FRONTIER HERITAGE TOUR – The 25th Annual Western Heritage Classic has come and gone. However, you can still continue to learn about Texas tradition and the preservation of the working ranch cowboy. Find adventure, explore and discover all that Abilene has to offer with a self-guided, Frontier Heritage Tour.

Begin at Frontier Texas! Travel in time from 1780 to 1880 and relive the Old West inside the multimedia exhibit “Century of Adventure.” Hear the stories from the men and women who lived and died on the frontier. See the recently opened exhibit, “The Guns that Won the West.” Visitors of all ages will enjoy this special exhibit provided by the Fort Phantom Hill Foundation collection. Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.  For more information, call (325) 437-2800.

Continue on your tour to The Grace Museum and learn about how boots were made. Boots were a big part of frontier life and are still a part of Texas culture today. They protected cowboys from rough terrain and other elements on the western frontier. The Grace Museum’s Mallouf Boot Shop exhibit on the third floor recreates the 1940s workshop of Brownwood boot-maker, Albert Mallouf. The third floor also houses a history museum with exhibits about life in West Texas from 1900s to the 1950s. The Grace Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday. For more information, call (325) 673-4587.

Visit James Leddy Boots. The children of celebrated boot maker, James Leddy, carry on his legacy by creating world-class boots at his workshop and store, located at 1602 North Treadaway. The boot workshop is in full view and the Leddy family is always willing to take guests around to see the boot-making process. Each boot in the Leddy showroom has a story. Open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (325) 677-7811.

Stop in at Bell Custom-Made Boots & Repair, 2118 North Treadaway. Alan Bell is another legendary Texas boot maker and was a close friend of Leddy. He has charmingly rustic workshop just right up the road from James Leddy Boots and guests are always welcome. For more information, call (325) 677-0632.

Saddle up the herd and head over to Art Reed Custom Saddles, 361 East South 11th. Art Reed has worked with the area’s ranch cowboys for over 40 years. His store greets guests with southern hospitality and the smell of fresh leather. From chaps to saddles and other cowboy necessities, Reed covers those who are looking for the best in the business. Open Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a break. Open Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, call (325) 677-4572.

Don’t miss paying a visit to 5-D Custom Hats and Leather, 742 Butternut. Owner, Damon Albus, stocks cowboy accessories and crafts custom cowboy hats. Guests are always welcome to take a look at the workshop to see the hat-making process. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. Open most Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (325) 673-9000.

Conclude your tour by taking a short drive out to the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. Enjoy a walk through West Texas frontier history. The Village tells the incredible story of the last 50 years of the frontier through 21 buildings. Sound wands are included in the admission price. Browse the Village book store or play on the old-fashioned playground. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. For more information, call (325) 572-3365.

For more information about the Frontier Heritage Tour and all of Abilene’s events and attractions, visit www.abilenevisitors.com.



Shanna Smith is Heritage Tourism and special projects coordinator at the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. Contact at shanna@abilene.com.