To outsiders, Fort Worth might seem like one giant cowboy hat — and we love that it is — but there’s a lot more to the city’s different areas. So we’re kicking off a new series — FTW Explained — to break down Cowtown’s districts and explore the distinct history and character of each one. First up, the Cultural District.

Cultural District

Way back yonder

In 1909, landscape architect George E. Kessler designed the parks surrounding the Trinity River, which today, forms the eastern edge of the neighborhood. And to the west, anything was possible.

1936 marked the centennial anniversary of Texas Independence, and civic leader (and founder of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Amon G. Carter broke ground on one of the city’s most identifiable landmarks. You guessed it, Will Rogers Memorial Center (WRMC).

The WRMC, and neighboring Casa Mañana Theatre, became the site of the Texas Frontier Centennial, a “wild and whoo-pee” site for performances and frontier activities. In 1944, the landmark became the home of the legendary Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo (FWSSR).

In the 1950s, the neighborhood took on a new sport: art. Museums, each designed by a world-renowned architect, began to pop up on adjacent blocks, creating an artistic and architectural Disney World in the second half of the century.

Today, the Cultural District is reviving its sporting and performance roots with the 2020 opening of Dickies Arena, the new home of the FWSSR and a multi-use facility for athletic events and concerts.

Hometown Destinations

Looking for some touristy attractions or local haunts? Check out our recommendations for the Cultural District favorites — surprise, they’re all museums.

• With tree-like columns that sprout from a tranquil reflection pool, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is a Tadao Ando-designed haven for artwork from 1940 to the present. Founded in 1892, it is the oldest museum in Texas with pieces from Picasso to emerging artists. 🌱
• Designed by Louis Kahn and expanded by Renzo Piano, the Kimbell Art Museum boasts a permanent collection of approximately 350 pieces of art from around the world as well as traveling exhibitions. Best part… the permanent exhibition is free for everyone to enjoy. 🎨
• The Amon Carter Museum of American Art draws back on our Fort Worth roots, featuring world-class collections that feel like home. Stroll through Phillip Johnson’s architectural creation to find Frederic Remington’s bronze sculpture “The Broncho Buster.” 🐎
• But what’s that big colorful blocky thing on Montgomery St., you ask? You’re looking at the back of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Designed by Ricardo Legorreta, the children’s museum has the first IMAX dome theater in the southwest.💡
• An impressive 243 — count ‘em — incredible women are honored in the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. The museum designed by David M. Schwarz features not only horsewomen, but female pioneers in the arts, humanitarian efforts, business, education, and writing.🏅

But wait… there’s more

The Cultural District isn’t done developing. See what’s coming soon to the neighborhood.

• Museum Place, 2918 Wingate
  
  • A $250-million development is scheduled to open in 2023 with a 200-room luxury hotel, 160,000 sqft of office space, 175 residential units, and a landscaped courtyard.
• Van Zandt Project, 2817 W. Seventh St.
  
  • Omaha-based developer Goldenrod Companies will break ground on an $83 million project this month, featuring 148 apartments, 100,000 sqft of office space + 10,000 sqft of retail. It’s expected to be complete by the summer of 2023.
• University Drive, 1001 University Dr.
  
  • Adjacent to Museum Place, Goldenrod Companies also plans to develop a 3-acre site into a mixed-use development with 19,800 sqft of retail, 145,000 sqft of office space, and 225 multifamily residential units breaking ground in 2024.

Digs for Sale

Ready to get in on the art and action in the Cultural District? Here are some current listings.

• Stately townhome | 3 BD, 4.5 BA | $1,095,000
• Airy condo in Montgomery Plaza | 2 BD, 2 BA | $389,000
• Bricks on the Bricks | 3 BD, 2 BA | $550,000