Abilene
Texas
The Grace Museum
Mission:
The Grace Museum builds connections through new experiences in art, science and history within the evolving Texas story through exhibitions, programs and collections.
History:
The Grace Museum maintains a unique position among West Texas attractions. Housed in a historically significant 105 year-old building, The Grace Museum is recognized as an asset for its cultural heritage as well as its educational opportunities. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), The Grace conforms to the highest operational and professional standards. The museum is dear to the people of Abilene, and is respected throughout the state for its outstanding exhibitions and programs.
The historic building that currently houses The Grace Museum was built in 1909 as the Grace Hotel, a large full service hotel and the finest located on the railroad line between Fort Worth and El Paso. The hotel was renamed The Drake in 1946 and flourished until the 1960s as downtown Abilene declined, and as passenger train travel greatly diminished. The hotel closed permanently in 1973. By the 1980s the building was in ruin and inhabited by rats, vagrants, and cats. In the 1980s a group of visionaries sought to restore downtown Abilene beginning with the historic Paramount Theater.
Upcoming Events at The Grace Museum
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway
Recent News
Native American Heritage Month - November 2024
November is Native American Heritage Month! Learn about the history and culture of Native peoples in Texas and the Big Country region and how they continue their traditions and preservation of their communities and culture. This…
Read More »Exhibition - Full Steam Ahead: The Texas and Pacific Railway at The Grace Museum
Guest Speaker: Tony Privett, Slaton Harvey House The Texas & Pacific Railway Company (T&P Railway) began plans to build a railroad line from Shreveport, Louisiana all the way to San Diego, California, creating a southern route that would…
Read More »Exhibition - Texas Landscapes From The Grace Museum Permanent Collection at The Grace Museum
The Grace Museum (originally The Abilene Fine Arts Museum) has a history of collecting important prints, paintings, and drawings focusing on the Texas landscape. This companion exhibition features works of art collected during the last 76 years.…
Read More »It's Women's History Month
Our Women's History Month exhibition is back! This exhibition was curated by Dr. Amanda Biles and Dr. Tracy Shilcutt with Jane Anne Carroll, Sarah Angell, and Jane Tomlinson through the Introduction to Public History: Interpreting American Pasts…
Read More »Merry Christmas from The Grace Museum
Glasstire is the oldest online-only art magazine in the country. They are proud to promote the visual arts in Texas to a local, regional and national audience since their founding by Houston writer Rainey Knudson in 2001. Glasstire is the only…
Read More »The Grace Museum - Universal Human Rights Month
Universal Human Rights Month On View December 2023 3rd Floor History Hallway Universal Human Rights Month celebrates the landmark document that “enshrines the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being –…
Read More »The Grace Museum - Happy Independence Day!
NOW ON VIEW Cultural Heritage Exhibition Independence Day Come see the exhibition before it closes Saturday, July 15. Throughout Abilene’s history, Independence Day has meant a day off work and celebrating the holiday with friends,…
Read More »POP in for our Gallery Pop-ups!
Keep watch for our Pop-Up cart in the galleries! These rotating hands-on activities are carefully created by our Grace education staff for the purpose of strengthening connections to the artwork or objects currently on view in that gallery space.…
Read More »3 Summer Teacher Workshops in June!
“Paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success.” (Quote from www.asianpacificheritage.gov) Check out our Instagram page &…
Read More »The Grace Museum: Take A (Spring) Break And Enjoy The Museum
On View Through Thursday, March 16 This year's Youth Art Month exhibition at The Grace showcases the very best artwork created by students in elementary, middle school, and high school throughout Region 14. Hand-selected by their teachers, 1,156…
Read More »The Grace Museum - Women's History Month is March 2023
On View through March 31 From Women’s History Day in 1978 to Women’s History Week in the early 1980s, this month was formally established by Congress in 1987. This exhibition highlights some of the early efforts by women in Texas and…
Read More »The Grace Museum : Summer Camp Registration Opens Soon!
Some Things To Know! -Grace Museum Members can receive a special perk of $25 OFF ALL SUMMER CAMPS! Click here to find out more... -Limited scholarships are available for Art & Science camps! Click here to email our Director of Education…
Read More »The Grace Museum : 2023, You Had Me At 'New'
TOT SPOT 2023 Calendar Project January 5 & 6 Classes at 9:30 AM & 11 AM $7 | FREE for Grace Members Families with preschoolers, join us for Tot Spot this Thursday & Friday at The Grace! Classes are for children ages 3-5 (with a…
Read More »The Grace Museum : Simple Stitching Class December 15 - Sign up now!
Smith's Station: Unearthing a Texas stage stop when East finally met the West by Greg Jaklewicz, Abilene Reporter-News, published online Dec. 9, 2022 "It was around for only 30 months, but it's part of Texas history. Between 1858-61,…
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