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Memories of the Prairie
Experience first-hand stories, educational programs and re-enactors bring history to life at the Historical Society and Museum on Saturdays during the summer. Come learn about the history of Dickinson County and Kansas from those that have lived it. The series culminates with an old-fashioned ice cream social. Each session starts at 7:00 pm at the Heritage Hall.
June 14th: Marvin Burris - How Abilene became the first major shipping point for Texas cattle
June 21st: Teresa Weishaar - Women of the Prairie
June 28th: Schuler Family - Angus Days and Fairview Farm
July 12th: James Holland - T.C. Henry's speech about Tom Smith
July 19th: Ice Cream Social - Enjoy homemade ice cream and good fellowship with a chance to take home a pie, cake, cookies or other baked goods up for auction. Auction revenue benefits the Historical Society.
Heritage Center and Museum
Explore a historical world
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.
