Frontier Texas field trip highlights local history

Fourth-grade students from Nancy Smith Elementary visited Frontier Texas on Friday, March 21, as part of their study of Texas history. The field trip coincided with the museum’s grand reopening following a year-long renovation and expansion project.

The students toured the museum’s interactive exhibits, including the sculpture of “Crossing Catclaw Creek” and the song “Little Joe, the Wrangler,” both of which help illustrate life on the Texas frontier. They also explored exhibits on Native American tribes, including the Comanche, and viewed a permanent display dedicated to the history of Fort Griffin—an important local connection for Albany students.

The students’ visit came just weeks after Frontier Texas officially unveiled a series of major updates to the museum. The renovations include a newly enclosed outdoor pavilion now serving as an Education Center and conference room, along with a new Archives Space to protect and preserve historical artifacts. A redesigned lobby welcomes visitors into a more modern and accessible space, and a new parking lot increases capacity with dedicated spaces for both the public and museum staff.

A highlight of the renovation is the new Jerri and Jim Alexander Exhibit Gallery, which opened with “This Land, Across Generations”—an exhibit focused on the agricultural heritage of the region. In total, the updates added over 7,500 square feet of new space to the facility.

Following the museum tour, students stopped for lunch at Braum’s before returning to Albany in time for regular dismissal.

Frontier Texas is located at 625 North First Street in downtown Abilene. For more information, visit www.frontiertexas.com or call 325-437-2800.