Pion
Sunflower Summer
Kansas Families: Do you have school-aged kids? Make sure they are enrolled in Sunflower Summer, a program from Kansas Tourism. Get free admission to the Heritage Center and 4 other venues in Abilene starting July 9th. Make plans now. See you soon!
Memories of the Prairie Series
June 20 at 6 pm: 1930s and 1940s Period Clothing (Anntie M's Attic)
June 27 at 7 pm: The Widows of the Little Big Horn (Marla Matkin)
July 11 at 7 pm: The Minersville Story
See the 'Events' tab for more information on each series.
All programs take place at Heritage Hall, 412 S Campbell, Abilene KS
There is no cost or registration.
Ride our 1901 Carousel
Three museums that bring history to life
Welcome to the museum with three museums. Our society is dedicated to preserving the rich history of Dickinson County and sharing it with the community. Explore our exhibits, attend our events, and learn about the people and events that shaped our local area. Join us in our mission to educate and inspire future generations.
History to life
Feel the wind through your hair while “rocking” on
a hand-carved wooden horse as a 1901 C.W. Parker carousel spins to the music of a 1904 Wurlitzer Band Organ.
Step inside the one-room log cabin and immerse yourself in the daily life of a pioneer family who settled on the prairie, where homes were lit by a kerosene lamp and heat came from a wood-burning stove.
Try your hand at using a party-line switchboard
that once connected telephone calls throughout the country.
The Heritage Center consists of the Dickinson County Historical Society Museum (including outdoor exhibits and additional buildings), C.W. Parker Carousel National Historic Landmark, and the Museum of Independent Telephony.
Explore outside
Watch chickens scratch in the ground near their coop, and walk into the big red barn to find early-day artifacts.
Ring the school bell, then sit at a desk in the one-room schoolhouse and test your knowledge with the arithmetic problem on the blackboard.
See the forge and tools used by a blacksmith when horses were used for transportation.
