Historic Swenson House In Abilene Showcases Grand Staircase Design

For somebody who loves Halloween, ghost stories, and old buildings, I took way too dang long to visit Abilene’s Swenson House in Texas. After having Tami Conaway on The Weekend Buzz, I finally joined her for a tour. Holy cow, this place is majestic.

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Inside the Historic Swenson House in Abilene

The grand staircase grabs your attention the second you walk through the front door. According to Abilene Scene’s history of the home, its design was inspired by Denver’s Brown Palace Hotel. You can see why it makes such an impression.

Downstairs, we explored the kitchen, office, and living areas before heading upstairs to the bedrooms. Tami explained that Mr. and Mrs. Swenson had separate rooms, each reflecting their own interests and hobbies. His-and-hers bedrooms? Apparently, they had personal space figured out.

You could practically smell the history. There’s also a service staircase and stairs leading to a basement. A basement in Abilene definitely got my attention.

Swenson House Gardens Deserve Their Own Spotlight

The beauty continues behind the house. The gardens make you want to slow down and hang out a while. The Swenson House’s historic arbor needs some serious TLC, and upcoming fundraisers will help repair or replace it so future generations can enjoy it.

MORE: Spooky Events & How To Help Save Swenson House Arbor

Shout-out to the Big Country Master Gardeners Association, whose volunteer projects include the Swenson House pollinator gardens and helping maintain its grounds. That work deserves some love.

Did I Feel Anything Paranormal at the Swenson House?

Honestly? I felt peaceful. I’ve heard people describe strange energy there, but my experience was more about history and imagining the family who called it home.

Then I walked outside and spotted a Future Paranormal Investigators vehicle, with a team getting ready to tour the house. Naturally, I finally visited, felt completely relaxed, and the ghost investigators pulled up. Perfect timing.

Huge thanks to Tami for showing me around. Check out my gallery below for a look inside this incredible piece of Abilene history. For tour and membership information, visit SwensonHouse.com.