- Civic·Taylor
"Miss Clara" Bussell
(Sept. 6, 1902 - July 5, 1966) Joined staff, West Texas Chamber of Commerce Feb. 26, 1920; was office manager 40 years. Worked unselfishly through day of death. Her love for West Texas and dedication …
- Military·Taylor
12th Armored Division at Camp Barkeley
Established as a U.S. Army training camp in 1940, Camp Barkeley (whose main entrance was about seven miles south of this site) became one of the nation's largest World War II military training bases. …
- History·Hill
Abbott Schools
The public school system in Abbott began in 1885 when a one-story frame schoolhouse was constructed on the east side of town. It housed 140 pupils and three teachers. A two-story brick structure, buil…
- History·Taylor
Abilene Christian University
This school, formed to provide a Christian education for all grade levels, was founded in 1906 by A. B. Barret, an early educator and preacher for Texas Churches of Christ. It was first called Childer…
- History·Taylor
Abilene Negro High School
The first public school for African Americans in Abilene was established in 1890. Located in the 200 block of Plum Street, the one-room school was named the Abilene Colored School. Its first class con…
- History·Taylor
Abilene Reporter-News
The oldest existing business institution in Abilene is the Reporter Publishing Company, started by C. E. Gilbert. The first newspaper was printed on June 17, 1881, three months after the town was foun…
- History·Taylor
Abilene State School
The Texas Legislature provided for the establishment of this institution in 1899 as a center for the treatment of epilepsy. Opened in 1904 under the direction of Dr. John Preton, it was largely self-s…
- Architecture·Taylor
Abilene Woman's Club Building
Founded in 1928, the Abilene Woman's Club had several club homes before hiring noted architect David S. Castle to design a clubhouse at this site, then on the edge of town. Contractor Oscar Rose compl…
- History·Hood
Acton Cemetery
Location of Acton historic site, smallest state park in Texas. Includes the grave of Mrs. Elizabeth P. Crockett (1788-1860), widow of the Alamo hero David Crockett, and 2 of his children. In 1911 a mo…
- History·Taylor
Claiborne Walker Merchant
(August 31, 1836 - March 9, 1926) Claiborne W. Merchant and his twin, John, were born in Nacogdoches. "Clabe" married Frances Bell in 1856. He served in the Confederate army and later became a cattle …
- Military·Taylor
Company I, 7th Texas Infantry
Mustered into service during World War I, July 16, 1917, at Abilene with officers, Captain R. M. Wagstaff; 1st Lt. A. J. McDavid; 2nd Lt. E. B. Sayles; and 1st Sgt. Elmer C. Stearns. Company had 139 e…
- History·Hill
Czech Settlers in Hill County
One of the most influential and numerous national groups to settle in Hill County, Czechs came to this area from Fayette County and the province of Moravia in Austria-Hungary. Many sought greater free…
- History·Taylor
Dr. William and Beatrice Butler Home
Dr. William H. Butler, Sr., was the first African American physician to practice medicine in Abilene. He was born in Dec. 1875 in Palestine (Anderson co.), where he attended grade and high school. He …
- History·Taylor
Drummond Cemetery
In 1879, after her husband's death in Jamaica, Helen Fanny Harris Drummond returned with her children to England. She immigrated with them to the United States in 1885, settling in Brazos County, Texa…
- History·Taylor
Dyess Elementary School
On January 21, 1963, Dyess Elementary was the first school in the Abilene Independent School District to integrate all students. African American military families living on Dyess Air Force Base were …
- History·Taylor
Eugenia Pickard
A philanthropic African American woman greatly improved Abilene's minority neighborhoods. Eugenia Pickard was born in Georgia about 1877. She moved to Texas in the early 1900s and settled in Abilene. …
- History·Taylor
Fletcher Ranch
In 1878 James Robert Fletcher, his wife, and son Lorenzo Thomas (1868-1939) came here from Granbury. Their caravan included a small herd of cattle and work animals. A carpenter came to construct a two…
- Architecture·Taylor
Hattie and Henry Sayles, Sr., House
Henry Sayles (1852-1916), born and reared near Brenham, Texas, studied law under his father, noted legal scholar John Sayles (1825-1897). Henry practiced law in Galveston where he met and married Hatt…
- History·Taylor
Hendrick Medical Center
In 1915, Millard A. Jenkens (1872-1962), the new pastor of Abilene's First Baptist Church, saw a need for a hospital that prioritized serving all people, whether or not they were able to pay for treat…
- Architecture·Taylor
Hotel Wooten
This landmark building opened its doors on June 6, 1930, with a celebration attended by more than two thousand guests. Entrepreneur H.O. Wooten envisioned a hotel with accommodations matching those av…
- History·Taylor
In Vicinity of Coronado's Camp
In 1541, the Spanish explorer Coronado is thought to have passed this way en route from New Mexico to the fabled Indian villages of "Quivira", though his path across vast Texas plains is now difficult…
- History·Callahan
J. D. Windham
(Feb. 13, 1816 - Jan. 11, 1901) Born in Alabama, moved to Texas 1839. Married Frances Monteith and had nine children. Was first doctor in Brown County, 1865; and in Callahan County, 1874; owned genera…
- History·Taylor
James Winford Hunt
Born in present Oklahoma, James Winford Hunt grew up on the Texas High Plains. A newspaper publisher for several years, he became a Methodist minister in 1903. While a pastor in Abilene, he convinced …
- History·Taylor
Laughter Undertaking Company
Dan T. Laughter (1871-1952) first worked as an undertaker while employed in a northeast Texas furniture store. In 1900, he came to Abilene, and five years later he founded this undertaking company wit…
- Military·Taylor
Lt. Col. William E. Dyess
Albany, Texas native William Edwin Dyess (b. 1916) graduated from John Tarleton Agricultural College and became an aviation cadet at Randolph Field, San Antonio. Dyess went to the Philippine Islands a…
- Architecture·Taylor
Magee House
One of earliest fine houses in Abilene. Built 1903 in colonial revival style by Dr. Jefferson Davis Magee (1861-1935) and wife, Anna (Wilbanks). A native of Pike County, Mississippi, educated in East …
- History·Hill
Old Carr Ranch
In 1854 area pioneer D. C. Carr settled this ranch, which covered land in both Hill and McLennan counties. D. C. Carr and his brother J. C. had come to Texas in 1840 and were instrumental in the early…
- Architecture·Taylor
Old Weather Bureau Building
This structure was completed for the Abilene Office of the United States Weather Bureau in 1909. The interior contained living quarters and an observatory for the administrator. The first official in …
- History·Hale
Pearce Chapel-Strip Cemetery
The only landmark of the Strip Community, named for its location on a 1.5 by 15-mile strip of land opened to homesteaders in the 1890s. William Houston Pearce (1844-1926) moved into the area in 1895 a…
- History·Taylor
Pine Street Shoot Out
WHEN THE YOUNG RAILROAD TOWN OF ABILENE INCORPORATED IN 1883, THE FIRST CITY OFFICIALS DESIRED TO PROJECT A MORE CIVILIZED IMAGE TO VISITORS AND NEW SETTLERS, AS THE NEW TOWN HAD ALREADY DEVELOPED A L…
- History·Taylor
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
This church began as a mission in the 1880s to serve Catholics in the Abilene area. Early members included Abilene pioneer Theodore Heyck and City Marshal J. J. Clinton. Priests came by train from Wea…
- History·Taylor
Site of Abilene's First School
This site was set aside for use as a school by Stoddard Johnston, a newspaperman who platted the town of Abilene in the early 1880s. While the first schoolhouse was under construction in the spring of…
- History·Taylor
Site of Curfew by John J. Clinton
(1848-1922) Here each New Year's Eve at midnight for thirty-seven years John J. Clinton, Abilene chief of police, emptied his revolver. He began in 1885, decreeing that saloons close at midnight, and …
- History·Taylor
Site of Old Headquarters of the Hashknife Ranch
(on hill east of Cedar Creek) In December 1880, H.C. Whithers of the Texas & Pacific Railroad met local men here to decide on a site for a cattle shipping center. Bypassing the county seat of Buffalo …
- History·Taylor
Site of Thornton's Store
Known throughout West Texas as "A city within itself," Thornton's Store was one of Abilene's leading businesses for nearly seven decades. E. L. Thornton (1896-1964) moved to Abilene from Arkansas in 1…
- History·Taylor
Site of Western Cattle Trail
The main route -1876 to 1887- for several hundred thousand longhorns driven north to stock ranches and Indian reservations and to supply beef market. Was also called Dodge City Trail, for its main ter…
- History·Hale
Struve Family Businesses
Fritz W. Struve (1877-1959) came here from Burnet County in 1912, 3 years after city was founded, started a grocery store; was joined by brother Ben F. (1879-1947) in 1918. Family operated wide variet…
- History·Taylor
Taylor County
Created 1858. Named for Edward, James and George Taylor, 18, 20, and 22, Tennesseans who came to Texas in 1833 and died at the Alamo, March 6, 1836. Organized 1878, with county seat at Buffalo Gap, th…
- History·Taylor
Taylor, Edward, James, & George
Inscriptions on the monument are: across top - "I shall never surrender or retreat." Travis, Edward, James, George sons of Anson Taylor, died at the Alamo March 6, 1836. Taylor County was named for th…
- Transport·Taylor
The Texas & Pacific Railway: First Railroad Across West Texas
Chartered March 3, 1871, by act of U.S. Congress, to build a railroad to the Pacific coast, the Texas & Pacific Railway Company, under leadership of Colonel Thomas A. Scott, president, began construct…
- History·Hale
Town of Abernathy
Founded when Santa Fe Railroad was extended from Plainview to Lubbock, 1909. Named for Monroe G. Abernathy (1868-1962), treasurer of South Plains Investment Company, firm which promoted townsite. Comm…
- History·Taylor
William G. and Shirley Swenson Home
This two-story brick home was designed by abilene architect William P. Preston for the family of William Gray and Shirley (McCollum) Swenson, and was completed ca. 1910. Swenson was a first generation…
- History·Taylor
Willis, Thomas Middlebrook
(June 27, 1859 - November 27, 1937) Born in Bainbridge, Georgia, Thomas Middlebrook Willis was an important early leader in Abilene. Willis moved to Waco, Texas with his parents, Dr. Thomas L. and Mrs…