Visitors to Eisenhower Park in Abilene, Kansas, will encounter this looming monument to the city of Abilene and its rich cultural heritage. Unveiled in December 2022, the World’s Largest Belt Buckle measures 19 feet, 10 ½ inches wide and 13 feet, 11 ¼ inches tall—and that’s not counting the frame! Visitors can climb a metal staircase to a small platform where they can stand atop the World’s Largest Belt Buckle for photos.
On the buckle are several significant symbols. A longhorn adorns the center to celebrate Abilene’s history as a significant Kansas cowtown. Above the longhorn are likenesses of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Old West folk hero “Wild Bill” Hickok, both notable residents of Abilene.
Below the longhorn are three images: the historic Seelye Mansion, a local architectural marvel; a steam engine from the Abilene & Smoky Valley Railroad, a heritage railway which preserves the legacy of the railroad industry in Kansas; and a greyhound, representing that Abilene is the Greyhound Capital of the World. Lastly, the wheat on either side of the longhorn underscores the presence of agriculture in Abilene’s past and present.
