3 Best Landmarks in Abilene, TX

“The Grace Museum is a place for all ages to explore art, history, and creativity. The museum has a permanent art collection, eight gallery spaces featuring world-class exhibitions, a history collection, and an interactive children's museum. Their 1909 building was originally The Grace Hotel and was built to welcome travelers on the railroad. The permanent period rooms from 1910, 1928, and 1948 bring the bygone eras to life through recreated parlors, living rooms, and kitchens from each period. The Grace Museum aims to build multifaceted connections through new experiences in American fine art and history within the evolving Texas story through exhibitions, programs, and collections. The museum serves as an exemplary cultural institution and a hub of learning, inspiration, and involvement. The Grace Museum is fully accessible to their physically challenged visitors. The museum offers two parking areas adjacent to their building along North 1st Street.”

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“Fort Phantom Hill spans a 650-mile highway tour of historic Texas forts in West Central Texas. The fort was originally known as the “Post on the Clear Fork of the Brazos,” and it was occupied by the U.S. Army from 1851 until 1854. After the army abandoned the fort, a fire destroyed most of the log walls and thatched roofs of the post’s buildings. The remaining of the old fort for visitors to explore, inspect, and study, including three original stone buildings, an intact stone powder magazine, a stone guardhouse, and an almost-intact commissary or warehouse, more than a dozen stone chimneys, and stone foundations from the original fort. The primary 38-acre site of the fort was contributed to the Fort Phantom Foundation in 1997 by Mr. and Mrs. Jim Alexander. The site has been open to the public since 1972. The fort is currently maintained and operated by the foundation. Fort Phantom Hill has ample parking, wheelchair-accessible facilities, and public restrooms.”

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“National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature collaborates with award-winning illustrators to produce exhibitions of their artwork that are distinctive and appealing to museum visitors of all ages. In addition to this unique artistic partnership, following its debut at the NCCIL gallery, each exhibition travels to museums, public libraries, and galleries nationwide. They aim to inspire and empower children to read and be creative. Through their programming, the NCCIL actively promotes children’s literacy, both in art and reading, in the community and beyond. They offer opportunities to meet visiting artists during the exhibition opening events, instruct exhibition tours for students, annual workshops and art camps, and books signed by exhibiting artists.”

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