FORT WORTH 
CULTURAL DISTRICT 

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We do know both Houston and Dallas have an area they call their Arts District. Tacoma does have an area downtown with 4 museums, including the Glass Museum with its multi-million dollar Bridge of Glass over the main highway that enters downtown, plus a new $400 million Convention Center. But Tacoma does not call this area their Cultural District. 

We will continue our quest to discover what other towns besides Fort Worth have designated an area of their town as their Cultural District, particularly who #'s 1 and 2 are, if, indeed, they do exist.

  click a thumbnail to view a photo 
Fort Worth's Museum of Modern Art, located in the Cultural District.

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

The newest museum in Fort Worth's Cultural District, the Museum of Modern Art. 

culturaldistrict21.jpg (42955 bytes) Looking north at the front of Fort Worth's Modern Art Museum. We do not know if those are art pieces hovering above the building. The one in the middle sort of looks like a rocket. Perhaps the work of art is called 'Ode to Crane'.
culturaldistrict22.jpg (70156 bytes) Here we see The Modern's Tower of Rust sharing space with other vertical items like power poles and trees. We are hopeful that the long range plan for the Cultural District would be to bury the power lines so as to get rid of the view obstructing power poles.

For more information about the Art Museum and the Tower of Rust visit their Official Website.

We did not realize taking photographs inside the Modern Art Museum was forbidden until after the fact. In this bootleg photo the Eyes on Texas Spy Cam is looking out across the Museum's reflecting pool. That is the Café Modern  jutting out into the pool on the right. And in the distance you see the skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth.
This Fort Worth museum may be a Modern Art Museum, but this stairway between floors seems quite primitive. The Eyes on Texas Spy Cam surreptitiously  photographed the line waiting to go level 2.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
Located at 3200 Darnell Street in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, adjacent to the Kimbell Museum, approximately 2 miles west of Downtown Fort Worth. Free parking.

MUSEUM HOURS:
Tue 10 am–5 pm (10–7 Feb–Apr, Sep–Nov)
Wed 10 am–5 pm
Thu 10 am–5 pm
Fri 10 am–5 pm
Sat 10 am–5pm 
Sun 11 am–5 pm
The Modern is closed Mondays and holidays, including New Year's Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas.

ENTRY FEES:
Admission includes entrance to permanent collection exhibitions, all special and traveling exhibitions, and scheduled tours and gallery programs. Wheelchair accessible.
$4: Students with ID and Seniors (60+) 
$10: General (13 to Adult) 
Free: Children 12 and under 
Free: Museum Members
The Museum is FREE on the first Sunday of every month and every Wednesday.
Access to the Grand Lobby, Café Modern, and The Modern Shop is always free.

culturaldistrict23.jpg (36520 bytes) THE KIMBELL ART MUSEUM

The Museum of Modern Art is behind us, we are looking west towards the backside of the Kimbell Art Museum and a disturbing sculpture of what would appear to be a woman with a gaping wound.

culturaldistrict17.jpg (84569 bytes) Looking north towards the Kimbell Art Museum.
culturaldistrict1.jpg (73852 bytes) This would appear to be some sort of sculpture outside the west entry to the Kimbell Art Museum.

For more information about the Kimbell Art Museum visit their Official Website.

KIMBELL ART MUSEUM
Located at 3333 Camp Bowie Boulevard adjacent to the Modern Art Museum

HOURS
Tuesdays–Thursdays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Fridays, noon–8 p.m.
Saturdays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Sundays, noon–5 p.m.
Closed Mondays, New Year's Day, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day

ENTRY FEE
Admission to the Museum’s permanent collection is always free. There is a charge for special exhibitions. Half-price exhibition admission is offered on Tuesdays (all day) and on Fridays from 5–8 p.m.

culturaldistrict2.jpg (53919 bytes) A pair of frisbee tossers playing in the grassy field between the Kimbell Museum and the Amon Carter Museum. The Cultural District is a park-like atmosphere, with tree lined boulevards. flowers and a lot of open space. A few weeks after a tornado destroyed much of downtown Fort Worth, way back in 2000, the Main Street Arts Festival was moved from downtown to this area of the Cultural District. It was a very pleasant venue for that event. With the Main Street Arts Festival being such a good cultural event it would seem like a good idea to hold it every year in the Cultural District.

culturaldistrict3.jpg (41460 bytes)

THE AMON CARTER MUSEUM

Looking east towards beautiful downtown Fort Worth from in front of the Amon Carter Museum.

culturaldistrict4.jpg (39050 bytes) This is the new Amon Carter Museum, which replaced the old museum a few years ago. The museum recently reopened after a lengthy closure due to the need to fix leaking plumbing. 

For more information about the Amon Carter Museum visit their Official Website.

 

culturaldistrict5.jpg (49708 bytes)

Another view of the Amon Carter Museum. The University of North Texas Health Science Center hovers ominously above the museum, as it seems to do over much of the Cultural District. Interestingly and maybe ironically, it was the University of North Texas Health Science Center which indirectly caused us to move to Texas. 

AMON CARTER MUSEUM
Located at 3501 Camp Bowie Boulevard.

HOURS
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday:
10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
Sunday: Noon–5 p.m.
Closed Mondays and Major Holidays

ENTRY FEE
Admission to the permanent collection is free. All galleries wheelchair accessible..
culturaldistrict6.jpg (58165 bytes)

THE FORT WORTH ARTS CENTER

The Fort Worth Arts Center hosts a variety of events, including plays, music and art exhibits. We attended a play at the Arts Center, the Broadway musical from the 60s called HAIR. The play was put on by either Texas Christian University or Texas Wesleyan University. Both are Christian affiliated schools, TCU connected to the Disciples of Christ and TWU affiliated with the United Methodist Church. We can't remember for certain which school performed HAIR, but we lean towards TWU. Either way, it was surprising to see the play, performed by one of the local Christian schools, here in the buckle of the bible belt, and to see the play's infamous nude scenes performed intact. No one seemed shocked.

culturaldistrict12.jpg (29273 bytes) Yes, there is a McDonald's in Fort Worth's Cultural District, along with many other fine restaurants. In this photo it would appear that the Cultural District McDonald's is part of the Fort Worth Arts Center, but that is an optical illusion, the McDonald's is actually across the street from the Arts Center.

For more information about the Fort Worth Arts Center visit their Official Website.

FORT WORTH ARTS CENTER
Located at the corner of Gendy and Lancaster, due south of the Amon Carter Museum.

HOURS
Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Sat 10am-5pm
Sun CLOSED
culturaldistrict7.jpg (47868 bytes) THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY

Here we are looking up towards Fort Worth's Museum of Science and History's IMAX Theater.

For more information about the Museum of Science and History go to their Official Website.

THE FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY
Located a short distance south of the Fort Worth Arts Center and the Amon Carter Museum.

HOURS
Monday – Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday Noon – 5 p.m.

ENTRY FEE
Adults - $8
Child (3-12)/Senior - $7
Fort Worth Museum of Science & History Members & Cowgirl Museum Members FREE

culturaldistrict8.jpg (45982 bytes) THE NATIONAL COWGIRL MUSEUM

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is the only museum on the planet whose sole purpose is to honor the women of the American West's pioneer spirit and courage.

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is currently serving double duty by helping out the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History during its period of construction.

culturaldistrict10.jpg (44238 bytes) A statue of a Cowgirl outside the museum entrance, looking as if she is trying to decide if she wants to go inside or stay outside enjoying the pleasant Fall temperatures.

We attended the parade that celebrated the opening of the Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame. Take a look at the parade.

culturaldistrict9.jpg (53239 bytes) Benches outside the entry to the Cowgirl Museum showing a fine cowgirl eye for detail which you can see by clicking the photo to view a bigger image.

For the latest information about all matters pertaining to the Cowgirl Museum & Hall of Fame visit the Cowgirl's Official Website.

Cowgirl Museum Hours

  • Mondays through Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Sundays: noon - 5:00p.m.
  • Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day & New Years Day
    * Museum hours subject to change.
culturaldistrict11.jpg (48335 bytes) THE STOCK SHOW GROUNDS

Yes, this building is called the Amon G. Carter Exhibits Hall, but, no, it is not part of the Amon Carter Museum. This Exhibit Hall is part of Fort Worth's fairgrounds complex, where the annual Stock Show is held. Stock Show is a fancy name for an event of the sort that others call State Fair, such at the State Fair of Texas. The statue of a bucking bronco in front of the Exhibit Hall honors the "World's Greatest Bucking Horse", Midnight (1910-1936). From the inscription below the statue, "A Legend In His Own Time As He Is Today". During the course of Midnight's bucking career only 9 men managed to stay aboard.

culturaldistrict25.jpg (34199 bytes) Another example of the park-like nature of the Cultural District. Here we are looking across a grassy field at the tower that stands in front of Will Rogers Coliseum which serves as sort of a symbol, maybe, of the Cultural District, but certainly a symbol of the Fort Worth Stock Show.
culturaldistrict15.jpg (50888 bytes) One of the entries into Will Rogers Coliseum. A very graphic mural surrounds the top of the coliseum.
culturaldistrict14.jpg (42202 bytes) A close up look at part of the mural depicting life in Texas that sits atop Will Rogers Coliseum.
culturaldistrict16.jpg (42054 bytes) Now we are looking up from the base of the tower we saw in the distance 3 pictures above. The tower sort of reminds us of the Baker Hotel in Mineral Wells.

culturaldistrict18.jpg (39617 bytes) Standing on the eastern fringe of the Cultural District, a bit north of Casa Mañana and a bit southeast of the Modern Art Museum, looking towards the skyline of beautiful downtown Fort Worth.
culturaldistrict19.jpg (31335 bytes) Here we see Fort Worth ISD's Farrington Field. A football stadium. Which would seem totally appropriate for a Texas Cultural District, what with high school football playing such a large role in the culture of Texas. For those reading this who are not privy to all things Texan and who are wondering what an ISD is, it means Independent School District. We do not know if this means there are also Dependent School Districts.

culturaldistrict20.jpg (35392 bytes) CASA MANANA THEATRE

Casa Mañana Theatre, located a short distance east of Will Rogers Coliseum at 1301 West Lancaster Avenue, has been putting on shows ever since 1936 when Amon Carter somehow got Broadway legend Billy Rose to come to Fort Worth and produce the "Show of Shows". Casa Mañana is the biggest arts company in Tarrant County and serves as a center for live theater for all of North Texas. For more information about shows and schedules visit the Casa Mañana Official Website.

culturaldistrict24.jpg (58832 bytes) FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN

There is no older botanic garden in Texas than the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. The FWBG is a lush landscape of color and vegetation with over 2,500 species of plants thriving in the Botanic Gardens 109 acres of 21 Specialty Gardens, some of which are the Rose Garden, the highly regarded Japanese Garden, the Fragrance Garden, the Perennial Garden, the Native Texas Forest Boardwalk and a Water Conservation Garden to show you what you can grow using much less water than you likely are using now. There is a large glassed greenhouse Conservatory where you follow a path and see things like orchids and bananas growing.

For more info visit the Fort Worth Botanic Garden's Official Website.

WE RECENTLY BLOGGED ABOUT FORT WORTH'S WONDERFUL
BOTANIC GARDEN, IN OUR OPINION, THE BEST PART OF THE CULTURAL DISTRICT

THE FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDENS
Located approximately 1½ miles west of downtown Fort Worth at the intersection of Interstate 30 and University Drive. Take the University exit and turn north. The Garden has two entrances on your left. The Garden Center is located at the second entrance..
HOURS
Garden Center Daylight Savings Time Standard Time
Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Conservatory Daylight Savings Time Standard Time
Monday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
ENTRY FEES
Conservatory
Adults $1.00 - Seniors $.50 - Children (4-12 yrs.) $.50 - under 4 free
(one adult may sponsor up to 5 children)
Japanese Garden Daylight Savings Time Standard Time
Monday-Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Adults $3.00 weekdays, $3.50 week ends and holidays -
Seniors $.50 off regular admission - Children (4-12 yrs.) $2.00 - under 4 free

FEES SUBJECT TO CHANGE


culturaldistrict13.jpg (47364 bytes)

On Wednesdays entry to the Modern Art Museum is free. The Cultural District is very busy on Wednesday. In this photo you see only a few of the busses that had delivered school children to the district for some good cultural exposure.


TRINITY PARK

Here we see Mark Twain cast in bronze, reading a book while sitting on a bench overlooking the Trinity River in Trinity Park. Fort Worth's Cultural District's Trinity Park is a greenbelt of trees and grass with fishing holes, duck ponds and access to the river. Trinity Park is also the site of the annual spring festival known as Mayfest, held the first weekend of May. For information about Mayfest visit their Official Website.

Fort Worth's Cultural District's light rail transit system, known as the Forest Park Miniature Railroad, carries passengers on a 40 minute round trip excursion from the Forest Park Depot to the Duck Pond in Trinity Park. In this photo we see the train crossing a 350 foot long girder bridge across the Trinity River, very daringly and dangerously, judging by the sign on the bridge which you see here just to the left of the locomotive, with the sign saying "FORBIDDEN ZONE. NO TRESPASSING. City of Fort Worth RAW WATER INTAKE". The train must receive some sort of special dispensation in order to enter the FORBIDDEN ZONE. 

For more information about the Forest Park Miniature Railroad visit their Official Website.

ALSO IN THE FORT WORTH CULTURAL DISTRICT
The Fort Worth Zoo & Log Cabin Village
FORT WORTH ZOO
OPEN 365 DAYS PER YEAR
HOURS
April 1 - October 22 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Weekdays
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Weekends 
October 22 - February 15 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
November 22, Thanksgiving Day 12 noon to 4 p.m.
December 25, Christmas Day 12 noon to 4 p.m.
January 1, New Years Day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
February 16 - March 28 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
March 29 - October TBD Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
Saturday - Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For the safety of park guests, the Zoo discourages coolers (ice chests) and prohibits smoking. Dates, hours and prices are subject to change.
ENTRY FEES
Adults (13+) $10.50 
Children (3-12) $8.00 
Toddlers (2 & under) Free 
Seniors (65+) $7.00 
Wednesdays are half-price admission days
DIRECTIONS TO THE FORT WORTH ZOO
To reach the Fort Worth Zoo from Interstate 30, exit University Drive. Go south on University for approximately one mile to Colonial Parkway and turn left. Once you are on Colonial Parkway, follow the signs to the Zoo.
LOG CABIN VILLAGE HOURS
Tuesday - Friday
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(Gates close at 3:30 p.m.) 
Saturday - Sunday 
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
(Gates close at 4:30 p.m.) 
ENTRY FEES
Adults - $3.50
Youths (ages 4-17) - $3.00
Senior Citizens - $3.00
Children under 4 - FREE

Regarding the existence of Fort Worth's Cultural District and how it came about---upon mentioning to a life long Fort Worth native ( and former reporter for one of the local newspapers) our curiosity as to why Fort Worth felt it needed to identify an area as their Cultural District, as if culture was somehow quarantined to this one particular area, we were told that way back early in the last century the wives of several Fort Worth cattle and oil barons visited New York City.  The wives came home impressed with NYC's museums and theaters and nagged their husbands about wanting some culture in Fort Worth. And so to oblige them the husbands decided to build museums on the west side of downtown Fort Worth. That location chosen because it was generally safe from the bad smells emanating from the Stockyards which often wafted over large areas of Fort Worth. The Stock Show was also moved from the Stockyards to the new 'Cultural District'.

Visit our Eyes on Texas Blog to make a 
comment about the Cultural District

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