“Where glittering barrooms graced the night Amid the songs of dance-hall queens; Where rugged men with boots and beards Watched the swiftly moving scene, They bought their joy and paid in gold When they came to Abilene” The words of this 1936 poem by Walt Cousins still ring true, with urban development continuing to make its way into nearly every … Downtown Abilene: At the Crossroads of Rugged and Refined

A white wedding dress is a relatively new and modern concept and is mostly worn in the Americas and western European countries. Wedding dresses throughout the world and time have varied greatly in color, style, and tradition. Even in the Western part of the world in Roman times brides wore a yellow veil and Ancient Athenians wore long violet or … From This Day Forward: Wedding Dresses 1870s-1950s

Dependence on Mexican labor has been a source of great opportunity as well as great conflict for Mexicans and Americans. In 1942, facing labor shortages caused by World War II, the United States initiated a series of agreements with Mexico to recruit Mexican men to work on U.S. farms and railroads. These agreements became known as the bracero program. (Bracero … Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program 1942-1964

Just over thirty miles northeast of Abilene sits the Chimney Creek Ranch, established in 1876, the ranch is home to cattle and native species along with conserved grasslands and water sources. However, before the ranch was formed, the Butterfield Overland Mail Route, which ran from 1858-1861, made its way through the area. On the ranch stands the remnants of the … Smith’s Station on the Butterfield

Large panoramic photographs of landscapes or groups have been around since the invention of photography. Unlike today and the ease of taking a “pano” on a cell phone, panoramic photographs were taken on special cameras beginning in the 1840s. Capturing these large-scale photographs was a very involved and complex process. By the late 1890s and early 1900s, mass-produced panoramic cameras … A Larger View: Historic Panoramic Photographs

In 1904, the State Epileptic Colony in Abilene was founded to help individuals with epilepsy through research, care, and isolation. More importantly, it offered a place for these individuals to work, live, and thrive. The institution, hospital, and complex was a state-of-the-art facility and consisted of an administration building, a power plant, a women’s and men’s hospital, four cottages, and … Creating a Community: The State Epileptic Colony in Abilene

The Grace Museum is collaborating with Abilene Christian University’s Introduction to Public History: Interpreting American Pasts course to create monthly exhibitions that coincide with different cultural heritage months throughout the year. These exhibitions highlight the narratives of various cultural groups that are integral to Abilene’s history while weaving these stores into the broader historical fabric of the United States. Independence … Independence Day – Cultural Heritage Exhibition 2022

This exhibition will feature several hand fans from The Grace Museum’s permanent collection. Fans were not only a functional accessory to keep the wearer cool on the hottest of days, they were also an important style piece in a woman’s wardrobe. Hand fans have a long-storied history going back thousands of years into biblical and ancient Chinese and Japanese times. … Cooling Off with Style: Hand Fans From the Collection

The Grace Museum is collaborating with Abilene Christian University’s Introduction to Public History: Interpreting American Pasts course to create monthly exhibitions that coincide with different cultural heritage months throughout the year. These exhibitions highlight the narratives of various cultural groups that are integral to Abilene’s history while weaving these stores into the broader historical fabric of the United States. May … Asian American and Pacific Islander Month – Cultural Heritage Exhibition 2022