Experience Culture, History and Nature in Abilene

When choosing a hotel in Abilene, the places you plan to visit may be a deciding factor: the city offers museums, historic buildings, performing arts, public sculptures and opportunities for nature watching. The options differ considerably. So consider whether you mainly want to visit exhibitions, explore a particular historical topic or spend time outdoors.

Art, History and Museums

At the Grace Museum, American fine art, regional history and science come together. The museum explores these topics through exhibitions and collections. Frontier Texas takes a different approach: this Western heritage center is located in historic downtown Abilene and presents the Old West using state-of-the-art technology. It also serves as the official visitor center for Abilene and the Texas Forts Trail Region.

The military history museums also have distinct focuses. The United States Twelfth Armored Division Memorial Museum is an exhibition and educational museum dedicated to studying World War II and its impact on the American people. The subject is presented across three levels of exhibits. The Dyess Memorial Museum, by contrast, displays artifacts about the life of Lt. Col. Dyess.

The National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature (NCCIL) is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As opening hours can change, check them before your visit. At Swenson House, you can learn about a building commissioned by the Swenson family in 1910 and designated an Abilene landmark. To arrange a tour, contact the organization and provide your preferred date and time.

Cityscape, Theater and Public Art

Two buildings in Abilene share the year they were built, 1910, but tell different stories: Swenson House and the Texas & Pacific Railroad Station. The station's exterior was restored to its 1920s appearance in 1994. The complete restoration of the Paramount Theatre, meanwhile, was finished in 1987. Today, it is run by a nonprofit organization and serves as a center for classic and art films as well as performing arts; programming may change.

The walkable Downtown Cultural District brings together a variety of attractions: live music venues, museums, performing arts centers, a historic theater, as well as shopping and dining. The district also features a collection of fairytale sculptures. Abilene also displays about 20 permanent sculptures by award-winning Texas artists. They stand along the railroad tracks on N. and S. 1st Street, as well as at other locations throughout the city.

One public art installation has a specific location: Flight of the Dragon is in the pedestrian tunnel behind the T&P Depot in Everman Park, 1101 N. 1st St. For a photo, visitors can stand on the castle tower or sit on the dragon's neck. The Abilene Philharmonic Association offers live symphonic music and community-focused activities.

Outdoor Activities and Special Visits

Abilene's municipal park system comprises 27 parks covering about 720 acres in total. These figures and the stated total area may change over time. At Lake Kirby Nature Park, you can watch wildflowers and birds. If you're looking for animal encounters, the Abilene Zoo offers so-called “Up-Close Tours”: the tours go behind the scenes, are led by experienced animal keepers and allow visitors to encounter animals at close range. Tour offerings and availability may change; check the options before making plans.

Dyess Linear Air Park is located within Dyess Air Force Base and displays 34 historic aircraft from the United States Air Force and the Army Air Corps. The aircraft are stationary and arranged along a linear path. Guided tours can be requested on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.; tour arrangements and times may change. So confirm your request before visiting. This makes it a different experience from a museum visit focused on exhibitions or artifacts.

If a particular tour or time-specific offering is part of your plans, take the relevant visiting conditions into account before finalizing your trip.

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