The Grace Museum is one of the best things to do in Abilene on a rainy day, and it’s the kind of place that surprises people who weren’t expecting much. Housed in the historic Grace Hotel building in downtown Abilene, the museum combines an art gallery, a children’s museum, and a regional history collection under one roof — which means there’s something here regardless of your mood or who you’re with.
The art galleries rotate regularly and feature both regional and national artists, so return visits tend to offer something new. The history section gives a solid grounding in West Texas and the development of Abilene as a city, which is actually useful context when you’re living and working in the area for weeks or months at a time.
Admission is reasonably priced and the building itself — a restored 1909 hotel — is worth seeing. Parking is straightforward in the downtown area, and the museum is within easy walking distance of coffee shops and lunch spots if you want to make an afternoon of it. Hours vary by day, so check ahead. It’s a genuinely good use of a slow Wednesday when the weather isn’t cooperating.
