5 Ways to Celebrate America 250 in Abilene, Kansas
In 2026, America turns 250, and there is no better place to celebrate than in America’s Best Historic Small Town, Abilene, Kansas. Located at the end of the Chisholm Trail and along the Eisenhower Interstate System, our community proudly tells the story of courage, conviction, faith, freedom, and leadership.
This is where cattle met the rails.
This is where the frontier became a legend.
This is where a Kansas boy from modest beginnings went on to lead Allied forces in World War II and serve as the 34th President of the United States.
If you are looking for a meaningful, memorable way to mark America’s Semiquincentennial, here are five unforgettable ways to celebrate America 250 in Abilene.
1. Visit Kansas’ First America 250 Mural
Start your celebration in the heart of downtown Abilene.
The Abilene Celebrates America 250 mural, Kansas’ first official America 250 mural, overlooks Little Ike Park and the Abilene VFW Post 3279. This striking public art piece honors America’s founding and the generations who have defended our freedoms.
It is bold. It is inspiring. It is the perfect place to snap a photo and begin your America 250 journey in a community that proudly honors its past while looking to the future.
2. Run for Freedom at the Eisenhower Marathon
April 18, 2026
Kick off your weekend with the Eisenhower Marathon on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Runners from across the country will gather in President Eisenhower’s hometown to take on a course known as flat and fast.
The route winds through the same Kansas landscape once traveled by cattlemen driving herds north on the historic Chisholm Trail. It is more than a race. It is a run through American history.
Whether you are chasing a personal record or cheering from the sidelines, this event captures the determination and endurance that define our nation.
3. Experience Plains, Trains and Cowboys
April 24–25, 2026
Celebrate the American West during Plains, Trains and Cowboys, a collaborative America 250 event hosted by:
- Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad
- Dickinson County Heritage Center
- Old Abilene Town
Ride the rails behind a historic locomotive. Watch Wild West reenactments. Explore hands-on exhibits and frontier demonstrations. Stand where cowboys once walked.
Few communities can connect the railroad, the cattle trail, and the frontier quite like Abilene. During this two-day celebration, you will experience the grit, innovation, and independence that helped shape America.
4. Celebrate Freedom of Religion
April 26, 2026
On Sunday, April 26, Dickinson County will honor one of America’s most cherished freedoms: the freedom of religion.
Hosted by the Dickinson County Republican Women, the day includes church open houses from 3 to 5 p.m. across the community, followed by a 5:30 p.m. potluck dinner and presentation at St. Andrews that brings neighbors and visitors together. It is a powerful reminder that liberty is not just an idea from the past. It is something we practice and protect every day.
5. See Inside the Vault at the Eisenhower Presidential Library
June 1–July 5, 2026
For a limited time, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum will host a special exhibit in partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration as part of the nationwide Opening the Vault initiative.
More than 30 remarkable documents, records, and artifacts will travel from secure storage in Washington, DC to Presidential Libraries across the country in celebration of America 250.
This is a rare opportunity to stand face to face with extraordinary pieces of our nation’s history, right here in Eisenhower’s hometown.
Celebrate America 250 Where History Lives
Abilene is proud to be part of America’s story. From the cattle drives of the 1800s to the leadership of President Eisenhower, our community reflects the resilience and vision that define this country.
America turns 250. Celebrate it in the Heart of America.
Visit AmericaLikesAbilene.com and start planning your trip today.