9 Museums in Abilene That You Shouldn't Miss

Located in historic downtown Abilene, Frontier Texas! is a western heritage center that allows visitors to relive the Old West through the magic of state-of-the-art technology. Frontier Texas! brings the frontier to life and lets visitors meet people who played out their lives on the Texas frontier. Frontier Texas! also serves as the official visitor center for Abilene and the Texas Forts Trail Region. Experience the legendary Texas frontier through innovative exhibits and unique encounters at Frontier Texas! Learn the story of the old west through our 90 minute hands on old west adventure "Blood & Treasure on the Frontier." Educational Programs at Frontier Texas! are designed to provide a rich educational experience for everyone. The 14,000 square-foot facility isn't a traditional museum with exhibits displayed in glass cases. At Frontier Texas!, you relive buffalo stampedes, a shootout in the Bee Hive Saloon, a wolf attack and more. And don't forget to visit The General Store that carries all your Texas souvenirs including books, t-shirts, jewelry, canned goods, and unique items made by local artisans. Frontier Texas! is the perfect place for families, History buffs, or anyone who just wants to learn a little bit more about the Lone Star state. Legends, History, Adventure.

Three floors of exhibits take you through the life and times of the 12th Armored Division from activation at Camp Campbell, KY, in 1942, to Texas, to New York, to Europe to deactivation in Germany in 1945. We are a "unique" museum with artifacts from all aspects of the daily life of a WWII soldier - and the 12th is also a recognized liberator. 12th men were there at the liberation of a sub camp of Dachau.

The Grace Museum is a hub of art, culture and community located in historic downtown Abilene, Texas. Originally built in 1909 for railroad travelers as the Hotel Grace, the fully renovated Mission Revival style Grace Museum now showcases rotating exhibitions of world-class art and photography by American artists with Texas connections, as well as historic works and objects from the Museum's permanent collection. The Grace also houses an interactive children’s museum with exhibits that kids of all ages can enjoy.

The mission of the Center for Contemporary Arts is to encourage, empower and inspire artists, children and the community through the arts. The Center for Contemporary Arts, a 501 (c) (3) corporation, was founded in 1989. The Center's exhibits and community education programs serve over 26,000 individuals annually. By offering free admission to all exhibits, the Center serves a broad cross-section of the community, reaching individuals of a variety of ages, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds. While we are proud of the quality and variety of the Center's exhibits, we recognize that providing an enriching and educational experience for gallery visitors requires more than hanging art on the walls. As our gallery offerings have grown, so have our efforts to make the Center more accessible to the broad demographic served by our programs.

The Dyess Memorial Museum is a gallery showcasing the history of Lt Col William Edwin Dyess and the base that is named for him. The Dyess Linear Air Park is the largest air park in the USAF with 34 historic aircraft.

The Discovery Center is a Creation Museum that has been serving the Abilene area for over 19 years. Prepare to experience the evidences of the true origin of the universe, earth and all life on earth through a biblical worldview. Attractions include our classic guided creation tour which includes a visit to Genesis Park and our live animals, enjoy a short 15 minute video on dragons in our Origins Theater, as well as dinosaurs and other fossils. There is also attention given to "Giants" and our new space exhibit in honor of Apollo 16 astronaut, Charles Duke. Plan to spend time in "The Miracle of Israel" exhibit building as 4000 years of Jewish history is displayed in this self-guided tour which displays the full scale replica of the Ark of the Covenant and ancient Torah scrolls. Our last exhibit is "The Titanic Remembered" a wand guided tour and features artifacts and memorabilia that show direct attachment to the Abilene area. Plan to spend the afternoon.