Impressive!

In downtown Abilene  

we found a most interesting museum.

Inside we learned about the history of Texas in general and in particular the history of west central Texas--with Abilene as its center.

The information was interesting but the exhibits used to teach the history were what makes this museum a cut above.  Large detailed murals historic photographs, revolving cylinders, life-sized dioramas, info panels, and holograms were all more interesting teachers than any history book.

The first hunter/gatherers 

coalesced into several large tribes soon dominated by the Comanche who used captured Spanish horses to dominate other tribes.

Buffalo hunters soon wiped out the Natives' food supply 

(as attested to by the mountain of bison bones)

and left the west open to white expansion by the army who were supposed to keep the natives and whites apart without interference with either group,

cowboys,

and settlers arriving by wagon, stage and railroad.

The law was slow to follow, but eventually it caught up.

Holograms of famous people offered personal views.

In one Cynthia Ann Parker, the mother of Quanah Parker talks of the decline of (her adopted) Comanche nation because of the decimation of the buffalo, their main food source. 

while J. Wright Mooar who viewed the animals as only a source of quick money.

Former slave Britt Johnson talks of his successful freighting business.

The museum offers two theaters, one for an introductory talk about what to expect, and the other a circular room with swivel stools for seating so that viewers can see all the screens around the room, which allows them to feel as if they are in the midst of the action of an Indian attack, a trail drive, etc.

More museum coming up.

Louise and Duane