E.H. Danner Museum of Telephony: Officers Quarters #4, Fort Concho. Named for E.H. Danner, former General Telephone Co. President. Exhibits include more than 100 antique telephone displays, original telephone directories dating back to the 1800s, and an authentic switchboard from 1910, one of Alexander Graham Bell’s original telephones.
Fort Concho National Historic Landmark: 630 S. Oakes St., 481-2646, www.fortconcho.com. The fort, founded in 1867 as a frontier outpost to protect early West Texans against unfriendly Native Americans, drew settlers who founded San Angelo. Seventeen buildings on the fort grounds have been restored and five have been reconstructed. Periodically, living history demonstrations are held at the fort. Attractions on the fort grounds include the E.H. Danner Museum of Telephony, Concho Valley Pioneer Heritage Center, the Robert Wood Johnson Frontier Medical Museum, officers’ quarters and a reference library (open by appointment). Guided and self-guided tours are available. Fort hours are 9:00 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday– Saturday and 1–5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $3 for adults, $2 for seniors and military, and $1.50 for children 6–17.
Railway Museum of San Angelo at Historic Orient-Santa Fe Depot:
703 S. Chadbourne St. 486.2140. The museum houses depot memorabilia and artifacts, including a permanent model train layout depicting San Angelo in 1928, when both the Santa Fe and the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient railroads were in operation in the city. The restored depot houses the Railway Museum of San Angelo. Two locomotives, a boxcar and a caboose are on permanent display. The depot collection is open to the public year round 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturdays. Admission: $4.00 for adults, $2.00 for children ages 12 and younger. Featured annually during Santa’s Santa Fe Christmas Show on Friday and Saturday nights starting in December 1st – 18th from 6:00pm – 9:00pm.
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts: 1 Love St., 653-3333, www.samfa.org. Exhibits of all cultures and time periods are complimented by close to 300 programs offered annually.
These include adult workshops, children’s art classes, lectures, a cooking show and a Chamber Music Series. The Education Studio is home to children’s art activities, known as “Art Thursdays,” which occur weekly 2–6 p.m. from August to June. SAMFA also is home to the San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, an event widely recognized for its importance in the art world. Open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday and 1–4 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $2 for adults, $1 for senior citizens and free for children age 6 and younger, students and the military.
San Angelo Nature Center: 7409 Knickerbocker Road, 942-0121. The center includes a museum with changing displays to show the ‘‘hidden wonders of West Texas,’’ including live animals and an interpretive garden. The museum’s Discovery Room allows children to feel and play with the exhibits.
The center also features a nature trail, located on Spillway Road, which is open free to the public during daylight hours. It includes three different ecosystems found in West Texas—semi-arid, wooded and wetlands. Spring Creek Wetlands is a 260- acre property developed as a recreational and educational area. More than seven miles of trails lead visitors through terrain that changes from a semi-arid environment to a freshwater marsh. Open noon–5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday all year. Museum admission: $2 for ages 3 and older.
Miss Hattie’s Bordello Museum: 18½ Concho Ave., 653-0112. For almost 50 years, Miss Hattie’s served as a “gentlemen’s social center.” In its original location on Concho Avenue, the museum remains furnished much as it was during its heyday. Guided tours: 4 p.m. Monday– Wednesday, and each hour from 1–4 p.m. Thursday– Saturday. Admission: $5 per person. Group rates for 26 or more are available.
