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Kansas (KS)
Abilene
Things to Do in Abilene
Seelye Mansion
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Seelye Mansion

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See all things to do
Seelye Mansion
5
168
#1 of 11 things to do in Abilene
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The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
22 within 3 miles
Ike's Place
115
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar • Pub
The Donut Palace
22
0.3 mi$ • Bakeries • Fast Food
Sonic Drive-In
3
0.2 mi
M & R Grill
135
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Bar
Amanda's Bakery & Bistro
98
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Quick Bites • American • Cafe
Joe Snuffy's Old Fashioned Grill
268
0.8 mi$$ - $$$ • American • Vegetarian Friendly • Vegan Options
Pizza Hut
14
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Pizza
LA Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
71
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Mexican • Vegetarian Friendly
Tossed N Sauced Pizza
24
0.6 mi$$ - $$$ • Pizza • Vegetarian Friendly
Burger King
24
0.8 mi$ • Quick Bites • American • Fast Food
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Attractions
7 within 6 miles
Abilene and Smoky Valley Railroad
382
0.5 miSpeciality Museums • Historic Sites
Dwight D. Eisenhower Library and Museum
894
1 miSpeciality Museums
Great Plains Theatre
31
0.7 miTheaters
Heritage Center of Dickinson County
81
1.1 miHistory Museums
Greyhound Hall of Fame
97
1 miSpeciality Museums
The Greenhouse
0.3 miGardens
Jeffcoat Photography Studio Museum
0.6 miSpeciality Museums
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
168 reviews
Excellent
145
Very good
19
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
1
VickiandHowie
philadelphia12 contributions
Best House Tour Ever. Must see if Kansas
Apr 2022 • Family
We had the most AMAZING tour of the Seelye
Mansion today. Terry is likely the best tour guide we have ever had…and we go on many tours all over the world. You get to see every room. His knowledge and stories about the Seelye family came directly from the two daughter of Seelye. The house is filled with the original furnishings, glassware, and decor. it is a time capsule. Terry played the Steinway and Organ for us. He is a very talented musician, excellent historian and fabulous storyteller. My children, husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This is a must do for anyone visiting Kansas. See the Einsenhower Museum in the morning and then catch an afternoon tour with Terry. You won’t be disappointed.
Written April 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
palmtreequeen1
Pennsylvania591 contributions
Wonderful tour!
Jun 2021 • Friends
Toured the mansion with my daughter and felt more like a guest then a paying customer. We both were made to feel so welcomed! The home is full of ORIGINAL furnishings and the host tells wonderful stories about many of the items. The bowling alley in the basement is particularly interesting!! Both my daughter and I loved the tour and hope to return at Christmas to see the mansion dressed up for the holidays.
Written June 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
LaurieJanean
Logan, UT185 contributions
Fabulous tour of an incredible place!
Jan 2020
Our family of 3 adults visited the Seelye Mansion in January 2020. Due to Trip Advisor reviews and the Seelye Mansion website, we had high expectations.

Still, the tour exceeded our expectations! Really--it was that good. Our tour guide was excellent, and near the end of the tour, the owner of the home gave even more information and encouraged us to sing along as he played his wonderful organ. From the bowling alley to the grand piano, the Edison fixtures to the antique Christmas displays, the home was exquisitely preserved. Wow.

We are grateful to the good, kind, and gracious people who took their time to enrich our lives with history and music. Thanks!
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
KimSherm
Peculiar, MO15 contributions
All Original
Oct 2020
The house is over 100 yrs old and is in GREAT shape. The tour guide lives there, is the owner and a bit of a character. In many mansion tours, the contents are 'from that period', but in this one, they are the actual original furnishings and everything works. Nothing is roped off and in our group 2 got to 'bowl' and one played the piano. Very impressive.
Written October 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bruce O
St. Albert, Canada60 contributions
An experience not to be missed
Jan 2020
This was one of the best experiences on our second honeymoon trip. What an unbelievable house! Terry has done the world a service by respecting and maintaining the roots and history of this historic building. He and Michael tag-teamed for our tour and they made it an immersive event. You will never get to be that close and interactive in any other historical site.
Written January 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steff A
Las Vegas, NV1,777 contributions
Amazing History and a must visit if in the areas
May 2022
Constructed in 1905, the Seelye Mansion is a historic piece of Kansas that has some fascinating history..

11,000 Square feet of a century+ of history. The one fact that blew me away was that Thomas Edison himself designed the electrical and lighting plans for the mansion. We saw an Iron that screws into a light socket in order to heat it up. Fascinating. The original furniture was in immaculate condition and you could feel the history.
Furniture and decor purchased from the 1905 World Fair in Chicago was intriguing to me. I couldn't imagine moving all that 100+ years ago. The Box Bowling alley in the basement was my favorite. It was in great condition and you get to roll a couple of balls down the lane. Fantastic.
The guide was phenomenal and really knew his stuff on the history of the Seelye family. The facts kept you engaged and I really got a feel of how this mansion was way ahead of it's time in the early 1900s. This is a must visit if in the Abilene area. Safe Travels!
Written May 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Guppysue
Kanosh, Utah, United States55 contributions
Awesome! A Must See!
Apr 2022 • Couples
I have been to many museum tours but never to mansions or house tours. Wow! ! So glad we had the opportunity to tour this lovely mansion. We had plans to go to another museum that day, but unfortunately it was not open. Terry is one of best tour guides we've had. You can sit on the furniture and feel as though you are back in the early 1900s. Thank you so much Terry! As someone else put it, the Steinway was well worth the tour as well.
Written May 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Meg C
Pawleys Island, SC59 contributions
Historic mansion fascinating to young and old visitors
Nov 2021 • Friends
I have visited several times and it never disappoints. Terry and Michael give fascinating tours. Nothing is off limits. They are so patient to you children and generous in sharing the history and access to everything. Having been a docent elsewhere I am impressed and admire their enthusiasm for the mansion and original owners.
Written November 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
M Schoenberger
Hays, KS9 contributions
Unexpected Gem
Sep 2020 • Couples
Impulse stop turned into a delightful step back in history. The tour guides were both informative and we absolutely loved the “non-roped” off areas offered within the mansion. It was a true home town experience. I have a new found appreciation for modern lightning (thank you Mr. Edison) and bowling alleys. We will definitely back at Christmas!
Written September 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
originalbob
Fort Myers, FL196 contributions
The most amazing house museum -- a true gem -- don't miss it
Oct 2011 • Friends
I'm a fan of house museums and have visited dozens of them in various cities. I have never seen one as captivating as the Seelye Mansion. It's not just its spectacular Georgian architecture or its intriguing history; it's that it is an amazing archive, with all of the original furnishings, appointments, and possessions of the original owners, much of it acquired by Mrs. Seelye at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis.

The current owner, Terry, purchased Seelye Mansion from the two Seelye "girls" who grew up here, living with them in their final years (they were in their 90s when they both passed away). That enables Terry, who was our tour guide, to relay intimate histories in each room regarding the Edison lighting (with wiring installed by Edison himself), the Tiffany-designed fireplace, the 3,000+ pieces of Haviland Limoges china, and on and on and on. It's 11,000 square feet and 25 rooms of sheer delight. Our tour (I was with a tour group) lasted over two hours; I would have loved to have spent the entire day with Terry and the Seelye mansion.

If you love house museums, do not miss this one -- it's well-worth the drive to Abilene if you're anywhere near the area.
Written October 26, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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