Abilene, TX

The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum is located in Abilene, Texas, near former Camp Barkeley, where the division came for training before travelling to Europe to join the European Theater of Operations. This three-story military museum has artifacts belonging to the 12th Armored Division, extensive World War II archives, various memorabilia, oral histories, and diverse equipment and materials. The goal of the museum is to preserve the contribution of the 12th Armored Division for future generations and to be used as a teaching resource for World War II study. The museum provides innovative educational activities for children and academics. Known as the "Hellcat Division," the 12th Armored Division was crucial in capturing over 72,000 German soldiers and taking part in liberating prisoners from Nazi death camps.

1289 North 2nd, Abilene, TX 79601, Phone: 325-677-6515

Kids and imaginative adults will love walking through the Adamson-Spalding Storybook Garden. Aptly named, the garden is home to sculptures of several iconic characters from children’s books such as Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, and Good Night Dinosaur. The garden is located in the southwest lawn of the Abilene Convention Center, and has been welcoming the public free of charge since 2017. New sculptures of beloved characters have continuously been added through the years by the Abilene Cultural Affairs Council, and more to are expected to be installed in the near future. The garden and its sculptures are well illuminated, allowing families to tour the garden day or night. Even fury family members are welcome on leash.

1008-1098 N 6th Street, Abilene, Texas 79601; Phone: 325-677-1161

Recommended Activities for Families

For a small zoo covering only 16 acres, Abilene Zoological Gardens has a large, diverse animal population. With more than 1,000 animals from over 250 species, Abilene Zoo offers visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with animals from all over the world. You can feed giraffes at the giraffe safari or visit a number of other animals such as lions, a rare white tiger, camels, and a black rhino. The reptile house is home to a king cobra and more than 70 other kinds of reptiles, while Caribbean Cove introduces species that live in warm tropical jungles of the Caribbean and Elm Creek Backyard is home to many native Texas animals. The Watering Hole is the place to replenish energy with some snacks and soft drinks or pick up a souvenir. You can also take a tour of the zoo on the fun Safari Express train or hop onboard the Wildlife Carousel.

2070 Zoo Lane, Abilene, TX 79602, Phone: 325-676-6085

Located in the town of Buffalo Gap, Texas, the Taylor County History Center, previously known as the Buffalo Gap Historic Village, is a living museum that tells the nostalgic story of the last half century of the West Texas wild frontier. The museum includes interactive exhibits, historic interpretation, and educational programming, bringing to life the times when the Wild West became civilized settlements. The original structures of the village, such as the original Taylor County Courthouse, show the lifestyle on the slowly changing frontier. Besides the courthouse, the history center has 15 other historical structures, some from Buffalo Gap and some brought from other places in the region. There are also more than 10,000 historical artifacts that represent the culture of West Texas.

133 N. William Street, Buffalo Gap, TX 79508, Phone: 325-572-3365

Located in what is today Jones County, Fort Phantom Hill was built in the early 1850s as one of the forts that were to protect the frontier settlements of Texas. It is one of the best preserved historic sites in the State of Texas and is part of the Texas Forts Trail, a 650-mile-long tour of Texas historic forts. The fort was originally called the “Post on the Clear Fork of the Brazos,” and from 1851 until 1854 was occupied by the U.S. Army. After the army abandoned the fort, most of the thatched roofs and log walls were destroyed in a fire. Fortunately, there is still a big part of the old fort left for visitors to explore, including a stone powder magazine, an almost undamaged commissary, and a stone guardhouse. A dozen stone chimneys as well as the original fort’s stone foundations are also still standing.

10818 FM600, Abilene, TX 79601, USA, Phone: 325-677-1309

You can learn about the history of Texas without having to stroll through a dusty museum. Located in downtown Abilene, the hugely popular Frontier Texas! is an entertaining and educational heritage center that helps visitors imagine life in the Old West using the latest technology. The 90-minute-long interactive Old West adventure movie called Blood & Treasure on the Frontier brings to life the frontier and the Wild West days and introduces people who lived their lives in the area during those exciting times. The video allows visitors to relive a Bee Hive Saloon shootout, buffalo stampedes, a wolf attack, and other typical happenings of the times. The heritage center is also Abilene’s official visitors center and the information center for the Texas Forts Trail Region. The General Store offers Texas souvenirs, books, jewelry, and items created by local artisans.

625 N. 1st Street, Abilene, TX 79601, Phone: 325-437-2800

Located about half an hour from Abilene State Park, the Morgan Jones Planetarium is one of the very few planetariums in Texas and an absolute delight to visit. School kids go on field trips to enjoy a range of programs and shows, but the planetarium is open to everyone and there is no shame in admitting that you enjoy looking at the stars, comets, and constellations, just as you did when you were a kid. The fun starts at the planetarium’s foyer, where there is a small exhibition on all things astronomical, such as moon rocks, a real space suit, and a range of telescopes. The auditorium is a large, round room with comfortable lounge chairs, and when the light is off you feel like you are under the real dark night sky full of stars. The planetarium has a regular series of shows and lectures that are as informative and educational as they are fun.

700 N Mockingbird Ln, Abilene, TX 79605-3057, Phone: 325-671-4637

Attractions for Couples

Illustrations in children’s books have a huge impact on young readers and play an important role in their future love for reading. The National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature is an unusual museum that focuses on illustrations in literature for children and exhibits artwork created by renowned illustrators of children’s books. The museum was established in 2000 and, besides featuring original artwork, offers educational programs that aim to promote appreciation of the arts, stimulate creativity, and promote literacy. There are regular weekly art activities for kids and their families. The museum works with award-winning artists to create exhibitions of their artwork. Each exhibition then travels to various other museums, galleries, and public libraries all over the country.

102 Cedar Street, Abilene, TX 79601

The Grace Museum was founded in 1937 under the name the Abilene Fine Arts Museum. It was established by the Art League of the Abilene Woman’s Club and changed its location several times until it settled in today’s location in a historic former hotel built in 1909. The museum is home to five art galleries that offer rotating art exhibitions as well as artwork from its permanent collection. It also houses a history gallery featuring artifacts from Abilene, Taylor County, and West Texas. An art library, an interactive gallery for children and families, and an education center are also part of the Grace Museum.

102 Cypress St, Abilene, TX 79601, Phone: 325-673-4587