Events At The Grace

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century many women did not have access to higher education nor were they permitted to participate publicly in leadership roles. The solution was to band together in a socially accepted format to educate each other and make contributions to their community as a group.

As one of the most significant and prominent architects in Abilene and the Big Country in the early to mid-1900s, David S. Castle designed and built hundreds of schools, residential buildings, hotels, medical buildings, municipal buildings, churches, recreational buildings, and courthouses. Learn about Castle’s role in the history of architecture in Abilene and the surrounding areas, concentrating on Castle’s contributions to the evolution and growth of Abilene. The buildings he designed are a reflection of the development of Abilene as a trade route and important hub in the oil industry throughout the early twentieth century.

It’s #WayBackWednesday and #STEAMweek here at the Grace and today we are sharing some important tools from the history collection! There was a time when hi-tech was low-tech and the history vault at The Grace is full of reminders that maybe those weren’t necessarily simpler times. Judging from the treasures in the history collection, the residents of Abilene have been on the cutting edge of modern convenience since the 1880s.

It’s #FriendshipWeek and we are sharing with you, our friends, some very cheery #waybackwednesday friends from the History Collection. Imagine all of the friendly conversations that occurred in the Hotel Grace/Drake Coffee Shop over the years. And no two objects go together quite like a cup and a saucer! Who are your friends you share a cup of coffee with downtown today – maybe at Monks Coffee Shop or Front Porch Coffee Co. & Bakery?

The Story of the Butterfield Stage and Smith’s Station on Chimney Creek Ranch in Taylor County, Texas. The Butterfield Overland Mail Trail ran from about 1858 to 1861 on a route that began in either Memphis or St. Louis and terminated in San Francisco carrying passengers and U. S. Mail. Learn more in this video, courtesy of Ted and Hank Paup.

Tom Perini, buffalo and Texas historian and owner of the famous Perini Ranch Steakhouse, discusses the Great Texas Buffalo Herd and the ultimate demise and the various contributing factors as well as the important role that Buffalo Gap has played in the history of Central West Texas.

Cattle ranching has been a major Texas industry for nearly three centuries. As early as the 1690s the Spaniards brought in stock with their entradas. Ranching as such dates from the 1730s, when herds were loosed along the San Antonio River to feed missionaries, soldiers, and civilians in the San Antonio and Goliad areas (Handbook of Texas). Meet the Nail, Kleberg, and Montgomery families as they share their family history of ranching in Texas.

It’s #WayBackWednesday and we have a really interesting Agriculture + Art + History connection to share for #FromFlowersToFoodWeek!

It’s #WayBackWednesday and we are sharing this history of the American Flag! The flag has a really interesting history and The Grace Museum has an example of a handheld 48 stars flag from 1958. Check out this history of the flag via PBS as well as this short video visual evolution of the flag!

Getting started on your Genealogy research can feel intimidating and overwhelming. Thankfully there are many helpful people and resources available to assist you at the Abilene Public Library and via online and digital sources. Watch this brief overlook at getting started and working with Ancestry.com’s system specifically.

It’s #WayBackWednesday and this week we are talking about Summer Heat and here in Texas we are feeling that heat this week! Our Summer heat is not a new thing for us and we found these “cool” photos of people cooling off in our neighbor town, Buffalo Gap, around the turn of the century. Buffalo Gap is still a respite for many locals and travelers, alike – with many offerings for recreation, dining, history, and beautiful scenery.

Here’s your special Saturday edition of Illustrated Happy Hour and we are bringing the FASHION to your weekend. Browse The Grace Museum’s rarely-seen but beautiful Folding Fan collection and learn the history of hand fans while enjoying the very fashionable Cosmopolitan cocktail as demonstrated by @Cypress Street Station. Then grab your watercolors and paint along at the end.

The Victorian Era fashion (1837-1901) was a time marked by immense changes in technology and distribution as well as elaborate and creative trends. The mass production of sewing machines in the 1850s and introduction of synthetic dyes in clothing led to more affordable fashions for the middle class. Fashion magazines and distribution also led to the broader distribution of fashionable trends. For women – the Victorian era placed them mostly in domestic roles and their fashion was a representation of their station in society. For men, it seems, facial hair fashions erupted in the late Victorian era as depicted in many of the images on-view at The Grace Museum in the exhibition, Early Photographic Portraits from the Permanent Collection.

It’s #WayBackWednesday during #FashionWeek so we are exploring the current exhibition on-view in the History Gallery on the 3rd floor of The Grace Museum titled WOMEN’S FASHION EVOLUTION: 1900S – 1920S, FROM THE PERMANENT COLLECTION!

It’s Tuesday Tea Time and Judy and Sheila are sharing their treasured dinnerware and drinkware collections.

It’s Way Back Wednesday so Kathryn shares her historic GE Home of the Future designed by renowned architect, David S. Castle and Laura shares her vast globe collection.