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Sunflower Summer Program
The Heritage Center is a Sunflower Summer venue from July 12th through August 3rd.
History comes to life with FREE admission for Kansas families!
Ride the 1901 CW Parker Carousel, explore early pioneer life and learn how Abilene shaped the West. 
Download the app at SunflowerSummer.org. 

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.​
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.

 

  Experience History   

                          C.W. Parker Carousel

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Take a spin on the oldest operational C.W. Parker carousel known to exist, still delighting children of all ages as it did in the Gilded Age prior to World War I.

 

Learn the rags to riches story of Charles Wallace Parker, who spent his last dollar to buy his daughter rides on a carousel instead of purchasing groceries. Seeing the excitement on her face, he decided to get into the carousel business and later became known as the “Amusement King”.

 

The carousel features horses and chariots artistically hand-carved by German immigrants.

 

Hear the music of the 1904 Wurlitzer Band Organ, playing the tunes that kept children and adults thrilled and amused for decades as they rode the carousel at carnivals.

 

During special events, the carousel is operated by a steam engine, just as it did more than a century ago.