Explore Military History in Abilene: Top 5 Attractions and Activities

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.