Editor’s Note: Glenn’s column is just in time for the Children’s Art and Literacy Festival (CALF), which will be held June 11-14. Many of the locations cited are associated with the festival. Be sure to check out the rest of them, too. You’ll be glad you did.

By Glenn Dromgoole

With Abilene’s reputation as the Storybook Capital of America comes another honor. We’ve become a snapshot city – a great place to have your picture taken.

Especially for kids, of course, with all the storybook sculptures. But Abilene isn’t lacking for photographic opportunities for adults as well.

You probably have several of your own favorite spots. Here are some that come to mind:

The iconic Paramount Theatre sign.
The Texas flags in front of Texas Star Trading Company.
The historic T&P Depot.
The sculpture in Everman Park from the book Santa Calls.
The Garden of Hope, with the labyrinth, at First Central Presbyterian Church. 
The impressive bell tower at Heavenly Rest Episcopal Church.
The Swenson House on N. 18^th.
The buffalo sculpture at Frontier Texas.
The Taylor County Veterans Memorial outside the county courts building.
The veterans cemetery on West Lake Road/FM 600.
The ruins at Ft. Phantom Hill on FM 600.
The owl sculpture in front of Abilene Heritage Square, with the beautifully restored building in the background.
Inside the new library at Abilene Heritage Square with the colorful three-story glass art installation.
With the life-size dinosaur in the new Spark Science Center.
The Abilene Zoo sign facing E.S. 11^th.
Feeding the giraffes at the Abilene Zoo.
Feeding the fish at the zoo.
Whenever you can get a shot with the HSU Six White Horses and their riders.|With the Abilene Police Mounted Patrol officers.
The vacant lot at E.N. 10^th and Avenue E with a view of the downtown skyline in the background (a better view when the leaves are gone).
The pond and fountain behind the shops and hotel at Allen Ridge, across Ambler from ACU.
The 40-foot Jacob’s Dream sculpture at ACU.
The Linebery Clock Tower at HSU (it even shows the correct time).
The Sacred Wind sculpture at McMurry, a tribute to Native Americans.
The giant “Love in a Small Town” mural in the parking lot at Pine and N. 3^rd.
The train engine sculpture outside City Hall.
The dinosaur sculpture at the Convention Center.
The mustang sculpture behind the NCCIL.
Duck on a Bike outside Vletas Candies.
If you ever have a chance, sunset from the roof of the Grace.
With a B-1 or C-130 when Dyess AFB has an air show open to the public. 
The giant armadillo sculpture at Perini Ranch Steakhouse.
With a live longhorn in the background (behind the fence) at Perini’s.
In season, the bluebonnets at Buffalo Gap Cemetery.
The midway at the West Texas Fair.

Let me know what I’ve left out. I’m sure there are many more picturesque spots around our very own snapshot city.

Glenn Dromgoole is the author or co-author of more than 40 books, chapbooks, and booklets, including Abilene Stories from Then to Now and 52 (Pretty Much) True Facts about Abilene. Email him at gdromgoole44@gmail.com.