Abilene Cultural District

Abilene was among the first Texas cities to capitalize on the pivotal role the arts can play in downtown revitalization and economic impact. The downtown area between Treadaway and Grape Street and North 1st to North 8th was designated the Abilene Cultural District by the Texas Commission on the Arts in 2010. The cultural district includes museums, galleries, parks, gardens, outdoor sculpture, a historic theater, restaurants and shopping.

The Grace Museum

The Grace is a crown jewel in the Abilene art community and is known nationally as a true fine arts museum - with a special focus on Texas art and artists. Built in 1909 as The Grace Hotel, today it houses five art galleries, an education center and an interactive gallery for children and families. The third floor is dedicated to Abilene history and includes a bootmaker’s shop. The Grace is accredited by the American Alliance for Museums.

Historic Paramount Theatre

Built in 1930 and designed by architect David S. Castle, the Paramount is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is central to Abilene's Cultural District. The Paramount presents a myriad of events including films, concerts, musical productions, opera and dance. The theater hosts the Children’s Performing Arts Series, Abilene Ballet Theatre and the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra. Take a photo tour of the historic theater here.

National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature

The NCCIL (pronounced "nickel") was the first museum in America to exclusively exhibit original children’s picture book art from award-winning artists. The NCCIL is free to tour and hosts workshops, art activities, school tours and artist visits. The gift shop sells many books signed by the artists themselves.

Storybook Capital of America®

Since the 1990s, Abilene has celebrated children’s picture book art. The city is home to the first picture book museum in America and the largest collection of public storybook sculptures in the country if not the world. The annual Children’s Art & Literacy Festival takes place each June. Abilene is a place where childhood adventures begin.

Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden

The garden opened in 2017 on the grounds of the Abilene Convention Center and is home to bronze sculptures of characters that have leapt off the pages of beloved children’s books such as “Charlotte’s Web” and “Stuart Little.” See Goldilocks running from The Three Bears and the Big Bad Wolf trying to blow down The Three Little Pigs’ house.

The Center for Contemporary Arts

The Center is in the heart of Abilene's historic downtown area. This artist led co-op space is home to more than 70 artist members, many who have working gallery space in the facility. It houses four galleries that showcase exhibitions from contemporary artists working in a variety of media including photography. On the second Thursday of each month, the Center hosts a mini-arts festival called ArtWalk.

Frontier Texas!

This interactive museum and history center allows visitors to relive the Old West with talking holograms and high definition surround sound theaters coupled with historic artifacts such as scalps and the world’s most famous buffalo gun. Frontier Texas! also has a life-size tipi, a stagecoach used in Hollywood Westerns, a gift shop and serves as the visitor’s center for Abilene and the Texas Forts Trail Region.

Abilene Convention Center

The Convention Center downtown hosts conferences, arts and crafts shows, gun and knife shows, banquets, special events, concerts and theatrical performances. The auditorium seats 2,091 people and is the home of the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra and the Broadway in Abilene series hosted by Celebrity Attractions.

Vera Hall Minter Memorial Park

This city park nestled between a coffee shop and an art gallery was first home to Fulwiler Livery Stable in the pioneer days. In 1916, architect David S. Castle designed the Queen Theater built on that spot. The theater was torn down in 1974 and replaced by Vera Hall Minter Memorial Park. The park was remodeled in 2020 and now has a colorized, programmable water curtain, limestone seating and a Storybook Sculpture - Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies.

Everman Park

This downtown city park has adapted with changing times, from cowboys racing horses to the home of contemporary artwork, a large fountain and Dr. Seuss sculptures. The park was named in 1914 after John Everman, a rail company officer. Today, it hosts community events, serves as a backdrop for family photos and attracts tourists. Pose with six Dr. Seuss sculptures - the Cat in the Hat, Yertle the Turtle, The Grinch, The Lorax, Green Eggs and Ham and Horton Hears a Who.

Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition

Abilene is home to the longest running outdoor sculpture exhibition of its kind in the state of Texas. See sculptures by award-winning Texas artists along the North and South 1st Street railroad tracks through the center of town as well in some other places in Abilene. Get a map at the T&P Depot, 1101 N. 1st St., or download it here. Every other September, four new sculptures are added for a two-year exhibit. These fun, funky designs make downtown culturally vibrant!

12th Armored Division Memorial Museum

The 12th holds a rare place among military museums. Visitors who tour military museums throughout the U.S. and Europe say this is the only one dedicated to telling the story of one unit's combat history in World War II. Three floors of photographs, artifacts and personal testimonies of veterans tell the story of the 12th, which liberated a concentration camp and helped shorten the war in Europe by stopping German forces.

Dyess AFB Memorial Museum & Linear Air Park

Learn about the history of the base and its namesake, Lt. Col. William Edwin Dyess, in the museum located next to the base. The air park is the largest one of its kind in the Air Force with 34 historic aircraft. Museum hours are 9:30 a.m.-4:30 a.m. weekdays. The air park is on base and to gain access, call the museum at 325-696-2099 or 325-793-2199 to set up a tour.  The tour is 2-3 hours. Groups limited to 5 or less.

Abilene Zoo

Discover more than 250 species at the Abilene Zoo, which is accredited with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Hand-feed a giraffe lettuce, ride the Wildlife Carousel or book a behind-the-scenes tour. Ride the Safari Express Train. During the warm months, take a swan paddle boat ride across Nelson Lake. The zoo is Abilene’s No. 1 tourist attraction with 250,000 visitors a year.

Expo Center of Taylor County

The Expo Center hosts more than 230 events a year. The two largest events are the West Texas Fair & Rodeo in September and the Western Heritage Classic in May. For Western Heritage Classic, cowboys compete in bronc riding, wild cow milking, team penning, team roping and calf branding. Sample authentic chuck wagon cooking as dozens of chuck wagons from across the southwest compete for Cookoff Champion titles. The Expo Center also hosts other equestrian events, concerts, monster truck tours, circuses and more.

Fort Phantom Hill

Located in present-day Jones County, Fort Phantom Hill is one of the most pristine historic sites in Texas. It was one of the second line of forts laid out in the early 1850s to protect the westward-moving frontier of Texas settlement. Today, Fort Phantom Hill is part of the Texas Forts Trail, a 650-mile highway tour of historic Texas forts in West Central Texas. Originally known as the “Post on the Clear Fork of the Brazos,” the fort was occupied by the U.S. Army from 1851 until 1854.

Lake Kirby Park & Nature Play Area

Lake Kirby is a 740-acre man-made reservoir that is a popular fishing spot for catfish and bluegill. The park has a beautiful raised wooden walkway and nature viewing area. Educational signage shows birds and animals that live in the area with photographs. The playground has play equipment, log bridges and a discovery sandpit where you can dig for casts of dinosaur bones. There's also baseball/softball fields, picnic tables and pavilions to enjoy a family lunch.

Swenson House

Built in 1910 by W.G. and Shirley Swenson, the home underwent a major remodel in 1928 that added Spanish Colonial Revival architectural features. Today, the Swenson House Historical Society manages the home, which is available for tours and rental. The society hosts several events during the year, including Haunted Abilene, Boo Bash, a Christmas Party, and Rock the Swenson.

Morgan Jones Planetarium

Currently closed to the public due to COVID-19.

One of only 17 planetariums in Texas, Morgan Jones Planetarium opened in 1968 and is owned by the Abilene Independent School District. It features a dome room experience with a 2K laser projector where you can see constellations and learn about astronomy. 

Adventure Cove

Currently closed to the public due to COVID-19.

At Adventure Cove, families can enjoy a leisure pool with a zero-depth beach entry, a lazy river, a pair of water slides, a tube slide, a covered patio, a bathhouse and Castaway Cafe. Adventure Cove is owned by the City of Abilene and located next to Rose Park. The water park is open during the warm months, which is generally Memorial Day weekend to early September.

Mexican

The Local is serving contemporary Mexican food, street tacos and craft cocktails with indoor and outdoor seating available in the heart of downtown Abilene. Miguel’s Tex Mex Cafe and Agave Bar has a big outdoor patio and serves bacon-wrapped shrimp stuffed with Mexican white cheese, mango margaritas and hatch green chili sauce enchiladas. Casa Herrera is a long-time local favorite serving Tex-Mex since 1974. Farolito Restaurant has served up a little taste of Mexico since 1936. The historic restaurant’s walls are covered in colorful murals and Mexican blankets and sombreros. There’s even a display case with a collection of historic law enforcement memorabilia.

Steak

Gluten-free and vegetarian options available.

Cypress Street Station is located in a historic building just across the street from the old T&P Railroad Depot and serves a variety of American cuisine, from New York Strip steak to seafood and chicken with a full bar. Bite into an Angus steak and sip a Long Island Iced Tea at Beehive Restaurant and Saloon downtown. Eat heavily-marbled ribeye and filet mignon at Lytle Land and Cattle Co. Dine at upscale Copper Creek Restaurant on mesquite-smoked aged beef and fresh seafood. Try a martini from the cocktail menu.

BBQ

The Shed Market is so popular there’s usually a line. Family style seating on long picnic tables. The brisket is mouth watering and tender. Popular sides are green chili mac and cheese, jalapeno cilantro slaw and bacon ranch potato salad. Betty Rose’s Little Brisket serves tender barbecue, jalapeno cheese sausage, grilled chicken, a variety of sides and its famous homemade banana pudding. Joe Allen’s Pit Bar-B-Que opened in 1980 and offers world-famous steak, mesquite-smoked brisket and ribs, catfish, burgers, sandwiches and plenty of sides.

The Old Jail Art Center - Albany, Texas

Located 36 miles northeast of Abilene

The Old Jail Art Center is an art and regional history museum housed in a former jail that was completed in 1878. After being replaced by a new jail in 1929, the old jail building was saved from demolition by local author and playwright Robert E. Nail Jr. in 1940. The building went from housing inmates to housing thousands of permanent and traveling works of art. The permanent collection includes works by famous artists such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee and Amedeo Modigliani .

Buffalo Gap Historic Village - Buffalo Gap, Texas

Located 15 miles south of Abilene

Step back in time when you visit the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. The centerpiece is the 1879 structure that housed both the courthouse and jail for Taylor County before the county seat was moved to Abilene in 1883. The center includes a doctor’s office, barbershop, railroad depot, bank, post office, print shop, private homes, and the Nazarene Church. Check the calendar for special events including living history programs. 

Abilene State Park - Tuscola, Texas

Located 16 miles south of Abilene

The Comanches once frequented the area now known as Abilene State Park. The 529-acre park is located along the shady banks of Elm Creek and features hiking trails, campsites and screened shelters, including yurts! Fish and swim at the lake. Climb up to the lookout tower on the concession building made of red sandstone in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and designed by noted architect David S. Castle. Enjoy the playground, swimming pool and nature events planned throughout the year by park staff.

Potosi Live - Abilene, Texas

Located 9 miles south of Abilene

Potosi Live is a family friendly entertainment venue on 16 acres in east central Taylor County featuring delicious seafood, prime burgers and brisket sandwich with a full-service bar. The venue hosts concerts, comedy shows, sports events and more.

Perini Ranch Steakhouse - Buffalo Gap, Texas

Located 15 miles south of Abilene

Tom and Lisa Perini have brought world-wide recognition to Buffalo Gap with their cowboy gourmet meals created on the Perini Ranch where Tom grew up. Tom has catered for President George Bush at the White House, Gov. Rick Perry and served barbecue to Vladimir Putin at Bush’s Texas ranch. The steakhouse is famous for its mesquite-smoked beef, Cajun catfish and bread pudding. The Perinis travel the world promoting U.S. beef. The couple also operates the Country Market and The Gap Cafe offering breakfast and lunch.

Rancho Pizzeria - Coleman, Texas

Located 51 miles south of Abilene

Rancho Pizzeria serves wood-fired pizza and selected Texas wines in a downtown Coleman historic building. Owners Robert and Laurie Williamson first established their fine dining restaurant, Rancho Loma, near Coleman in 2003, followed by Rancho Pizzeria in 2015 and then Rancho Loma Vineyards across the street. Pizza options include arugula with béchamel, fontina, white truffle oil, prosciutto and wild arugula; fungi; pepperoni; carne; margherita; street tacos; and sausage. Try tiramisu for dessert!