City Culture, Texas-Style

Fort Worth

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Photographer: Fernando Ugaurte

Most people know Fort Worth for being a “cowtown,” but its culture is world-famous. The Kimbell Art Museum consistently wins international praise for its fine collection that includes works by Holbein, El Greco, Poussin, Velázquez, Rembrandt, and Picasso. The building itself is a work of art, designed by renowned architect Louis Kahn. You’ll also find an impressive collection of works by Western artists Charles Russell and Frederic Remington in the Amon Carter Museum. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is also stunning. Designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, the beautiful glass structure appears to float on the water that surrounds it. It houses more than 26,000 works of art and its permanent collection includes pieces by Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko.

But to experience “cowtown,” you have to go to the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, where you’ll see a daily parade of cattle being herded through the streets. It’s a great place to grab lunch and browse the Western shops. Make sure to check out the Stockyards Hotel, a favorite of famed outlaws Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker. Billy Bob's Texas, the World's Largest Honky-tonk, has an indoor bull-riding rodeo and a Texas-size dance floor within its three acres of fun. Don’t leave without touring the Cattleman's Museum, where all the area's history comes alive in hands-on exhibits, audiovisual displays and vintage photographs of the cattle barons of legend: people like Charles Goodnight, Richard King and A. H. "Shanghai" Pierce. This is the place to get a solid understanding of Texas' integral role in the cattle industry.

Stroll along the turn-of-the-century buildings in Sundance Square and peruse a delightful collection of restaurants, bistros, shops and galleries right in the middle of downtown Fort Worth. Highlights include the Sid Richardson Collection of Western Art and Fire Station No. 1.