Dallas Culture Enterprise and Environment

Dallas is a relatively young city with a colorful past. In 1839, John Neely Bryan, a lawyer from Tennessee with a taste for adventure, wandered into the area and was impressed with what he believed to be the perfect ingredients for a trading post and eventually a town: plenty of raw land, Indians with whom to do business, and the river. The young city’s can-do spirit helped bring the railroads to the area in the 1870s, the Federal Reserve Bank in 1914, Southern Methodist University in 1915, Love Field Airport in 1927, the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936 and DFW International Airport in 1973.
Fashion and Elegant Living came here in 1907 when Neiman Marcus opened in downtown Dallas and J.S. Armstrong opened his exclusive Highland Park shopping development.
Oil Discovery when C.M. "Dad" Joiner struck oil  in 1930, 100 miles east of the city, Dallas became a center of oil-related activity, setting the stage for the region's role as the financial and technical center for the drilling industry and commerce.
 

Turmoil and Success the 1960s were a time of turmoil for many American cities and the lowest point in Dallas history when on Nov. 22, 1963 President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on a downtown street. The event cast the city. The people of Dallas took it hard and entered a period of self-evaluation and introspection which lead to a series of entrepreneurial success stories culminating in DFW International Airport, realizing John Neely Bryan's dream of a major inland port. Since the 1980s Dallas has become home to many major corporate headquarters and a dominant force in the convention, meetings and tourism industry.

Arts Culture and Museums

Anchored by the Dallas Arts District, the city is home to many cultural venues and activities.

African American Museum located in Fair Park, it showcases the rich heritage of African American art and history housed in four vaulted galleries and a research library. Experience African American culture through educational programs at the educational plaza’s theater.

Dallas Heritage Village a history museum that depicts life in Dallas from 1840 – 1910. Visit the country church, the saloon, the rustic school house, and many houses where interpreters greet you and tell you more about ole life in Texas.

Dallas Holocaust Museum established in 1984 by survivors who wished to preserve the memory of what they endured, it features stories by volunteer survivors, special lectures from World War II veterans and those who experienced of the genocide first-hand.

The Dallas Museum of Art established in 1903, the museum has an encyclopedic collection of more than 23,000 works spanning 5,000 years of history. The collections focus on the art of the ancient Americas, Africa, Indonesia, South Asia and Europe, as well as American painting, sculpture and decorative arts.  American and international contemporary art is also on display. 

The George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum serves as a resource for the study of life and career of President Bush, while also promoting a better understanding of his presidency, American history, and important public policy issues.

The Nasher Sculpture Center is a longtime dream of Raymond Nasher and his late wife Patsy, who together amassed one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world.  The Center was designed by Renzo Piano; Landscape architect Peter Walker designed the outdoor garden.

The Old Red Museum inspires and educates visitors about the rich and varied cultural, economic, political, and social history of the Dallas County Area and its heritage with exhibits featuring elements that range from fossils and war weapons to sports.

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is home to 11 permanent exhibit halls and various traveling exhibitions throughout the year. The museum delivers hours of fun for children, adults, and life-long learners alike. Catch a view of downtown Dallas from the glass-encased elevator.

The Sixth Floor Museum located on the sixth and seventh floors of an early 20^th century warehouse formerly known as the Texas School Book Depository, chronicles the life, death, and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. The permanent exhibit features films, photos, and artifacts.

                                                                    An Environment Conscious City

Dallas is among the top purchasers of green energy in the nation and is the first American city to be ISO 14001 certified, the international environmental standard which sets environmental goals for organizations and communities. Dallas is among the first cities to adopt a green building program and now boasts 5 LEED Gold, 1 LEED-EB Silver and 2 certified buildings. New projects in the city include pedestrian-friendly parks such as Main Street Garden, Belo Garden and the Klyde Warren Park. Dallas is home to the Trinity River Audubon Center, a LEED certified building with several sustainable building features: a vegetated roof, rainwater collection system, energy efficient systems and recycled materials. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Victory Park is the nation’s largest and most successful brownfield project that utilizes biodegradable and reusable materials, solar panels, rainwater collection and sustainable products.

Green Initiatives the Dallas Bikeway System allows for the implementation of a 1,296-mile network incorporating new and existing pathways for citizens that prefer alternate forms of transportation. City Forestry programs promote tree planting projects and cultivate foresters with basic knowledge of tree skills to act as advocates for Dallas’ urban forests. Through the use of e-cycling programs, consumers have access to free and convenient recycling options for computer, television and electronic equipment.

Hotels & Meeting Spaces several Dallas properties are LEED Certified and have incorporated green elements, such as energy conservation, recycling, sheet-changing programs and environmentally conscious towel hangers. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center has become one of the greenest facilities in the nation due to a determined effort to reduce energy consumption, install solar panels, practice water conservation and gain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau also promotes a grass-roots industry initiative that seeks to affect positive environmental practices through national, regional and local outreach and education.

Rockies and Texas Trails

Traveling along the Continental Divide Montana Wyoming Colorado Arizona and Texas

The Rocky Mountain States

Montana is western history, national parks, cowboys, rodeos, railroad towns and guest ranches. Glacier National Park crosses the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, offering breathtaking views and opportunity to see wildlife, the rugged terrain along the way and the many unspoiled lakes on a wooden boat, kayak or canoe, a guided horseback ride, or hiking some of the 700 miles of trails. Ranch Vacations the state has many unique guest ranches of different types: dude, working, or luxury resort ranches that offer a diverse array of activities from horseback riding to fly fishing, spa treatments to gourmet meals, hiking to rafting.

Wyoming includes two National Parks, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Fossil Butte National Monument and the Jackson Hole area. Travel along its western border through scenic Star Valley to visit the historic town of Jackson, spectacular Teton Mountain Range, Old Faithful and the Lower Falls in Yellowstone. The North Platte River flows through this long, wide swath of the state. Discover Wyoming’s pioneer story, from scars in the earth left by the Oregon Trail wagons to fascinating history museums.

Salt Lake City Utah flanked on all sides by dramatic granite cliffs, Salt Lake is a world-class alpine destination with outdoor recreation, a remarkable history, and an economy that has transformed a pioneer town into a sophisticated metropolitan city.

Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region nestled at the base of the Rocky Mountains, visitors to Colorado Springs can enjoy commanding views of Pikes Peak and recreational opportunities in the nearby mountains including hiking, the geological wonders at Garden of the Gods Park, Cave of the Winds and the Paint Mines Interpretive Park.

Colorado Springs has a Thriving Arts and Cultural Scene

Denver is a city with 300 days of sunshine, brilliant blue skies and breathtaking mountain scenery, located at the creedbase of the Rocky Mountains, exactly one mile high. In 1858, a small group of prospectors from Georgia crossing the great plains of the Colorado Territory discovered Gold at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Although not much was found, the mere whisper of the word was enough to start a veritable stampede into the region.

Urban and Outdoor Adventures

Phoenix is the cosmopolitan heart of Arizona, the soul of the American Southwest and where you will find sports venues, live music, rooftop lounges, museums, theaters and art galleries. Downtown and its Cityscape, a two-block entertainment district, is also home to the Phoenix Convention Center and Arizona State University’s downtown campus; all served by one of the newest light rail systems in the nation.

Texas City and Country Destinations

Houston is the largest city in Texas and the US South as well as America's fourth-largest. A cosmopolitan destination and home to an energetic arts community, Houston was founded in 1836 near the banks of Buffalo Bayou. The city was named after former General Sam Houston, who was president of the Republic of Texas and commander at the Battle of San Jacinto. 

Austin, on the eastern edge of Texas Hill Country, is the state capital, the live music capital of the world, home to the University of Texas and Formula 1's Circuit of the Americas raceway.

Experience San Antonio’s rich heritage by visiting its 18^th century Spanish colonial missions, residential areas dating from the 1860s and the local museums that celebrate the city’s past. The National Historic Park the Mission Trail is a walking, biking or driving experience of the five local missions and the centuries of local history and culture.

Dallas the city’s can-do spirit helped bring the railroads to the area in the 1870s, the Federal Reserve Bank in 1914, Southern Methodist University in 1915, Love Field Airport in 1927, the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936 and DFW International Airport in 1973.

Cowboys Cowgirls Wineries Public Art Trails and Vintage Railroads

Grapevine is a small town located between Dallas and Fort Worth and is home of DFW International Airport. Main Street in the historic downtown has a public library, recreation center, antique stores, restaurants, bars, theaters, a park, and many specialty shops.

Fort Worth was settled in 1849 as an army outpost along the Trinity River as one of eight forts assigned to protect settlers on the advancing frontier. The cattle industry was king for a generation of people working the Fort Worth leg of the historic Chisholm Trail. Experience cowboy cuisine, trendy farm-to-table, authentic Mexican and bayou fare.