home
| Join us for these exciting 2010 events! | |
In 2010 we are celebrating the Centennial year of the Swenson House. We have a full round of events scheduled to make sure Abilene celebrates this remarkable historic property in style. We invite you to join us for as many events as you can. Even better, become a member of the Abilene Preservation League! Tours of the Swenson House will be given once a month from March through September. Check below for the dates, which are subject to change. |
|
March |
|
SATURDAY MARCH 6, 6:30 p.m.: The kickoff event of the Swenson Celebration Year, our Roaring 20s Speakeasy Party. You're invited to the event premiering the year of celebrations. At the Swenson House, 1726 Swenson Avenue. $50 per person. Twenties attire if you desire! Bring your own flask and enter through the porte-cochere with your password. For reservations, call 325-676-3775 extension 2, and you'll a password! |
 |
 |
SATURDAY MARCH 27, 4:00 p.m.: Tour the Swenson House from top to bottom, with the first of our monthly tours. See the basement where Mr. Swenson, one of the founders of West Texas Utilities, fired the boiler and wrote down every delivery for the coal-fired boiler. Members free, $5 for non-members. |
April |
|
SATURDAY APRIL 24, 4:00 pm: Top to Bottom Tour of the Swenson House: When the Swenson House was built, it was alone on 54 acres owned by the Swensons. Now it sits on over 2 acres, filled with blooming plants this month, carefully tended by volunteers led by Martin Jensen. Free for APL members; suggested contribution $5 per person for non-members. |
|
May |
|
TUESDAY, MAY 4, 11:45 AM: Join us at the Hunter Welcome Center for the third annual Heritage Stewardship Awards. We recognize the best in preservation in Abilene, featuring the Beautiful House Award and best commercial and institutional examples of progress in preservation. Special guest will be Bruce Shackelford. Bruce is an Abilene native who appears as an expert appraiser regularly on the PBS series, "Antiques Roadshow." Call now for table information and sponsorships, 676-3775, or email us. SATURDAY, MAY 29, 4:00 PM: Monthly top-to-bottom tour of the Swenson House. Free for APL members, $5 for non-members. |
|
June |
|
| SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 4:00 PM: Monthly top-to-bottom tour of the Swenson House. See the beautiful hand-blocked wallpaper from 1910 that was uncovered in the living room, stained glass specially made for the house and learn about the beautiful oriental rugs. Free for APL members, $5 for non-members. | |
| SATURDAY, JULY 31, 4:00 PM: Monthly top-to-bottom tour of the Swenson House. Get a bird's eye view of the construction progress of the Arbor from the 1928 Sleeping Porch windows. Built in 1928, the arbor had to be taken down in 2002 for safety reasons. Now, thanks for a wonderful supporter of the Preservation League, the arbor is being rebuilt. Free for APL members, $5 for non-members. | |
August |
|
| SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 4:00 PM: Monthly top-to-bottom tour of the Swenson House. Free for APL members, $5 for non-members. | |
|
|
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1:00 PM (Tentative time): The Swenson House is now a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark. The Taylor County Historical Commission will unveil and dedicate the official Historical Marker that goes with the designation. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 4:00 PM A special version of the monthly top-to-bottom tour of the Swenson House. Today is the day of the gala Centennial Celebration and dinner to officially mark the 100th birthday. You'll get to see the decorations for the evening's gala dinner and the rest of what the Swenson House offers on this last of the regular monthly tours. Free for APL members, $5 for non-members.
|
|
| SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 7:00 PM The time has arrived for the big celebration of the Swenson House 100th Birthday. A large tent will be set up on the south lawn to accommodate dancing and the many guests expected. Great jazz sounds will be provided by the West Texas Jazz Orchestra, and dinner will be prepared by Chef Joel Trueblood of TruBlu Catering. Proceeds will benefit the Abilene Preservation League projects such as the Swenson House. For table and sponsorship information, call 676-3775, or email us. |  |
|
|
 |
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 AND SATURDAY OCTOBER 24 AT SUNDOWN: Haunted Abilene returns for its third year at the Swenson House. This popular event includes a trolley tour of Abilene's most famous (and friendly) ghosts, plus a house that's decorated like you wouldn't believe! Volunteers are needed and welcome (as long as you will wear a great costume!) For more information, email us or call 676-3775. |
