I was hosted on a trip to Abilene Kansas by Visit Abilene Kansas
The Story
In 1970, while visiting Abilene on a choir trip, a young man named Terry, and his brother, happened to see an old majestic home. The outside of the home was unkept and the home looked like it needed some care but there was something about it that drew him and his twin brother Jerry into wanting to know more about the old house.
Terry asked around and found out that two sisters, Helen and Marion Seelye lived there and had grown up in the home. As he told me, he was so drawn to the home he wanted to look inside and take a tour. Everyone told him there was no way the sisters would allow him in the home but that just made him more determined. He met with one of the sisters and had a nice conversation, but she told him in no uncertain terms she was not interested in selling and he was wasting his time before dismissing him.
Over the next 11 years, Terry would come to Abilene and talk with the sisters, gradually gaining their acceptance and they allowed him to tour the home, still telling him they would not sell. Terry was amazed that on the outside the home had an overgrown lawn and needed some maintenance but on the inside it was a magnificent time capsule to an earlier time.
In 1982 Terry and his brother finally convinced the sisters to sell the home, agreeing they could remain living in the home. He told me that’s when he became their guest. Terry moved into one of the small guest rooms and the sisters remained in their room. He did the maintenance and started cleaning up and doing some repairs but only with the sisters permission. They insisted he dress for dinner, insisted on keeping their rules of the house intact and Terry became like a son or nephew taking care of the two aging sisters. Although he owned the mansion, he said he always knew they were in charge, and he was more or less a guest.
Marion passed away in 1988 and Helen followed in 1992. Terry’s twin brother Jerry passed away in 1989 and Terry became the sole owner.
Listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1986, The Seelye Mansion has also been named one of the 8 Wonders of Kansas Architecture. Built for Dr A.B. Seelye and his wife in 1905 for a cost of $55,00, the 11,000 sq ft home is filled almost entirely from furnishings purchased at the 1904 St Louis World’s Fair.
Hotels in Abilene Kansas
The Architecture
The mansion was designed by New York architect James C. Holland, who also contributed to the Kansas State Capitol. The three-story, 25-room mansion features eleven bedrooms, a third-floor ballroom, and a basement. The home occupies an entire city block in Abilene. Its elegant gardens, complete with a goldfish pond, pedestrian bridge, and fountain, enhance the mansion’s grandeur, offering a serene setting.
The mansion’s architectural significance extends beyond its aesthetics. It was a marvel of early 20th-century technology, incorporating original Edison light fixtures, chandeliers, and light bulbs, as well as an innovative telephone-intercom system. These features, rare for their time, underscore the Seelyes’ forward-thinking approach, blending luxury with modernity. The mansion’s layout, with multiple staircases and a third-floor ballroom, was designed to entertain, reflecting the family’s prominence in Abilene’s social scene. Frank Lloyd Wright, the renowned architect, suggested interior renovations in the 1920s, though the core design remained true to its 1905 origins.
Exquisite Furnishings from the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair
The Seelye Mansion’s interiors are a highlight, with most furnishings purchased at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, costing over $55,000—more than the mansion’s construction. These pieces, sourced from around the world, create a time capsule of early 20th-century luxury. The Grand Hall features a mosaic tile fireplace designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, its craftsmanship a centerpiece of the mansion’s elegance. The dining room, where the Seelye’s hosted lavish gatherings, showcases Haviland and Limoges china, amethyst glassware, and ornate tableware, reflecting Mrs. Seelye’s extravagant taste.
The music room houses a 1920 Steinway grand piano, handpicked by Mr. Steinway himself, if you are lucky Terry might play a tune. A 1905 Edison Cylinder Phonograph adds to the room’s historical charm, while mahogany woodwork and gold-painted finishes throughout the mansion elevate its opulence. The library, untouched for nearly 90 years, contains a treasure trove of rare books. The basement’s box ball alley, built by Holcomb & Hoke and purchased at the World’s Fair, is the only one remaining. So rare that a bowling museum once offered $1 million for it. These furnishings, preserved through dedicated restoration efforts, make the Seelye Mansion a standout among historic Kansas mansions.
A.B. Seelye made a fortune in patent medicine with his A.B. Seelye Medical Company. The Patent Medicine Museum, housed in a former Seelye laboratory behind the mansion, displays artifacts from the A.B. Seelye Medical Company, founded in 1890. Over 100 products, including Wasa-Tusa, Ner-Vena, and Fro-Zona, were sold across 14 states, showcasing Dr. Seelye’s entrepreneurial success. The museum’s collection of cure-alls and medical equipment adds depth to the mansion’s story, highlighting the family’s legacy in the patent medicine industry.
Notable Visitors and Guests
The Seelye Mansion’s history is enriched by its roster of distinguished guests, reflecting its status as a social hub in Abilene. Dr. and Mrs. Seelye frequently entertained military personnel from nearby Fort Riley, particularly during World War II, when the third-floor ballroom hosted lively gatherings. The mansion’s dining room, where the first family dinner celebrated Dr. Seelye’s parents’ 50th anniversary on Christmas Day 1905, also welcomed presidents and state governors, underscoring its prominence.
One of the most notable visitors was Dwight D. Eisenhower, Abilene’s native son and future U.S. President. As a young boy, Eisenhower delivered ice to the mansion, a connection fondly recalled by the Seelye sisters, Helen and Marion, who described him as a man from the “other side of the tracks.” This anecdote, shared during tours, adds a personal touch to the mansion’s history, linking it to one of America’s most iconic figures. The sisters, who lived in the mansion until their passing (Marion in 1988, Helen in 1992), were central to its legacy, maintaining the home’s original furnishings and sharing stories of its illustrious guests.
The mansion’s open-door policy for tours, a tradition upheld since its restoration in the 1980s, allows visitors to sit at the same dining table used by governors and presidents, play the Steinway piano, and bowl on the historic alley. Unlike many historic homes, there are no ropes or barriers, creating an immersive experience that brings the past to life. During the holiday season, the mansion transforms with over 80 Christmas trees, 750 nutcrackers, and hundreds of poinsettias—a tradition attributed to Mrs. Seelye, who reportedly introduced the poinsettia to Kansas.
A Restored Legacy
The Seelye Mansion’s preservation is a story of dedication. After Dr. and Mrs. Seelye’s passing, their daughters, Helen and Marion, remained in the home, keeping it largely unchanged. By 1981, the mansion had fallen into disrepair, with the sisters selling off furnishings to cover costs. A fire in the elevator shaft caused further damage, threatening its legacy. In 1982, Terry and his twin brother purchased the mansion, promising to restore it while allowing the sisters to live there until their deaths. The restoration, completed by 1985, recovered original furnishings, repaired damage, and opened the home for public tours, now attracting 8,000–10,000 visitors annually.
Today, the Seelye Mansion, owned by the Historic Seelye Mansion Foundation, remains a vibrant historic site. Open Monday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 90-minute tours include the mansion, gardens, and Patent Medicine Museum. Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for children, with discounts for groups. The mansion’s holiday tours, adorned with festive decorations, draw travelers seeking a glimpse of Kansas’ historic past.
The Seelye Mansion is more than a house; it’s a portal to an era of elegance, innovation, and storied connections. From its Tiffany fireplace to its Eisenhower anecdotes, this Kansas treasure invites visitors to uncover its luxurious legacy, preserved for generations to explore.
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