Buffalo Gap Historic Village

Current (Profile Last Updated: December 7, 2023)

Our Story

The Buffalo Gap Historic Village, just minutes south of Abilene, is an authentic West Texas frontier village. Not a replica, but actual historic buildings surrounding the original Taylor County Courthouse that represent the last 50 years of the frontier (roughly 1875-1925). The buildings are replete with furnishings, tools, artwork, and other artifacts from the time period, and are either in or have moved from their original West Texas locations and lovingly restored to their original appearance.
Our mission is to fascinate and educate our visitors with a literal walk through the past. Our goals are to:

    • Provide a multi-dimensional, hands-on experience of life in an earlier time
    • Educate school children through interactive, immersive field trips 
    • Serve as a regional hub for historians, history tourists, visitors, and West Texas residents to capture and preserve their ancestors’ way of life 
    • Remain a Top 10 visitor attraction in Taylor County to help promote and develop our economy

    Our buildings are an delightful mix, representative of any rural village of its time. In addition to the Courthouse and jail, they include a train station, schoolhouse, doctor's office, print shop, chapel, bank, post office, blacksmith shop, wagon barns, and homes built 100+ years ago. 

    The age of the buildings -- and all the artifacts within -- creates constant maintenance and upkeep issues.  As a 501(c)3 organization, we are requesting your assistance in preserving and maintaining this rich part of our history and assuring its sustainability for generations to come.  And also to help support our many school field trips - from Abilene, Wylie, Jim Ned, Merkel, and beyond - and Scarecrow Festival that these schools participate in.  Thank you!