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.

Experience San Antonio Texas

history traditions river walks and cruises food wine and ale

History and Traditions

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 Spanish Governor’s Palace is a national historic landmark, labeled that once housed the officials of the Spanish Province of Texas. The entrance displays the double-headed eagle of the Hapsburg coat-of-arms and the inscription, in Spanish, "finished in 1749." Other features include period furnishings and a cobblestone patio with fountain and foliage.

San Antonio Missions 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: Mission San Antonio de Valero, commonly known as the Alamo, Mission Concepción, Mission San José, Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission San Francisco de la Espada. The San Antonio Mission Trail begins at the Alamo and winds southward along a nine-mile stretch of the San Antonio River.

The King William District is a sprawling 25 blocks area in downtown San Antonio.  The 19^th century residences on the San Antonio River south bank have been preserved and transformed into cafes, art galleries, museums and shops. As the most elegant residential area in the city, it was settled by German merchants who brought with them a distinct architectural style; it remains a fashionable neighborhood.

The Institute of Texan Cultures features exhibits, programs and events that examine heritage, ethnicity, history, social issues and popular culture with a focus on the stories of immigrants who settled in Texas and contributed to its modern, multicultural society.

A Travel Experience in San Antonio Texas

The Alamo is a 4.2 acre complex and a 300 year symbol of Texas history. This is where Spain began its colonization, Mexico sought independence and the Confederacy stood its ground. But it is best known as the place where a small band of Texans held out for thirteen days against General Antonio López de Santa Anna. The Alamo houses exhibits on the Texas Revolution and History.

Museums

San Antonio’s galleries range from fine art to local and folk art, local artists' work and everything from Egyptian antiquities to Western and Asian art to works by European masters.

The San Antonio Museum of Art’s global collection represents 5,000 years of history and cultures from around the world. Housed in a complex of buildings that was once the Lone Star Brewery, the Museum is renowned for its collections of Latin American, Asian, and Ancient Mediterranean Art, and includes a notable contemporary collection.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum preserves and interprets the art, history, and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs, and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage.  Located along the San Antonio River Walk, its campus is inclusive of the restored historic 1930s art deco/neo classical former San Antonio Public Library building which now serves as the Museum space with nine galleries on three levels.

Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum is an incubator for contemporary art, hosting over twenty exhibitions each year within its four on-site galleries and multiple offsite locations within the community featuring emerging and world-renowned local and global artists.

River Walks and Cruises

San Antonio’s River Walk is one of the most visited sites in Texas, providing scenic pathways and waterways for the city’s cultural and historic sites, as well as a picturesque link between restaurants, hotels and shops. The River Walk meanders along the San Antonio River’s stone pathways connecting shops, restaurants, hotels, museums and the city’s historic and modern architecture.

A River Cruise Barge covers one and a half miles of the San Antonio River Walk. 

Food Wine and Ale Itineraries

Olive Oil Orchards some of the first commercial olive oil orchards in Texas lie just 20 minutes south of San Antonio producing olive oil and olive leaf based skin care products along with an emphasis on hospitality and educating the public on the benefits and various uses of olive oil.

Market Square The rich culture of San Antonio abounds throughout the plazas of Market Square. A three-block outdoor plaza lined with restaurants, shops and produce stands near San Antonio's city center, Market Square is the largest Mexican market in the U.S. and one of America's top -ten outdoor markets. Market Square's working artists, musicians, dancers and major cultural events give it a rich and lively cultural atmosphere.  Visitors browse through 32 shops at "El Mercado," and 80 specialty shops in

Hill Country Wine Tours

Ranger Creek Brewing and Distilling is a combined brewery and distillery making beer and whiskey by hand one batch at a time.

Pearl is a neighborhood with a rich history made by the many people who have ties to the place - the buildings, the river, the brewery - since it was founded in 1881. It is also a place where people share meals, learn, work and live in 324 apartments, fifteen restaurants and cafes, thirteen retailers and eighteen resident businesses and a twice weekly Farmers Market.