Fort Worth is where the West Begins. I love my city and I’d like to share some interesting history with you. But first, I’d like to remind you why the city is famous for its’ Cowboys and Culture.
The Fort Worth Zoo is the oldest zoo in Texas, founded in 1909. Repeatedly, it is ranked the #5 BEST zoo in the nation by the US Travel Guide. Just up the street from the zoo you’ll find the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. 110 acres of gardens just outside the downtown area.
The Cultural District in Fort Worth is home to 7 museums, 6 of them nationally ranked. If you’re one of the over one-million visitors to the Cultural District each year you’ll also find 4 galleries and a host of restaurants and shopping.
Smack in the middle of our lovely cultural district is the Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum. This is home to the second largest stock show and rodeo in the world. For three weeks every year it hosts the Fort Worth Stock show!
But let’s talk about Cowtown. Between 1866 and 1890, over four million head of cattle were driven up the Chisolm Trail and into Fort Worth. It was the last stop before the cattle drive had to cross the Red River and go into Indian Territory. As you can imagine, just like many Texas cities in those times, a Hell’s Half Acre arose. The Acre was widely considered to be the most rambunctious and dangerous and downright fun in the land.
In 1876 the rail came to town. It was certainly better business for ranchers to put cattle on the rail and so they did. In 1887 the stock yards were built.
By 1900, Fort Worth entrepreneurs recognized the money was in the meat. So they convinced two major packing houses to build next to the stockyards. There were two sites available for the plants and Swift & Co. and Armour & Co. flipped a coin to decide who got which spot.
Quickly, the new Livestock & Exchange Building was built in 1902 and became known as the Wall Street of the West. It’s just next door to Cowtown Coliseum where the world’s first indoor rodeo was held and still goes on every weekend.
In 1911, a massive fire raged through the stockyards and the Acre. The stockyards were rebuilt and the Acre was not.
During World War I, the area was the largest horse and mule market in the world and supplied most Allied Countries.
During World War II, we experienced our peak processing years with over five million head going through the Swift & Armour plants.
Today this area is alive and well. The packing plants are closed and on the weekends it may resemble The Acre more than the Wall Street of the West. You’ll enjoy shopping, dining and art galleries with special discounts just for you. Don’t forget to stop by the Maverick. It’s a great general store and they give you beer when you walk in the door.
Most famous is Billy Bob’s Texas! This is the largest honky tonk in the world. There’s lots of history on the walls, a bull riding arena, general store, bar b q restaurant, 40 bars, lots of photo ops and a live band.
There’s a lot more about Fort Worth to love. I hope you’ll visit our city and experience the warm and friendly, laid back lifestyle we enjoy so much! Come on over!
leighyork 