Abilene, Kan., has been recognized by Smithsonian Magazine as one of the 20 best small towns to visit. The article, titled “The 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2013” appears in Smithsonian Magazine’s April issue.
Abilene, which is just east of Salina off of highway 70 and has a population of 6,800, comes in at number 17 and is featured among well-known small towns like Gettysburg, Penn. and Sausalito, Calif.
The magazine notes Abilene’s location at the end of the Chisholm Trail and recognizes the city’s Carnegie Library, 1887 Rock Island Depot and the still operational 1901 C.W. Parker Carousel.
Abilene is also the childhood home of Dwight D. Eisenhower and has the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum.
“We're very pleased that such a prestigious magazine has not only recognized that Abilene is a great place to visit, but that it's one of the best in the country," said director of the Abilene Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, Glenda Purkis, in a release.
Editors of Smithsonian Magazine looked for cities that had populations less than 15,000 and had a high concentration of museums, art galleries, orchestras, historic sites and theaters.