Locals tell me that it's not unusual to see folks on horseback going through the drive-through lane…read moreat Dairy Queen. This small town has kept out intruders like Wal-Mart in order to maintain a preserved atmosphere that is very appealing. The pace is slow here. I passed through Albany years ago and was intrigued by some interesting sculptures in the courtyard of an old jail that had been converted into an art center. It was closed that day so, when I had some time recently, I drove the three hours from Dallas to try my luck again. What kind of art do you think is displayed here? Nope. You're wrong. A small gallery of Renoir, Modigliani, van Gogh, de Goya, Delacroix, Boudin, Munch, Monet, Matisse, Picasso, Pissarro... well, I could go on but this list is enough to make any art lover pause. It's not all paintings. There are some fascinating sketches and preparatory drawings. There are also very good small collections of Mexican and Asian art. Exhibitions of modern art have a place here, too. One room has local and western artifacts that provide context into Albany itself. In spite of all the great art here, I will never forget the two 19th century childhood dolls of Celia Mae Terry Nail. Comprised of nothing more than cotton, string, and ink, these are literally rag dolls. It's a heartbreakingly direct window into what it was like to be poor during those times. A toy, any toy, was obviously an out-of-reach luxury so a humble rag had to suffice. That this is called an art center and not a gallery or museum is apt because the Old Jail Center occupies a special place in the community. During my visit, I watched children finishing their art projects for the day. On a wall were a series of 'giving trees' painted by an elementary school class. Unfortunately, in today's United States, art does not always play a central role in communities. It was reassuring to see that in such a small place as Albany, art is a cultural touchstone. I look forward to future visits.

Fantastic museum with friendly, knowledgeable staff housed in an incredible building! One of the…read morebest collections of art west of Ft. Worth, Texas.

This car museum was very small, but really well done very professional displays dioramas and…read moreexhibits. They had some interesting cars a lot of Ford products some obscure Ford products from the 60s, as well as the ubiquitous muscle cars and 59 Cadillac convertible. The museum also had a second floor with baseball cards and memorabilia, however they have an unhealthy obsession with the Texas Rangers. Did I mention it was 45 minutes outside of Abilene, which is already outside of many cities. My only complaint is the overboard proselytizing.

It's amazing what you can find in a small town. Woody's dear wife built this gorgeous car museum in…read morehonor of her beloved husband. Saturday was their first annual car show. It was a HUGE success! So many beautiful cars showed up, they had to expand to the lot across the street. Yes, I saw plenty of cars I would love to have, and plenty I couldn't afford! The new addition to the museum is finished, and it's beautiful. If you're ever in Cross Plains, Texas you need to stop here. You'll love it, and entrance is free!

Man, if there is one thing to do when you visit Abilene, it has to be to come here and check out…read morethis unique museum. I was in town and killing time before meeting up with some people in the evening, and came across this as an option. I swung by and was thoroughly impressed. The young man behind the counter was friendly and walked me through where I'd be going and what I'd be seeing. I was the only one in the "next group" for the intro video, and he even delayed the start time since I ran to the restroom before roaming the grounds. They have an impressive display of artifacts ranging from early Texas all the way through the frontier days, including a very impressive array of historic guns towards the end. They have interactive kiosks and hologram displays where actors portray historical figures and tell "firsthand" accounts of what was experienced on the frontier, right out of the accounts left by those people beforehand. There's a second theater towards the end of the museum that's a lot more immersive. You have to rotate around in a swivel chair as the story is told from all around you, and there's lights and sound to really sell you on the experience-- all from the comfort of your air-conditioned chair. I don't plan on being back in Abilene anytime soon, but if I ever was back with friends, I'd take them here to check this place out.

Excellent displays of artifacts from the early days of Texas. Quality movies portraying how Texas…read morechanged and the demise of the buffalo. Very sad, but made way for cattle. Good coverage of the Native Americans and their culture. It was seriously the best kept museum I have seen. And many hands-on elements. Definitely worth a visit if in the area. The staff were very friendly as well!

Awesome. Thoroughly enjoyed. Friendly staff. Great place to bring the family and share our rich…read morehistory.

This incredible museum is a must-stop for anyone on a road trip through the area. Even if you're…read morenot a fan of history, it's still so powerful and moving to read about the women who learned to fly here and see and hear them talk about it in their own words. I have to admit we got a little emotional imagining the way they were treated like such second-class citizens, being required to buy their own uniforms, transport themselves to the base, and the leader of the base even buying wings for these women out of her own pocket. Still, even with that cloud hanging over it, it was also incredibly inspiring and powerful to go through the photos, videos, stories, and the awesome PLANES at this museum. One of our favorite stops on the whole trip, I will never forget visiting the WASP museum and getting to climb into some of the old test flying things they had. Moving and awesome, I highly recommend going!

Stopped here on a road trip across Texas and I'm glad we did! The people who own this place have…read moredone a great job rescuing different buildings from around the area, preventing them from being torn down or lost to time as cities and towns continue to expand. We grabbed our tickets at the visitor center and then used the pamphlet they gave us to do a self-guided tour which worked perfectly! It was easy to follow the map and match it up to the descriptions so that we could learn about each building as we walked through it (or peeked inside if it was closed for renovation). A great place to stop and stretch your legs!

Interesting step back in time. The audio available on the tour is very helpful. Nice stop while in…read morethe area.

Stopped by on our way through Abilene. Staff were friendly and it was a great chance to share such…read morean important part of history with our children. Lots of cool pictures, facts, and memorabilia to see.

Sadly, the elevator is out of order and they're working to get it fixed. Apparently, it's quite a…read moreproject. I enjoyed what I was able to see on the first floor in the vehicles outside, but sadly was not able to visit upstairs. Hope they get there. Elevator up and running soon. As if the other floors are as interesting as the main one, it is certainly worth your stop. Staff was very friendly and professional.

An oasis of modern art by local artists in the sea of west Texas cowboy centered creations. Worth…read morechecking on anytime a especially during ArtWalk.

From the owner: The Center for Contemporary Arts, a 501 (c) (3) corporation, was founded in 1989. Its mission is to…read moreprovide enriching and educational experiences for the region's communities through the promotion and support of artists. The Center's exhibits and community education programs serve over 26,000 individuals annually. The Center currently has more than 60 artist members and rents ten artist studios. Five galleries, one devoted to photography, present more than 20 different admission-free exhibits of regional art, international photography, and award-winning short films to Abilene residents and the greater community.

I was kind of bummed - I could have sworn the website said they had a permanent exhibit, including…read moreMo Willems' work among others we love. But alas, the museum is strictly traveling works. We went today and it was all pictures of black children's books, for Black History Month. There is a little gift shop full of *signed* children's books (signature for no extra charge). There are also a few reading areas with bins of books, so grab one and read to your kids! You'll find a Little Free Library just outside, which is awesome! Bring a book, take a book. :)

This place is a true gem. The NCCIL has world class…read moreexhibits and a lovely book store. We will be visiting as often as possible

We visited the Discovery Center and Creation museum today. We enjoyed it so much. There is so much…read moreto look at and read. They have a few animals and a small theater where they show different informative videos. We hope to be able to take our family here when they visit. Oh and they have a really good book store too!!

I met the owner of Discovery Center in an elevator a few months back, and he invited me to check…read morethe center out. I finally took him up on it. It truly is a great place with many fascinating relics, fossils, and exhibits. The entire staff was kind, knowledgeable, and passionate. I learned quite a lot in a short amount of time and made friends in the process. It was a most engaging and memorable experience. When you have a moment, stop by. You will be glad you did.