Abilene, Kansas

Traveling from Wichita, I stopped for breakfast in Abilene, Kansas.

Joe Snuffy’s Old Fashioned Grill

After checking with Yelp, the highest rated restaurant in Abilene was a local favorite, Joe Snuffy’s Old Fashioned Grill. I cook most of the time but on travel days it’s easier to stop and have a meal. It supports local businesses and is one of the best ways to learn about a place.

While waiting for my meal, I checked to see what there was to do in Abilene. It was a Sunday morning & I was surprised to see that the Greyhound Hall of Fame Museum was open and near the restaurant, so I was off to my next destination.

Greyhound Hall of Fame Museum

I knew absolutely nothing about Greyhounds or Greyhound racing until then but that was going to change. One of my mottos is “Just say yes” and I have done that while traveling. Some places I am more excited to go than others. Some have surprised me and make me glad that I visited. Keeping an open mind is key when traveling!

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There is no charge for visiting the museum but donations are welcome. As you enter the museum, a short film describes the history of greyhounds and Greyhound racing. Did you know that Greyhounds are one of the fastest animals on the planet? Check out the video below to learn more.

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As Europeans immigrated to the United States, they brought their Greyhounds with them. The Midwest, with its open prairies overrun with jackrabbits, became the ideal place for Greyhounds, for Greyhound coursing, and, ultimately, for Greyhound racing.

Identification

Racing greyhounds born in the United States are registered with the National Greyhound Association (NGA) in Abilene. For positive identification, they are tattooed in both ears when they are about 2 months old.

I met two Greyhounds when I visited the museum. I was impressed by how friendly and affectionate they were. They live at the museum full-time. Inside they have a room of their own with beds & toys. Outside they have a large fenced area where they can stretch their legs & run.

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Greyhound Trivia

• The Greyhound is the only breed of dog mentioned in the Bible (Proverbs 30: 29-31).
• The first dog mentioned in literature, in 800 B.C., was the Greyhound in Homer’s Odyssey.
• In both Greek and Roman mythology, gods and goddesses were often portrayed with Greyhounds.
• In the 14th century, in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the Greyhound was the first breed to be written about in English.
• Shakespeare mentioned Greyhounds in Henry V.
• During the Renaissance, the most famous artists of the era – Veronese, Pisanello, and Uccello – captured the elegant lines of the Greyhound in art.

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The effects of COVID are easy to spot when traveling. Many of the places I visit have reduced hours or are only open a few days each week. One of the places in Abilene I wanted to see was the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum; however, it is only open Wednesday – Saturday each week. Maybe next time!