Cowboys and cattle mix with art and culture in this North Texas city with a rich Western heritage.
With its rodeos, cowboys and country music, Fort Worth is called the city “Where the West Begins.” Cowboy culture is a way of life for many residents, but just one part of the city’s appeal. Fort Worth is also a cultural hub featuring museums, theaters, art galleries, ballet and a symphony orchestra.
Fort Worth began as an army outpost and a stop on the Chisholm Trail cattle route from Texas to Kansas. The population grew when the railway arrived in 1876 and increased again with the Texas oil boom in the early 1900s. Today, Fort Worth remains one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S.
Start your visit with an exploration of the American West in the Stockyards National Historic District. The former livestock market where millions of cattle were sold is one of Fort Worth’s most popular attractions, with cowboy-themed shops, shows, rodeos and restaurants.
Tour the 98-acre (40-hectare) site and visit the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, which honors achievements of rodeo cowboys and cowgirls. Watch daily cattle drives near the Fort Worth Stockyards Visitor Center and reserve a seat at Cowtown Coliseum for a weekend rodeo. Visit the interactive Texas Wild! area at the Fort Worth Zoo.
Enjoy the city’s artistic side. Just west of downtown is the Fort Worth Cultural District, one of the country’s largest art districts. Study works of European masters, such as Michelangelo and Caravaggio, at the Kimbell Art Museum. Appreciate modern and contemporary pieces at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
Fort Worth’s downtown district is a 35-block area that is home to shopping, theaters, cinemas, restaurants and music clubs. Browse Sundance Square, a large plaza with many attractions, including the Bass Performance Hall, the permanent home of Fort Worth's symphony, opera and ballet companies. Less high-brow, but lots of fun, is Billy Bob’s Texas honky-tonk.
Fort Worth is located in North Texas, 32 miles (51 kilometers) west of Dallas, and shares the major Dallas/Fort Worth airport. Enjoy a visit to the city where the West truly begins.