Attractions
Amon Carter Museum
Located in Fort Worth's cultural district, the Amon Carter Museum offers visitors a stunning survey of American art, from the first landscape painters of the 1830s to modern artists of the twentieth century. The collection includes masterworks by such luminaries as Alexander Calder, Thomas Cole, Stuart Davis, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, Georgia O'Keeffe, John Singer Sargent, and Alfred Stieglitz. The museum also houses founder Amon G. Carter's collection of works by the two greatest artists of the American West-Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. The Carter's holdings by these two artists are recognized as the finest and most comprehensive in the world. The museum's photography collection ranks among the top five in the country, with more than 30,000 exhibition-quality prints that cover the breadth of the medium's history. Continuous programs of special exhibitions, docent-guided tours, gallery talks, and lectures. Audio guide available. Facilities include a museum store, and an art reference library and archives available by appointment. Hrs. Tue., Wed., Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thurs. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun. noon 5 p.m., closed Mondays & major holidays. Admission to the permanent collection is free.
Fort Worth Zoo
A trip to the Fort Worth Zoo is an adventure where you'll see creatures from around the world who all seem right at home in their lush, natural habitats. In many settings, visitors are only separated from the animals by a river or waterfall, and are often face-to-face with the animals through large viewing windows! The Zoo is home to more than 5,000 exotic animals, including lowland gorillas, Asian cats, bears, a world-famous reptile collection and an insectarium. Texas Wild!, an 8 acre addition to the Zoo, opened in June 2001. Visitors exploring this turn-of-the-century town featuring six different regions of the state, will experience the different sights, sounds and smells of all those areas. Hrs. are 10 a.m-4 p.m. daily. The Zoo is open Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year's Day from noon to 4 p.m. Zoo tickets include entry into Texas Wild! Gen. Ad. $9, Seniors 65+, $5.50, children 3-12, $6.50, 2 & under free. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Half-price tickets on Wednesdays.
Forth Worth Botanical Gardens
The Rose Garden was started in 1933. It now has more than 3,400 roses with peak blooming times from April to October. Walk into the Fragrance Garden for the visually impaired, stroll through the Japanese Garden with its waterfalls, pools and Koi fish, smell the herbs in the Perennial Garden, examine the large collection of begonias in the Exhibition Greenhouse, and go into the Conservatory to see orchids and bromeliads. Visitors may have refreshments or lunch in The Gardens Restaurant. There are Gift Shops. A fee is charged to view the Conservatory and the Japanese Garden. Main Garden 8 a.m.-sundown, 7 days a week. Japanese Garden Tue.-Sun. 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Cattle Raisers Museum
The romance of the West is alive at the Cattle Raisers Museum. From cattle barons to cowboys, from Special Texas Rangers to rustlers, from boots to branding irons, you'll find it all at the Cattle Raisers Museum - where the real West begins. This entertaining, interactive museum tells the story of the cattle and ranching industry in Texas and the Southwest. Experience hands-on exhibits, see talking mannequins and authentic artifacts and an exciting theater presentation. All of these make the legends and lore of the cattle industry come alive. You'll see the world's largest documented collection of branding irons including brands used by Stephen F. Austin, baseball great Nolan Ryan and the "running W" from the King Ranch. See a pair of boots owned by Western artist Charles Russell, and saddles just like the ones used on the dusty Chisholm Trail. Adults $3; Seniors, & youths 13-18, $2 & Children 4-12, $1. Guests under the age of 4, and organized school groups, free. Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sun.
Fort Worth Convention Center
The 13,500-seat arena in the Fort Worth Convention Center is located in the heart of downtown Fort Worth at 1201 Houston Street, and is within walking distance of restaurants, shopping districts and hotels. The FWCC originally opened in 1968 but in 2003 underwent significant renovations and expansions. Along with a larger arena, the Center now offers 253,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, a 30,000 sq. ft. ballroom and 41 meeting rooms. As indicated by its name, the Convention Center serves as the site for a variety of national, regional, and state conventions, as well as welcoming auto, recreational vehicle, home and garden, and train shows. The Fort Worth Flyers from the NBA Development League are tenants of the FWCC. For their season of basketball, the Flyers take to the court between November and April. Flyers ticket prices range from $10 to $30. Discount ticket packages are available for groups. Call 817-698-8333 or visit www.fwflyers.com for more information. Audiences can also enjoy Disney on Ice, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
The Fort Worth Herd - Texas Longhorns
Daily cattle drives through the Stockyards National Historic District recall Fort Worth of the late 1800s. Twice daily, weather permitting, and it's not a major holiday, cowhands, dressed in 19th century ranching gear, drive 10 to 15 Texas longhorn steers down Exchange Ave. Best viewing areas for the 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. drives are the front lawn of the Livestock Exchange Building or across the street near the Stockyards Visitor's Center. The Herd also offers education programs based on the trailing life of a cowboy for school groups and other organizations by appointment only. Watching the cattle drive is free.
Fort Worth Museum of Science & History
Take a step back in time! Discover what millions of visitors have found for 60 years--hands-on fun activities for the entire family. Explore a variety of traveling and permanent exhibitions including "Comin' Through Cowtown," "ExploraZone," "Lone Star Dinosaurs," and "KIDSPACE." The OMNI THEATER also offers year-round film presentations. Viewers are completely enveloped in these exciting films--soaring with birds or butterflies, climbing mountains or skimming across the world's rivers, lakes and oceans, all the while surrounded by the earth's wild life, flowers and trees as you explore the world from its depths to its heights. And don't miss the Museum Store. Hours Mon.-Thur. 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. & Sun. 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Kimbell Art Musuem
One of the outstanding art museums in the U.S. The award-winning building was the last completed work under personal supervision of architect Louis I. Kahn. As well as an excellent permanent collection, the museum offers a full program of changing exhibitions, lectures, concerts, films, workshops and tours. Bookstore, lunch and snack bar (The Buffet). Open Tue.-Thur. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Fri. noon-8 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sun. noon-5 p.m. Closed Mondays.
LaGrave Field
Home of the Fort Worth Cats who recently won the 2006 American Association Championship. That makes back-to-back championships for the Cats who won the Central League title in 2005. Close to 50 Hall of Famers played baseball at historic LaGrave Field since it opened in 1926. The Cats plan on honoring many of them throughout the 2007 season with different events. The Cats offer affordable family entertainment at one of America’s most historic minor league ballparks in a county fair atmosphere. LaGrave Field, located off North Main between downtown and the stockyards, has a history unmatched by any ballpark in Texas. LaGrave Field has been the home of the Cats during two different baseball eras, 1926-1964 and 2002 to the present. Home plate is exactly where it was in1926 when the old facility opened. The view of downtown at night is breathtaking. Fans have the opportunity to watch baseball at the same historic place where former Cats such as Bobby Bragan, Duke Snider, Maury Wills, Sparky Anderson, Carl Erskine and Rogers Hornsby played and coached. Game times Mon.-Sat. 7:05 p.m., Sun 1:05 and 7:05 p.m. Tickets range from $4-$12. Parking $2-$3.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Designed by the world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, this striking building is composed of 5 pavilions of concrete and glass arranged around a 1.5 acre reflecting pond. The Modern maintains one of the foremost collections of postwar art in the central United States, consisting of more than 2,600 significant works of modern and contemporary international art, including pieces by Anselm Kiefer, Robert Motherwell, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Gerhard Richter, Susan Rothenberg, Richard Serra, Andre Serrano, Cindy Sherman, and Andy Warhol. Visitors to the museum can also enjoy lunch in Café Modern’s elliptical dining room set on the reflecting pond or shop for unique gifts at The Modern Shop. Educational programming and the Museum’s film series, Magnolia at the Modern, take place in the Museum’s state-of-the-art auditorium. Located in the Cultural District, across the street from the Kimbell Art Museum and near the Amon Carter Museum, at 3200 Darnell St. Gen. Ad. 13 to adult $8, Seniors & students with an ID, $4, & children under 13, free. Each Wednesday and the first Sunday of each month, admission is free. Access to the Grand Lobby, Café Modern, and The Modern Shop is free. Hrs. Tue., Wed., Thu., Fri., & Sat.10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & New Year’s Day.
Fort Worth Stockyards
The livestock industry began to develop here in the 1880s. There were cattle, sheep, and hog pens and horse and mule barns. The original wooden barns burned in 1911 and were replaced with concrete and steel buildings. Swift & Co. & Armour & Co., meat packers, ran plants in the Stockyards until the early 1970s. Refurbished livestock pens and sheds, some with the original brick floors, now house restaurants and antique and western wear shops. Visit the Stockyards Museum in the Ft. Worth Livestock Exchange Bldg., 131 E. Exchange Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Sat. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated.
Sundance Square
Sundance Square, Ft. Worth's downtown entertainment & shopping district, has a rich Western history. During the cattle drives of the late 1800s, Ft. Worth was a primary stop along the Chisholm Trail. The area offered diversionary saloons, gambling parlors & dance halls to cowboys, cattlemen, gamblers & outlaws. The Hole-in-the-Wall Gang, led by Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, hid out in the area now called Sundance Square. Wyatt Earp & Doc Holliday also spent time in downtown Ft. Worth. Turn-of-the-century buildings have been restored, and others built in their style, now house restaurants, shops, movies, art galleries & more. Between 5th & 2nd St., South to North & Calhoun & Throckmorton Sts., East to West.
Bass Performance Hall
The Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall officially opened in May 1998. David Schwarz was the architect for the structure named one of the top ten opera houses in the world in Travel & Leisure's March 1999 issue. Rumanian/Californian artist, Marton Varo created and shaped the 48 feet tall angels fronting the Hall. The opera house is the permanent home of the Fort Worth Symphony, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, & the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Tours available Sat. at 10:30 a.m., performance schedule permitting. Bass Performance Hall is located in Sundance Square on a city block bordered by Commerce, Calhoun, & 4th & 5th Sts.
