General -
First Anglo-American settler at the
site of the present
metropolis built a single log cabin here in 1841. Two
years later town consisted of two log cabins. By
mid-1870's, Dallas had become a thriving business town
and market center with cosmopolitan, urbane air unmatched
anywhere on the frontier at the time, primarily due to
several immigrations of skilled and cultured groups of
French, German, Swiss, English and other Europeans.
The Southwest's largest banking
center, leader in wholesale business, second in nation
for home of insurance companies, third in the nation in
terms of million dollar companies, and number two in
convention sites.
If it doesn't sell in Dallas, it
won't sell, say buyers to some 32 wholesale fashion and
home furnishing markets each year. Beginning with the
Dallas Market Center in 1957, today main building complex
includes Homefurnishings Mart, INFOMART, World Trade
Center, Trade Mart, Apparel Mart, Decorative Center
District, and Menswear Mart.
Citizens pursue culture with almost
as much enthusiasm as business. Any day or night of the
year, one may choose from a lavish variety of events.
Excellent major symphony orchestra and a steady stream of
visiting groups: opera and ballet, theater and musical
comedy, literary societies and debating groups. Visit
flower shows, horse shows, art shows, bird shows, dog
shows, and cat shows. Noted for abundant gourmet dining
facilities.
Summer musicals are held Jun. -
Aug. at Music Hall in Fair Park, nightly Tues. through
Sat., and matinees on the weekend.
An excellent climate where fair
skies are usual the year round encourages outdoor
activities, especially water sports.
The State Fair of Texas in the fall
of each year attracts more than 3 million visitors
annually to 200-acre Fair Park. Traditional fair
exhibits, plus Broadway musicals, extravaganzas, prize
livestock and horse show performances, a huge midway that
features the Texas Star - largest Ferris Wheel in the
Western Hemisphere - and grid-iron rivalry between Texas
and Oklahoma. Big Tex, gigantic cowboy symbol, looms over
all festivities.
Professional sports are presented
throughout the year; teams include:
Pro
football's Dallas Cowboys, Texas
Rangers
baseball, Dallas Stars National Hockey League, Dallas
Maverick's
basketball, Dallas Freeze Central Hockey League, and Dallas
Sidekicks
Soccer.
For games schedules and other
tourist details stop any of the many conveniently located
city Visitor Centers.
Dallas and surrounding communities
are home for Amber Univ., Bayler
Univ. College of Dentistry, the
Univ. of Texas Health Science Center,
Dallas Baptist College, Dallas
Theological Seminary, Paul Quinn College,
Southern Methodist Univ., the Univ.
of Texas at Dallas, and units of the Dallas
County Community College enrolling more than
75,000 undergraduates.
Bryan
Cabin -
In Dallas county Historical Plaza;
reconstructed log cabin of an early resident, could have
belonged to John Neely Bryan who, in 1841, was the area's
first settler. North of Kennedy Plaza in downtown Dallas
at Main and Record Streets.
Dallas Arboretum &
Botanical Garden -
A 66-acre haven of natural beauty
only minutes from downtown Dallas. Headquarters id in the
Camp Estate, designed by Texas' most famous residential
architect, John Staub, and completed in 1938. Also on the
grounds is the historic DeGolyer House, a magnificent
Spanish Colonial style mansion built in 1940 by Texas oil
man Everett DeGolyer. Mansion of 21,000 square feet has
13 rooms, 7 baths, 16th and 17th century antiques and
artworks,; surrounded by Old English garden, footpaths,
rolling lawns and woodlands on White Rock Lake.
Gardens are open daily from 10 a.m.
- 6 p.m.; (Nov. - Feb. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.). At 8525 Garland
Rd. (Texas 78). Admission. for tour schedules call
214/327-8263.
Dallas Museum of Art -
Superb core collection of
pre-Columbian artwork plus major American art. Examples
by Monet, Sargent, and Matisse; sculptures of Rodin and
Henry Moore, plus special traveling exhibits. Open Tues.,
Wed., Fri. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Thurs. 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.;
Sat., Sun., some holidays 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Mon.
1717 N. Harwood at Ross St. Telephone 214/922-1200.
Dallas Zoo -
Located three miles south of downtown Dallas, the Zoo covers 95 acres and offers many rare and endangered species in natural habitats. Key exhibits include the Lacerte Family Children's Zoo with educational, interactive exhibits for toddlers to pre-teens; the ExxonMobil Endangered Tiger Habitat featuring Sumatran and Indochinese tigers; and the 25-acre Wilds of Africa, named the best African exhibit in the United States.
Open daily. 650 South R.L. Thornton Freeway. Admission.
Deep Ellum Historic
District -
Just east of downtown is the
popular Deep Ellum area. In the early 1900's this was the
center for African-American business, entertainment, and
a center for popular blues music and artists. Today, the
old two-story stores have become a home of shops,
restaurants, and clubs featuring music from
Country/Western to rock. Several block area bounded by
Elm, Commerce, Oakland and Good Latimer Streets.
Farmer's Market -
One of the few remaining and one of
the largest markets in nation. Some 1,000 farmers bring
fresh produce for sale. During the year special crafts,
plants and flowers are featured for holiday occasions.
Open daily 5 a.m. - 7 p.m. Cadiz and Harwood Streets.
McKinney Avenue Trolley -
nostalgic early 20th Century
trolley cars recommisioned to take visitors from downtown
to uptown McKinney Ave. for a variety of antique shops,
restaurants, and clubs. Trolley runs from Ross Ave. and
St. Paul St. up St. Paul to McKinney Ave. and back.
Schedule posted along the route. Fare.
Morton H. Meyerson Symphony
Center (the Meyerson) -
Multi-million dollar facility
designed by architect I. M. Pei with acoustics by Russell
Johnson. 260,000 sq.-ft. symphonic hall houses the Dallas
Symphony Orchestra, which plays a full schedule of both
home performances and tours. Available for group tours.
Open for scheduled performances; 231 Flora St.
Old City Park -
A favorite place where nostalgia of
yesteryear lingers in furnished log cabins,
turn-of-the-century shops, a Victorian bandstand on the
village green, a drummer's hotel and Southern Colonial
mansions. Grounds open dawn to sunset. Guided tours (fee)
Tues. - Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sun. 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. At
1717 Gano St. immediately south of downtown business
district.
Reunion Tower -
focal point of the Reunion area,
which was a settlement of French immigrants in the 19th
Century. Fifty-story tower features observation deck
(fee), restaurant and revolving lounge; adjacent to
glass-tower is Hyatt Regency. Nearby, restored Union
Station, c. 1914. Just off I-35 at southwest edge of
downtown; Houston St., Reunion Blvd.
The Sixth Floor -
Permanent educational exhibition on
the life, death and legacy of President John F. Kennedy.
Exhibits feature photographs, artifacts, 30-minute audio
tour and six films. Visitor Center at the former Texas
School Book Depository has elevators up to the 6th floor.
Open Sun. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Ticket sales stop one hour before closing. At 411 Elm St.
Admission.
Visitor Centers -
Visit the information office in
North Park Mall, Mon. - Sat. 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. noon
- 5 p.m. Also at west End Market Place Mon. - Sat. 11
a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun. noon - 6 p.m.
West End Historic District
-
Early day business district has
been revived and restored with shops, push-cart traders,
craftsmen, restaurants, and clubs occupying modern
facilities within the original architecture. Also here is
the 1892 red sandstone courthouse, one Dallas' oldest
buildings at Main and Houston Sts. Several block area,
centered around market St. from Pacific to McKinney.
Served by DART Hop-a-Bus.
|