually a historical Union Pacific Depot that is open seven days a week. If you stop here first before beginning your tour of the town, you can watch an introductory video or gather materials for your journey. Don’t forget to take your photo inside an original bright red phone booth located just outside of the center. A farmer’s market selling produce and homemade wares take place on the grounds on Saturday mornings.

The original Union Pacific Railroad Depot, Abilene’s Visitor Center is small in size but big on personality.
Well, hello there!

Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad Excursion/Dinner Train, 888-426-6687, 200 SE 5th Street

You can also ride the historic rails in Abilene from the 1887 Rock Island Depot and Gift Shoppe. After buying your ticket for the next scheduled dinner train tour, you can tour the depot’s artifact museum. The walls of the depot show the writings of railroad workers of the past. Have a question about the historic rails? Ask the depot’s employee, a kind woman behind the counter who knows quite a bit about the town’s history. The dinner train departs at 6:30 pm four times each summer and at 6:00 pm four times each fall.

Diesel, steam locomotives, a caboose, and gondola care are also on display for viewing or riding. Fares for kids three and under are free, children up to age 11 $7.50-$15, and adults $15-$30.

Be sure to head over across the depot to see the recreated Old West downtown watch the gunfighter show starting at noon each day. The volunteer impersonators interact with the crowd and shoot blanks at one another to tell the story of the wild west.

Located outside the front doors of the Old West saloon, the “bartender” took our photo and served us cold root beer and freshly made popcorn for the gunfighter show.

Heritage Center, 412 S. Campbell Street

This national historic landmark was voted one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas and includes over 100 years of telephone history on site. It is a short walk from the Eisenhower complex. You’ll see early models of telephones to modern-day advances in technology. It’s mind-blowing.

Behind the museum visitors can take themselves on a self-guided tour of log cabins, the 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel (rides available!), a one-room schoolhouse, and much more! The operator of the carousel has worked as a volunteer there for years and smiles ear-to-ear while sharing the history of this stunning restored piece of local history. Don’t forget to have him take your photo!

We were the only people riding, but that just made it more special.
This print shop interior exhibits the original letterpress used to print the town’s newspaper.
You can go inside this one-room school house, a work of art restored by volunteers. Ring the bell too!
I worked in secondary education for over a decade, seven of those years as a high school teacher. This one-room schoolhouse speaks to me. I love every inch of it.

Greyhound Hall of Fame, 407 S. Buckeye

Missing your family pet while on the road? Stop by a building dedicated to the history of the greyhound breed and its racing history. Two greyhounds on-site serve as the welcoming committee. If you don’t have time to visit, cruise through the parking lot. You might just find one of the dogs in its kennel outside the building waiting for you to pet him!

Ike’s Place Bar and Grill, 100 NW 14th Street

Dark and cool inside, this expansive sports bar’s walls are covered with black and white framed photos of Eisenhower’s life. The menu features typical sports bar grub but also includes homestyle entrees such as homemade soups and their famous meat chili. The waitress recommended several sandwiches and the chili as the most popular eats. This restaurant’s customer service was friendly but a little slow, but the reasonable prices and tasty lunch made up for it. You’ll enjoy the added Eisenhower history lesson from the wall artifacts and menu trivia included in your visit.

Having just scratched the surface of Abilene, I look forward to returning to check out the infamous Brookville Hotel (hot fried chicken and family-style side dishes) and the enormous Seelye Mansion.

Do you know of a fun day trip excursion in Kansas? Comment below with your favorite detour stop! A proud Kansan, I’m ready to visit another great destination in the Sunflower State.

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Filed Under: Kansas, Travel, United States Tagged With: Abilene, brookville hotel, carousel, Eight Wonders of Kansas, Eisenhower, greyhounds, history, Ike, Kansan, Kansas, landmark, library, memorial, Midwest, museum, president, railroad, saloon, statue, tourism, tourist, trains

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Ammar
Hello! I'm Vanessa. Welcome to One Delightful Life, a blog created to add more delight to your life with delicious recipes, travel destinations, and lifestyle improvement ideas. Thanks for exploring my blog!

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