Editor’s Note: During this period of social distancing, Student Group Tour magazine will continue to provide ideas for planning educational travel. Many attractions and destinations are closed at this time; please contact them directly for updated information.
From the history of the Wild West to being the “Storybook Capital of America,” Abilene is a great destination for a wide range of experiences for student groups.
Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau
325-676-2556
abilenevisitors.com
PERFORMING ARTS
The Paramount theater was designed and built in 1930, a time when movie-going was meant to be a grand experience. Today, the landmark is an iconic example of a nostalgic “atmospheric” movie theater. Restored in 1987 and renovated to accommodate live theater, it’s now home to a myriad of events, including film, ballet and concerts. Schedule a student visit around a live performance; Chicago is set to hit the stage in June 2020.
ENGLISH
Abilene’s historic downtown is dotted with bronze figures celebrating popular children’s books. With more than two dozen pieces, it’s the largest public storybook sculpture collection in the nation, earning Abilene the title, “Storybook Capital of America.” To learn what inspired this collection, stop by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature and see original artwork by acclaimed illustrators.
HISTORY
Experience the thrilling brutality of life in the untamed West. Frontier Texas! is an interactive history museum that uses full-sized holographic imagery and theater to tell real stories of early Texas. Meet Native American chiefs, buffalo hunters, cattle drivers and saloon keepers. Scope out a collection of frontier firearms. The venue includes the Texas Forts Trail Region Visitor Center.
