In the late 1800s, the Buffalo Soldiers were key to making the Abilene area a place where new settlers from the east, those passing through and the indigenous communities could co-exist. Regiments like the 9th and 10th Cavalry campaigned here after the Civil War, facilitating safe passage for vital stagecoach routes and managing interactions between the Comanche tribes, the Kiowa tribes, and the railroad crews. Their constant vigilance helped communities like Abilene take root and grow in West-Central Texas. When you visit Abilene State Park today, listen for the echoes of that frontier spirit while enjoying the peaceful woodlands and admiring the historic structures built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.