History exhibitions at The Grace Museum are dedicated to telling the story of the evolving cultural and social history of Abilene and West Texas. The history galleries present changing exhibitions of artifacts curated from both The Grace Museum’s history collection and historically significant objects on temporary loan. In addition, permanent period rooms from 1910, 1928, and 1948 bring the bygone eras to life through recreated parlors, living rooms, and kitchens from each time period.
Now On View
Full Steam Ahead: The Texas & Pacific Railway
Early Downtown Abilene: 1880s-1910s
Universal Human Rights Month 2024
Upcoming Exhibitions
Past Exhibitions
2024
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 2-31, 2024)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Black History Month (February 1-29, 2024)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Women’s History Month (March 1-30, 2024)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Earth Month (April 2-30, 2024)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Asian American and Pacific Islander Month (May 1-31, 2024)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Immigrant Heritage Month (June 1-29, 2024)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Independence Day (July 1-August 14, 2024)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Hispanic Heritage Month (September 10 – October 31, 2024)
2023
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 3-31, 2023)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Black History Month (February 1-28, 2023)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Women’s History Month (March 1-31, 2023)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Earth Month (April 4-29, 2023)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Asian American and Pacific Islander Month (May 2-31, 2023)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Immigrant Heritage Month (June 6-28, 2023)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Independence Day (June 28 – July 15, 2023)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Hispanic Heritage Month (September 12 – October 31, 2023)
Abilene in the 1920s (September 12, 2023 – July 3, 2024)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Native American Heritage Month (November 1-30, 2023)
Cultural Heritage Exhibition – Human Rights Month (December 1-23, 2023)
2022
2021
Creating a Community: The State Epileptic Colony in Abilene
Abilene’s Hispanic Heritage Display Committee presents: Entretenimientos: Música, Baile y Radio
From This Day Forward: Wedding Dresses, 1870s-1950s
Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program 1942-1964
2019
2017
Always On View
Historic Period Rooms
Evidence remained of the life of the homesteader, but Abilene was beginning to urbanize. An electric streetcar system had just begun service. The state-run Epileptic Colony was celebrating its seventh birthday and was the city’s largest employer. Following drought-breaking rains,…
Spark
Spark a history connection in our new exploratory space located on the second floor! See objects on display from our permanent history collection and enjoy learning stations that tell the stories of Abilene, the T&P Railway, and other significant things that shaped our West Texas history.
History of the Building
History Collections
SEARCH THE COLLECTION ON THE PORTAL TO TEXAS HISTORY
Searchable Collections:
• Scrapbooks of the Abilene Fine Arts Museum
• Camp Barkeley News 1942-1945
• Texas & Pacific Railway Collection Photographs
• The Crutch newsletters, the Reconditioning and Training Service of the Regional Hospital at Camp Barkeley 1944-1945