#ThrowbackThursday 🗓

Five-minute history: The beginning of “Where the West Begins”

Bronze tablet commemorating the site of Camp Worth. | Photo courtesy of the TSHA

As we look forward to another year, we thought we’d take a few minutes to look back to the beginning of Cowtown and how a little fort became the city we know today. Here’s our five-minute history of Fort Worth.

Way back when

The fertile area around the Trinity River had long been a hunting ground for Native American tribes when Jonathon Bird established a settlement in 1840.

In 1843, Gen. Edward H. Tarrant and George W. Terrell met with chiefs from nine differing tribes to parley a peace agreement after the Comanche Wars lead by Republic of Texas president Mirabeau Lamar. The Bird’s Fort Treaty created a line through the future site of Fort Worth — Native Americans on the west and settlers on the east, giving the town its famous slogan “Where the West Begins.”

Gen. William J. Worth lived from 1794 to 1849. | Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

“This is my post”

In 1849, the US Army established a protected frontier with forts every 100 miles from the Rio Grande River to the Red River. Maj. Ripley Arnold was sent to an empty spot in the defensive line along the Trinity River — the bluff where Heritage Park sits today.

In May 1849, Ripley raised “Old Glory” and began constructing Fort Worth, named after the late Maj. Gen. William Jenkins Worth, veteran of the Texas-Mexico War.

Off to the races

The settlement grew to a whopping 350 souls before the fort was vacated in September 1853 when the frontier pushed toward the Pacific.

The settlers set about building a town, converting military buildings to municipal ones. In 1873, Fort Worth was incorporated by the state and Dr. WP Burts was elected the first mayor.

Paddock_Fort-Worth,_Tex.,_and_Rail-Roads_1888_UTA.jpg — A potentially ambitious 1888 map of Fort Worth as a railroad hub. | Map courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The rest is history

Fort Worth exploded with trade as part of the Chisholm Trail cattle drive, a red light district for Wild West ruffians, and the arrival of the railroad in 1876.

Stay tuned for more historical — and current-day — tales as Cowtown enters its 170th year.

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Thursday, Dec. 22

Holiday Cookie Decorating Class | Thursday, Dec. 22 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Grand Cru Wine Bar, 1257 W. Magnolia Ave., Fort Worth | $28 | Learn how to decorate six holiday cookies while sipping on a specially paired wine flight.

Friday, Dec. 23

Winter Zoo Camp | Friday, Dec. 23-Monday, Jan. 2 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Fort Worth Zoo, 1989 Colonial Pkwy., Fort Worth | $85 per day | Kids ages 5-11 can connect with nature and friends while school is out for winter break.

Saturday, Dec. 24

Dallas Cowboys | Saturday, Dec. 24 | 3:25 p.m. | AT&T Stadium, 1 AT&T Way, Arlington | $47-$748 | The Cowboys return to their home field on Christmas Eve to play the NFC East-leading Philadelphia Eagles.

Sunday, Dec. 25

Christmas Dinner Celebration | Sunday, Dec. 25 | 5-10 p.m. | Toro Toro, 200 Main St., Fort Worth | $60-$68 | Enjoy the sizzling menu filled with holiday entrées featuring a prime rib with jerk-spiced marinade, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and chipotle hollandaise.

Monday, Dec. 26

Lightscape | Monday, Dec. 26-Sunday, Jan. 8 | 5:45-9 p.m. | Fort Worth Botanic Garden, 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd., Fort Worth | $18-$28 | Lightscape will illuminate evenings at the Garden with over one million holiday lights and artistic installations throughout a spectacular one-mile walking trail.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Broadview Yoga | Tuesday, Dec. 27 | 9-10 a.m. | Nature Center - Broadview Park, 9601 Fossil Ridge Rd., Fort Worth | $5 | Enjoy a relaxing introductory yoga session with downtown views.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

43º | Cloudy | 10% chance of rain

Development

Beloved convenience chain Buc-ee’s is planning a $6 million addition for the I-35W location in north Fort Worth (15901 N. Fwy.). According to a recent filing, the travel center will break ground on a 5,500-sqft car wash tunnel in February that is estimated to be completed at the end of October. 🧼

Travel

Planning a road trip during the holidays? You’re in luck because gas prices in Texas have dropped to an average of $2.60 according to AAA. Before you hit the road, check out the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s list of 10 local gas stations with the cheapest gas. ⛽️

Edu

Daniel Pullin has been named the new TCU president. Formerly the John V. Roach Dean of the Neeley School of Business, the educator will begin his new position on Wednesday, Feb. 1, providing leadership for the university’s mission, vision, and values. 🎓

Closing

Asel Art Supply (825 Foch St.) will close its doors for the final time on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. After 70 years in business, the Dallas-based retailer is closing all locations statewide. 🎨 (Fort Worth Report)

Holiday

Get ready to rink in the holidays. Nothing quite feels as right as going ice skating under holiday lights. Whether you’re looking for a date night activity or planning a fun night with the family, check out our list of ice skating rinks worth visiting. ⛸️

Number

2 hours and 50 minutes. That’s how early you should arrive at DFW International Airport before a domestic flight. A recent study from Upgraded Points analyzed criteria including the number of gates and terminals, average TSA wait time + airport size to determine this metric. Pro tip: Read our guide to navigating DFW for parking tips and terminal eats.

Listen

Need a gift that only takes a few mouse clicks? Gift three, six, or 12 months of an Audible Premium Plus membership. They’ll get one credit a month good for any title, plus instant access to thousands of books and podcasts in The Plus Catalog. Hello, future book club. 📚*

Correction

Whoopsie. We were so excited about the Squeezebox Bandits’ concert on Friday, Dec. 23 at Magnolia Motor Lounge that we put the venue’s old address in yesterday’s newsletter. Grab tickets to see the band at 10 p.m. at 3803 Southwest Blvd. 🪗

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Netflix and (wind) chill 🥶

What to know about the winter storm warning

Forecast for the next 48 hours. | Giphy courtesy of NOAA.

By now, we’ve all heard about the freezing temps arriving today. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a wind chill watch from 6 a.m. today to 12 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 23 with temperatures 5-15° and a wind chill values as low as -15° from 20-45 mph wind gusts.

Texans are understandably apprehensive about the arctic blast after the storm in February 2021, but the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is monitoring weather conditions and expects to be able to meet the predicted demand.

If your area does lose power, you can report the outage through Oncor’s website or by calling (888) 313-4747 and tracking current power outages. Check the NWS’s tips for staying safe.

For those traveling through DFW Airport for the holidays, expect flight delays and cancellations, particularly for inbound flights from the northeast. Keep an eye on your flight status.

Click the button below for the city’s tips and reminders.

STAY SAFE

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Kate.

Editor’s pick: We all know by now that its a just-stay-inside kind of day, but what about our furry friends? 🐶

FOX4’s meteorologist Evan Andrews has some quick tips for keeping your pet safe during freezing temps. Bundle up those puppies before you head outside — and if you happen to take a funny photo of your dog in a coat and booties, send it our way. 🧥

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Take a peak at the weather forecast for the next three months.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Rebecca McRobbie, Kate Mazade, Dayten Rose, Josh Kranzberg | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Camille McLeod | Advertise with us.

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