Explore Military History in Abilene: Top 5 Attractions and Activities
Experience the rich military history of Abilene by visiting the remains of a mid-19th century fort and checking out the firearms of the era. You can also learn about the stories of one of the U.S. Army's most distinguished World War II divisions. Located on the former outer reaches of the Texas frontier, Abilene is filled with fascinating tales of bravery and heroism. Plan your visit to Abilene to discover the military history of the Lone Star State for yourself.
Travel Tip: Are you an active-duty member of the military? Enjoy free admission throughout the summer at the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum, Frontier Texas!, and The Grace Museum, all of which are Blue Star Museums.
Discover the Role of Frontier Forts in the Westward Expansion of the Lone Star State
While the Wild West is often associated with wandering cowboys and pioneer settlers, the establishment of U.S. military forts played a crucial role in the westward expansion of the Lone Star State. Fort Phantom Hill, located near Abilene, was one of these forts, helping to protect travelers and maintain peace in the region. Discover this fascinating chapter of Texas history at Frontier Texas!, a museum dedicated to the tall tales of the Old West in downtown Abilene. As the hub of the Texas Forts Trail, Frontier Texas! also houses a regional visitor center. Plan your visit to learn more about the rich military history of the Wild West.
Learn about Texas’ forts and the people who served in them in the interactive Military on the Frontier exhibit. While you’re here, check out the Guns of the West exhibit, home to the Fort Phantom Hill Firearms Collection that charts the development of guns from early muzzle-loading rifles to rapid-fire Colts and Winchesters. Earlier in your adventure in the Old West, you’ll encounter interactive exhibits that outline the history of the Comanche Empire, the trade of buffalo hides, and how settlements were founded on the edges of civilization. At the end, you’ll leave with a deeper understanding of how frontier military forts helped win the west.
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas2019-85-1800x750-guns.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f53fe0d2fb2756a5441a93871d20f952 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas2019-85-1800x750-guns.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=d215e536b4ebb29d68c936b1497d051f 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas2019-85-1800x750-guns.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=957b03de3fd15ebc32d5b7d1e6585678 768w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas2019-85-1800x750-guns.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=fa473983eeacf3b3bb904d22c51d5485 1024w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas2019-85-1800x750-guns.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=3208681dedb568d60b80af4c555f6079 1200w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas2019-85-1800x750-guns.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=b170f16c1ba6f7dbe223c4323de57b7a 1440w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas2019-85-1800x750-guns.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=546b0f336f5d8a59c84dce94e972ad13 1800w)
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Frontier-Texas-2019-Buffalo-skulls-3_13139_97045-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d14ce0a1a6fc495db385a7660b539226 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Frontier-Texas-2019-Buffalo-skulls-3_13139_97045-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=759fbc8b8ea7662b7866a99475fb8f92 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Frontier-Texas-2019-Buffalo-skulls-3_13139_97045-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=5666be846ffbc62a61510b385a0319a5 768w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Frontier-Texas-2019-Buffalo-skulls-3_13139_97045-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=1f4a58d2a4618963e8b85098058ea3d7 1024w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Frontier-Texas-2019-Buffalo-skulls-3_13139_97045-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=d5c056c8194193ad677383d8fab755ef 1200w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Frontier-Texas-2019-Buffalo-skulls-3_13139_97045-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=870dd2c239d2d94dbd97bc0f24eb5621 1440w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Frontier-Texas-2019-Buffalo-skulls-3_13139_97045-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=1db07638c551512b8251047df293a653 1800w)
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas-Big50-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=70a88af150878df8bc5ba27709d75eba 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas-Big50-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=2fd0dce094d14496eab36a3875776504 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas-Big50-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=49616edae9bcc34eb4b00bf93a62b8d0 768w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas-Big50-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=edf99b963479e866f41f69b0f9f3a54f 1024w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas-Big50-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=3e82af4711183e5307f1301ba83a48d8 1200w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas-Big50-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=fbf03c5f4be696394553c1e8324a922d 1440w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/FrontierTexas-Big50-1800x750.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=4403d74d186a9b1023666b504c98ebaf 1800w)
Discover the Eerie Remains of Fort Phantom Hill
Located 15 miles north of Abilene, Fort Phantom Hill is a secluded 19th-century fort with an eerie presence. Formed in 1851 to protect settlers and travelers bound for California, Phantom Hill was one of several forts on the Texas frontier. At its peak, the fort was home to five infantry companies and was led by two U.S. Army officers (John Joseph Abercrombie and Henry Hopkins Sibley) who later became brigadier generals for the Union and Confederacy during the Civil War. Visit Fort Phantom Hill to discover its rich history and explore its eerie remains.
Visit the ghostly Fort Phantom Hill and experience the history of a 19th-century military base on the Texas frontier. You can stroll through the remains of the fort and see three original stone buildings, more than a dozen chimneys, and the foundations of buildings that once stood. As you observe the surrounding environment, you may feel like you've taken a step back in time to the fort's heyday.
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-phantom-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=645f75ba38fb9c65a9ed7f7ad6e14545 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-phantom-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=b2bbb596a5efb497e74257d82ffa1bbc 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-phantom-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=8fc5e3d89c4d2b6b5fbefd3fcb9a9863 725w)
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Fort-Phantom-3.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=1d3ccbbde2507ba3968290086bfe683c 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Fort-Phantom-3.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=5c80503b3884a3cc97d03fdefc74fb7f 456w)
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-phantom-4.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=62db9d1c16eadbc01166f5c58ef32bbf 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-phantom-4.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=809525ee17740e41190f61a9bb7b621c 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-phantom-4.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=d48b92f9a6304fda87696b30511fc2d9 755w)
Explore the Fascinating History of the 12th Armored Division Hellcats of World War II
Discover the fascinating history of the 12th Armored Division of the U.S. Army at the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum in Abilene. Based at Camp Barkeley during World War II, the division, known as the Hellcats, participated in offensives across the Rhine River and the liberation of Dachau's infamous satellite annihilation camps. They were also responsible for the capture of Adolf Eichmann and Wernher Von Braun. The museum offers a personal perspective on the war with recordings of the troops who liberated concentration camps, as well as artifacts, photographs, personal testimonies, weapons, and uniforms from the war. Don't miss the seven-part diorama of the battles at Herrlisheim, France in January 1945. Additionally, visit the Historic Paramount Theatre, a popular entertainment destination for soldiers stationed at Camp Barkley during WWII.
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/12th-armored-44th-Tank-Battalion-3-tanks-and-crews.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=dace3165bf63f4ab30a79bccf8a39fbc 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/12th-armored-44th-Tank-Battalion-3-tanks-and-crews.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=e60aa2bffc407bdc0f40b715973871bd 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/12th-armored-44th-Tank-Battalion-3-tanks-and-crews.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=26c8cec0d307d028426c8e3badd7bf17 750w)
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/12th-Armored-44th-Tank-Battalion-2-squadron-8th-Calvary.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=d8d58fa239b16c9ece3aa10e65699395 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/12th-Armored-44th-Tank-Battalion-2-squadron-8th-Calvary.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=1af07e1f6002a591b0d892afaebbf271 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/12th-Armored-44th-Tank-Battalion-2-squadron-8th-Calvary.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=bac89c4d366f5918f5e2a66a0d4c9313 750w)
Learn About the History of Dyess Air Force Base
Visit the Dyess Air Force Base Museum and Linear Air Park to learn about the history of Lt. Col Dyess and the base, as well as the Abilene Army Airfield. The Linear Air Park is the largest airpark in the U.S. Air Force and features 34 historic aircraft. On July 19, 2019, an expansion to the Dyess Memorial Park was dedicated to the 76 Airmen who have died in service to their country while attached to Dyess AFB. The memorial is open to the public and the museum is open weekdays from 9:30 to 4:30. Museum staff can provide a guide to the airpark, which is located on the air force base.
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![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Dyess-Air-Force-Base-Museum-and-Linear-Air-Park-2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=f0de0aa56f8e7718bc78764b4fbb86a7 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Dyess-Air-Force-Base-Museum-and-Linear-Air-Park-2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9dafc499729b40eae7a587a4d348e4fc 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/Dyess-Air-Force-Base-Museum-and-Linear-Air-Park-2.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=9f5aece228e9f1fb15574f77f203c494 755w)
Explore a Cold War Era Missile Silo
Visit the Atlas Missile Base Cold War Center and explore an actual missile silo from the Cold War era. First launched in 1957, the Atlas was America's first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) developed during the Cold War. Its creation led to the establishment of subterranean missile silos across the country, including several around Dyess Air Force Base. While most are now obsolete, you can visit one of these relics and see the nine-foot-thick walls and 18.5-story underground structure designed to survive a Soviet attack.
Begin your journey at the Atlas Missile Base Cold War Center by descending two stories to the launch control center, passing through massive one-ton manganese steel blast doors. Continue to the crew's quarters and the room that once housed the launch controllers and communications technology. Check out historic photographs of ICBM development and the site's operation along the way. Then, experience something few have: the chance to step into an actual missile silo. Be awestruck by the nearly 20-story-tall, cavernous structure that once held a missile. It's hard to believe that all of this was built in just 14 months.
To visit the silo, book a private tour by calling 325.280.9282.
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/atlas-missile-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=3a0d4e95129d16fcc09046d8544570cc 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/atlas-missile-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=792bc44f9abe6e48a4511f8c7dafb899 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/atlas-missile-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=dcaf256d839ce41f16836d9774b2cf91 768w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/atlas-missile-1.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=803756b6b0e123675714fb695c13ac83 900w)
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If you're a history buff with an interest in military history, you need to add Abilene to your bucket list! With its rich military heritage, Abilene offers a host of exciting attractions and activities that will transport you back in time to the days of the Wild West and the battlefields of World War II. Visit the eerie remains of Fort Phantom Hill, explore the Guns of the West exhibit, and learn about the heroic 12th Armored Division at the 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.
The Taylor County Courthouse is the site of a Veterans Memorial and Plaza dedicated to all of the men and women of the county who have served in the Armed Forces. It features a bronze sculpture by artist Terry S. Gilbreth, benches for reverent reflection, along with inscriptions listing the names of the men and women who gave their lives for their country. At least eight other historic markers are within walking distance, including ones honoring the E Battery Lost Battalion WWII, 45th Infantry Division at Camp Barkeley, Site of Curfew by John J. Clinton, and the 1884 Pine Street Shootout. Here is a list of all markers in Abilene.
Head to nearby Albany to see another frontier military site, along with the official Texas Longhorn herd at Fort Griffin State Historic Site and Fort Griffin State Park. Each June, the area hosts the longest-running outdoor musical in the state of Texas, a real hoedown that tells the Wild West tales of the military, cowboys and Native Americans of the region at the Fort Griffin Fandangle. Fort fans will want to stop in to see U.S. Fort Chadbourne, a short drive south of Abilene, to tour its grounds and visitor center, which opens Tuesdays through Saturdays.
![](https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-griffin-1-camel.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=940e3b5ee89d5bfd40252ac439f58096 320w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-griffin-1-camel.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=aad0ae2886aa14d67769ca02fef23f2e 540w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-griffin-1-camel.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=284ccaa203a306284ad8311f2ab272f3 768w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-griffin-1-camel.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=140f3f63e26cc55ff3e676c9c0164a40 1024w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-griffin-1-camel.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=aed3a9427ced469a3ee75d872acf68d4 1200w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-griffin-1-camel.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=24ad9e053e5875d8cb7683a17d0d3ceb 1440w, https://visit-abilene.imgix.net/images/fort-griffin-1-camel.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=f2b6e7a3690f018df8ab69a53be503b0 1600w)