The Heritage Center of Dickinson County is a unique collection of two in-door museums, that continues on out-the-back-door where you will find actual buildings from around the county, all depicting life on the Plains during the American pioneer movement and westward expansion periods.  There is also a nice gift shop, a research center and a 1901 C. W. Parker Carousel.                            

The Historical Museum  depicts life on the plains during  the American pioneer movement and westward expansion periods.  Exhibits include Indians, pioneers, railroad, agriculture, Victorian and cow-town eras.

The Museum of Independent Telephony recreates the unique flavor of early independent telephone system history with hands-on displays of antique telephones, insulators, switchboards and pay stations.

After touring the Historical Museum and Telephony Museum, step out-the-back-door where you will find a Pioneer Community  with actual buildings from around the county &  the Parker Carousel, a national landmark carousel.   You will see a log cabin, barn, store, early day phone office, agriculture equipment, windmill, chickens and more in the out-of-door Museum area.

Before leaving the Heritage Center, stop by the Museum Gift Shop and browse the many books about the area and other gift items.

Tours and Educational Programs are available for tour groups and school groups.  Many of the Special Events on the Calendar are open to the public and are hands-on experiences of early day life on the Kansas prairie. 

For those wanting to know more about the people who have lived and/or died in Dickinson County, especially those doing family histories, you will want to visit the Center's Research Center which has all the official early day records.

The Heritage Center is operated by the Dickinson County Historical Society, a not-for-profit, membership organization.  For more about how to be come apart of the Society, how to volunteer at the Center, about funding and the DCHS Endowment Fund, visit the Society's page.

Click here for directions on how to get to Abilene and the Heritage Center

For information about other Attractions and Lodging in Abilene, KS, visit:  Abilene Convention and Visitors Website website or the Abilene Chamber of Commerce website.  For additional information, including history, about the county visit  Dickinson County, plus these communities: Chapman, Enterprise, Herington,  Hope, and Solomon.

For historical information about the State of Kansas, visit the Kansas State Historical Society site.  For state travel information: Travel Kansas.

  The Heritage Center of Dickinson County

412 South Campbell,  Abilene, Kansas 67410 -- directly east of the Eisenhower Center

  785-263-2681   e-mail  heritagecenterdk@sbcglobal.net

Open daily all year.

 Winter Hours:  Monday - Friday  9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM --- Sunday 1:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Extended hours from Memorial Day thru Labor Day - Open until 5:OO PM Monday - Friday  and until 8:00 PM Saturdays

Admission fee: $4.00 for those 16 years and older. Carousel extra.      Seniors (62 and over) $3.00.  Carousel extra.  Carousel only  $2.00 each  Children (age 2-15)  $2.00 each and includes Carousel. Inquire for group rates of 8 adults or more and school group rates.

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