What to do in Abilene
 

We're going to Abilene this week-end. We have a tour of the Seelye Mansion, and plan to visit the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. Heard The Brookville Hotel has great chicken. What are we missing in Abilene

The free Greyhound Hall of Fame across the street from the Presidential Library, Heritage Center of Dickinson County & Museum of Independent Telephony, Bow Studio & Gallery, Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, and the large Russell Stover Candies store at the factory. The Great Plains Theatre is performing "Smoke on the Mountain."

Other restaurants worth visiting are the Kirby House Restaurant and Mr. K's Farmhouse.

Keith has given you great recommendations. The Eisenhower Library and Museum are not to be missed and will take up a good deal of a day. The Brookville Hotel is wonderful as well. The menu is the same for everyone and served family style to your party. The chicken is fantastic, but so are the potatoes and the other sides, and then the ice cream for dessert is a nice touch. Enjoy!

Thank both of you Keith and Kansasmom for the info. I tried to get tickets to the Great Plains Theatre, but they were sold out. Maybe next time. Looking forward to the trip. Do you guys know what it costs for the Eisenhower Library and Museum? My page said it wasn't available to view. Thanks you for your good info. I know we will enjoy the trip to Abilene.

Just looked at the Eisenhower Library/Museum website. It's open 9:00 am - 4:45 pm every day. Cost is $10 per adult, or $9 for seniors.

As a person whose admiration for Ike (both as World War Two commander and as President) has steadily grown over the decades, I couldn't help but find the statue they made for him a bit jarring.
http://67.212.168.117/siteassets/eisenhower2W400.jpg
The statue doesn't represent Ike's rather impressive ability to listen to innumerable opinions, think about all options, and then reach a decision for which he assumed complete responsibility -- and one that would usually be the right one.

Myself, I'd prefer a statue of Ike sitting at his SHAEF Desk in deep thought, recalling the moment when he knew that he -- and HE ALONE -- had to decide whether to land on June 6th despite marginal weather. Knowing full well that the wrong choice might result in a catastrophe for the Free World, he thought for a minute or so, then said four syllables that I'd like to see on the statue: "Okay, we'll go."
The statue can pretend that Ike -- a notorious chain-smoker -- wasn't holding a cigarette at that moment.

The charge is just for the museum. The rest of the complex is free. Unless the temporary exhibit is very good (I don't know what it is right now), I think that the charge is too high for what they have, and recommend doing just the free things.

PaulRabe, That statue is probably less jarring to his sensibilities than what has been proposed in his honor in Washington.

> That statue is probably less jarring to his sensibilities
> than what has been proposed in his honor in Washington.

I was frankly stunned when I saw the plans -- the concept is COMPLETELY wrong.

His family also thought it was wrong.

Thank all of you for the info about Abilene. Really looking forward to the trip. Kansas is an amazing place to live, so want to see and experience all of it.

Wrong Abeline, Tromsd:-)

Whew - i thought this was about Abilene, Texas and I couldn't imagine why it would have a statue of Ike!

You mean all Albiene's aren't the same? :)