The fort worth stockyards is a historic district that is located in fort worth, texas, north of the central business district. Texas cattle history and the stockyards fort worth started off as a u. Outpost, cowtown, boomtown, was published by the ou press in 2014. Jan 23, 2002 life is too short to live in dallas is the message splashed across a popular tshirt in fort worth. Fort worth, texas august 9, 2018 stockyards heritage development company, a partnership between majestic realty co. Top country music performers play the stage at billy bobs texas, the. Best things to do in fort worth, tx for couples include the kimbell art museum, an opera or symphony orchestra performance at bass hall, the modern art museum of fort worth and sundance square. Photographs for this title came from numerous local libraries. The stockyards museum, housed in the historic livestock exchange building, documents the history of the cattle trade and its role in the growth of fort worth from a mere stop along the chisholm trail to the center of the ranching, cattleshipping and meatpacking industries. In this crisp study, harold rich makes clear how that nickname came about and how the city owed its early prosperity to two economic forces.
With original brick walkways, wooden corrals, and actual livestock, youll feel like youre on a ranch out west. Aerial view of the fort worth stockyards the portal to. History of the livestock industry in texas featuring museums, rodeos, cattle drives. Photographer uses stockyards as subject for book arts. From the original brick walkways to the wooden corrals, every inch of the stockyards tells the true history of texass famous livestock industry. The fort worth stock yards were officially incorporated on march 23, 1893, and the corporation was dissolved on may 31, 1944, but those who. Fort worth history where the west begins the fertile, gamerich land surrounding the banks of the trinity river had long been a favorite hunting ground for native americans in the area, but it soon proved irresistible to settlers as well. The fort worth stockyardswhere the old west comes alive. This was segment from the tv series north texas explorer. Fort worth is where the west begins, and nothing embodies western heritage better than the fort worth stockyards national historic district.
Come and explore 14 restaurants, bars, 35 shops and over 17 mustsee attractions, all surrounded by the rich history of the fort worth stockyards. Unfortunately, the decline of the stockyards soon began with the decline of the railroad. The early fort worth stockyards 1860s to 1900 by 1886, four separate stockyards had been built near the new railroad. Capturing fort worths historic treasures and was provided by cattle raisers museum to the portal to texas history, a digital repository hosted by the unt libraries. The associations new address is 122 east exchange ave. Geologist devin dennie tours the historic fort worth stockyards. Eight abandoned darkred brick buildings stood crumbling on a twentytwo acre area at the end of exchange avenue at the fort worth stockyards. Experience an era when cattle and cotton were common currency, outlaws were folk heroes and a single boutique hotel was known around the world for texas style hospitality and comfort. The gift shop carries books written about fort worth.
The fort worth stockyards have an interesting history. It has been viewed 9007 times, with 188 in the last month. For researchers or history buffs with an interest in stockyards, livestock industries. The fort worth stockyards were officially incorporated on march 23, 1893. This photograph is part of the collection entitled. This building included an art gallery, establishing the close relationship between the library and the arts in fort worth that continues to this day. Selcer covers fort worth s progression from military outpost to county seat to trail town, rail hub, regional gateway, oil capital, and ultimately worldclass city.
Fort worth stockyards texas state historical association. From the worlds only twicedaily cattle drive and historic tours to live music and more, get ready to experience an authentic glimpse of the american west that can only be. Browse our kid friendly hotels in fort worth stockyards for your family trip. So, i got to know a little bit more about fort worth, certainly about the stockyards and certainly about what made fort worth a great city.
Spend a few days here strolling among its shimmering highrises, greek revival and art deco. Fort worth western heritage information guide including events, festivals, rodeos, ranches, museums, coliseum, history and more. It fact, its the stockyards former productivity that labeled the city to be colloquially. Originally settled in 1849 as an army outpost along the trinity river, fort worth was one of eight forts assigned to protect settlers from indian attacks on the. The professional community team is waiting to show you all that this community has to offer. The oldest zoo in texas, the fort worth zoo, houses more than 5,000 animals. Fort worth stockyards in fort worth, tx is ready for you to move in.
One of those myths is that texas is a western state. But unlike its glitzy, armanidraped cousin just across the beltway, fort worth, a. The carnegie public library of fort worth opened on october 17, 1901, at ninth and throckmorton streets, with jennie scheuber as librarian and a collection of 6,907 volumes. Almost hidden in a small room at the rear of the exchange building, books, etc. Details for fort worth stockyards historic district atlas number 2076002067 national register listing atlas number 2076002067. As a drover headed cattle up the chisholm trail to the railheads, he had one last stop for rest and supplies. Fort worth stockyards company collection, university of north texas archives. Stockyards national historic district in fort worth the herd. Check prices on hotels in fort worth stockyards tonight mar 31 apr 1 check prices in fort worth stockyards for tonight, mar 31 apr 1 tomorrow night apr 1 apr 2 check prices in fort worth stockyards for tomorrow night, apr 1 apr 2 this weekend apr 3 apr 5 check prices in fort worth stockyards for this weekend, apr 3 apr 5 next weekend apr 10 apr 12 check prices in fort worth. Pate is a local fort worth historian and writer whose dissertation covered the fort worth stockyards. Because the fort worth stockyards is a cherished civic jewel, everpopular visitor and beloved hometown attraction, the appetite for a firstclass visual record of the history and charm in book form is assured and will be ongoing as new waves of visitors look for a beautiful and affordable souvenir of their experience. Pate has written a column on western history for her hometown newspaper, the.
The pictorial history of fort worth, texas 18491999. Apha is open for business in the historic fort worth. It was said at the time that, texas will have at fort worth the largest, most elegant, and perfectly appointed livestock exhibition building in the south and without superior in the united states. History of the livestock industry in texas featuring museums, rodeos, cattle drives, other events, texas cowboy hall of fame, shops, restaurants, music and nightlife.
The fort worth livestock market became the largest in texas and the southwest, the biggest market south of kansas city and ranked between third and fourth consistently among the nations large terminal livestock markets for five decades from 1905 to the mid1950s. Delia ann hendricks, the history of cattle and oil in tarrant county m. What to do at the fort worth stockyards two traveling texans. Thannisch, one of north fort worths early developers and entrepreneurs, purchased the property situated on the corner of north main and east exchange. He has published articles in the west texas historical association yearbook and the east texas historical journal. Enjoy twice daily longhorn cattle drives, billy bobs texas the largest honky tonk in the world, bull riding, rodeos, an historic hotel.
The fort worth stockyards constitute an iconic symbol of texas role in the building of the western myth. In this town, youll experience what it feels like to be in the wild west, and thats no joke. She is the author of nine other books, including livestock legacy. A 98acre 40 ha portion encompassing much of the district was listed on the national register of historic places as fort worth stockyards historic district in 1976. A native texan, edmondson graduated from fort worth country day school.
The texas experience, books made possible by sarah 84 and. The neighborhood known as the stockyards is named after the fort worth stockyards national historic district. The history of fort worth, texas, in the united states is closely intertwined with that of northern texas and the texan frontier. Established as an army outpost in 1849, fort worth, texas, is known as acowtowna for its cattle drive history. California new york pennsylvania michigan ohio illinois massachusetts new jersey florida texas. After world war ii, newly paved roads gave rise to the trucking industry. Edmondson has authored several books and over fifty magazine articles, most on aspects of texas history.
The history of the fort worth stockyards world history. The history of the stockyards is deeply tied to texas cattle history. Fort worth stockyards provides a variety of amenities including. The official grand opening takes place february 28, 2020, as we kick off the 2020 apha convention. Good place to learn a bit of texan cattle and cowboy history. Fort worth stockyards national historical district is a living museum depicting life in both the old west and the new. Cowgirl museum fort worth museum of science and history. Colonel thannisch built a twostory frame building with balconies on the west and south sides of the structure. Fort worth stockyards fort worth, texas atlas obscura. Apha is open for business in the historic fort worth stockyards. Day and night, visitors come to the stockyards to get a taste of the true american west. I also got to know a lot of the people and i find the people of fort worth are so nice and without pretension. The fort worth stockyards historic district is one of texas most popular tourist destinations. Anyone interested in fort worth or urban history will find this story compelling.
Fort worth, texas is a vibrant city with an impressive selection of things to see and do. It quickly gained prominence as the last stop on the famous chisholm trailthe main trail drovers would take driving cattle from texas heading north to kansas rail lines. Published in 1988, it won that years prize for the best book on texas history from the texas state historical association. Check out a sneak peek of some of our favorite accents in the new. The historic stockyards located in fort worth may be old, but they havent been forgotten. Bureau of business research, university of texas, 1959. He portrayed four different historical fort worth figures in the award winning documentary, wall street of the west, about the history of the stockyards. Fort worth, texas is known as the town where the west begins, and if youre talking about the west and texas cattle history, you couldnt be more accurate.
Experience texas cattle culture at the stockyards national historic district. Ohio illinois massachusetts new jersey florida texas virginia north carolina. From the worlds only twicedaily cattle drive and historic tours to live music and more, get ready to experience an authentic glimpse of the american west that can only be found here. The work later appeared as a book, livestock legacy. Take in a concert and twostep the night away at billy bobs texas. By 1936, their reputation exceeded their borders and they moved their business to san angelo, texas. At the end of the american civil war, cattle were everywhere in texas and no one had money to pay for them. Pate is retired from tarrant county college in fort worth, where she taught history and government. Jul 25, 2017 the history of the stockyards is deeply tied to texas cattle history. Built in 1902 and deserted in 1971, these substantial buildings were the headquarters for the swift meat packing plant, important for the success of fort worth as a city. Fort worth western heritage rodeo, stockyards, history, events. Apha is open for business in the historic fort worth stockyards the american paint horse associations international headquarters has opened in the historic fort worth stockyards, and were ready to welcome our paint horse family along with throngs of westernculture enthusiasts to our new home on mule alley. From its early history as an outpost and a threat against native american residents, to its later days as a booming cattle town, to modern times as a corporate center, the city has changed dramatically, although it still preserves much of its heritage in its modern. Many events of all kinds are held every year, new businesses and lodgings have been established adding to the history and fun that is the fort worth stockyards.
People realized they could get a lot of money for the cattle if they could just get them up north. Designated an historical landmark in 1976, the stockyards are one of the states most popular tourist attractions. Fort worth stockyards the handbook of texas online. Demand for their products continued to expand and a second location was opened in the historic fort worth stockyards in 1941. For most of its history, this former spanish colony relied, economically, on slavery and cotton. Many would argue that beef cattle and cattle drives put the west on the map, and the stockyards and fort worth played. Fort worth stockyards fort worth, tx 76164 irving, texas. Apha invites everyone to visit and take a tour of this remarkable new headquarters.
When the texas and pacific railway arrived in 1876, fort worth was fertile ground for an enterprise such as the fort worth stockyards to develop. Jun 25, 2007 geologist devin dennie tours the historic fort worth stockyards. The fort worth stockyards is the history book of the livestock industry in texas. During world war ii, the fort worth stockyards processed 5,277,496 head of livestock, making 1944 the peak year of the entire operation. The stockyards museum showcases the rich history of the fort worth stockyards and the north side. Fort worth stockyards the handbook of texas online texas. The gift shop carries books written about fort worth and postersize antique maps of texas and fort worth. Step back in time by stepping into the stockyards hotel, the shining star of the stockyards national historic district in fort worth, texas. Inside the story of how heb planned for the pandemic. Army post in the mid1800s after the mexicanamerican war. Details fort worth stockyards historic district atlas. Located along the trinity river where millions of cattle were herded on the chisholm trail, fort worth calls itself the place where the west begins.