Abilene features the historic Paramount Theatre, The Grace Museum, the Center for Contemporary Arts, and the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature. The multimedia-rich Frontier Texas! museum is one of only a few in the world with life-sized holographic figures. They help tell the history of the Texas frontier from 1780 to 1880, and the talented, determined people who helped settle it. A few miles south of town, the Buffalo Gap Historical Village interprets history of the area from the 1870s to the 1920s. Abilene has a popular zoo, and distinctive public art can be seen around the city, especially the critically
acclaimed Jacob’s Dream sculpture site on ACU’s campus. The city also enjoys a longtime relationship with Dyess Air Force Base, where B-1B Lancer squadrons and the 317th Airlift Group provide strategic support to U.S. military operations around the globe each day. In downtown Abilene, the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum pays tribute to the thousands of Americans who were based at nearby Camp Barkeley and who led some of the most critical missions of World War II. Abilene has beautiful sunrises and sunsets across gigantic open skies, and
the city is always looking for ways to innovate, to attract business, to beautify its surroundings, to preserve and celebrate its history, and to encourage its youth. Abilenians are passionate about living out their faith through community service (often led by its nearly 10,000 college students), values-based decision making in everyday business, mutual respect, and a concern for people who are less fortunate. Legendary barbecue, Tex-Mex and steaks also headline a tremendously rich culture of local restaurants we hope you’ll be able to experience before you return home, or the next time you visit. acu.edu/connectedsummit
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