| Abilene is a small city in central West Texas that | | | | delight visitors with authentic exhibits and |
| started out around 1880 as not much more than | | | | amusements from the days of Abilene ’s |
| a cattle stock shipping point on the Texas and | | | | founding fathers. The Western Heritage Classic in |
| Pacific Railway. The railroad still divides the city | | | | early May has many more eclectic activities such |
| down the center with the historic downtown area | | | | as sheepdog trials, campfire cook-offs, Cowboy |
| on the north side. These days, Abilene is a vibrant | | | | Poets Society and a Western art show. |
| community of higher learning, colorful local culture | | | | Newer events abound. The Erinshire Folk Festival |
| and old-time Christian spirituality. It’s also won | | | | began in 2003 to spotlight the musicians and |
| fame in music and movies. There was a pop and | | | | original music of the Abilene area. Abilene hosts |
| country hit song in 1963 by George Hamilton IV | | | | the Abilene Gem and Mineral Show, the Abilene |
| called “ Abilene ,” and the city was | | | | Gun and Knife Show, the West Texas Book and |
| featured in the movies “Holes” and | | | | Music Festival, as well as September’s annual |
| “Southland Tales.” | | | | “Cruise Night,” a parade of classic and |
| Abilene can boast an impressive number of | | | | modern sports cars. Year round, Abilene is home |
| celebrities from the worlds of sports and | | | | to The Grace Museum, the Abilene Philharmonic, |
| entertainment who were born or lived there. | | | | and the National Center for Children’s |
| Randall “Tex” Cobb, an actor and prize | | | | Illustrated Literature, the restored Paramount |
| fighter, Olympic pole vaulter Billy Olson, | | | | Theatre and Center for Contemporary Arts, and |
| Washington Redskins Terry Orr, Olympic gold | | | | the Abilene Zoo. Abilene even has the |
| medal winner Bobby Morrow, singer-actress | | | | “Jammin’ Jumpers,” one of the only |
| Jessica Simpson, actress Ann Wedgeworth, | | | | competing and performing jump rope teams in |
| country musicians Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin | | | | the area. The 13-acre Abilene Zoo is a popular |
| Brothers, country musician Lee Roy Parnell, actors | | | | attraction in Abilene , boasting several hundred |
| Ty O’Neal and Fess Parker are all part of the | | | | animals of hundreds of species. |
| fabric of Abilene’s rich history. | | | | Abilene is also home to three church-related |
| Recently the Abilene Arts Alliance took steps to | | | | institutions of higher learning which US News and |
| connect its city’s original cattlemen’s | | | | World Report has recognized all three as top |
| pioneer spirit with today’s new life frontiers. | | | | private liberal arts colleges: Abilene Christian |
| Promoting Abilene ’s new nickname | | | | University ( Church of Christ ); Hardin-Simmons |
| “Frontiering,” the Alliance is striving to | | | | University (Baptist) and McMurry University |
| show that Abilene is stepping up to the plate to | | | | (Methodist). In 2006 Abilene was also ranked as |
| meet the ever-changing challenges of technology, | | | | the 17th city in the nation for their public |
| energy, education and especially the arts. | | | | education system and the highest ranked city in |
| Traditional events, such as the West Texas Fair | | | | Texas . |
| and Rodeo held every year in mid-September, | | | | |