Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District is a former livestock market that was established in 1866. Now, it celebrates the long cattle history in the area. The stockyard is now an entertainment and shopping venue that reflects the Cowtown image of the area. Start your day at the Stockyards Visitor Centre which is the starting point of the Historical Walking tours and a place to watch the cattle drive. There is free street parking on East Exchange Avenue. Alternatively, there are parking lots all around the district. Cowtown Coliseum hosts weekly rodeos and Elvis Presley once performed there.
U.S Bureau of Engraving and Printing is the perfect place to learn about U.S currency. Over half of the currency order for the country is produced in Fort Worth, the other manufacturer located in Washington D.C. The office offers free 45 minute tours.
In the cultural district of Fort Worth there are several interesting museums: the Kimbell Art Museum, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the Modern, and the National Cowgirl Museum. The Kimbell Art Museum has art collections and hosts travelling art exhibitions. There are plenty of free parking options around the East Side along Van Cliburn Way and Darnell Street. The Amon Carter Museum of American Art is located in Fort Worth’s cultural district. The museum’s focus is on leading artists in the US and North American Territories in the 19th and 20th centuries. Museum admission is free. Free parking is available on the parking lot on Camp Bowie Boulevard. Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is commonly referred to as the Modern and it traces art post WWII from all media sources. It is in the cultural center next to the Kimbell Art Museum and the Amon Center for American Art. It features such artists as Pablo Picasso, Susan Rothenberg, Jackson Pollock, Andres Serrano and Andy Warhol. Come for a docent led tour which will provide an enriching experience. There is also the National Cowgirl Museum which honors the courageous women of the American West. Women in the Hall of Fame include Georgia O’Keefe, Sacagawea, Annie Oakley, Temple Grandin and Sandra Day O’Connor.
Fort Worth Zoois open every day of the year. On Wednesdays there is half price admission. You can see over 5 000 native and exotic animals. Come see the baby elephants and the baby gorillas, among the other 435 species at the zoo. There are plenty of educational opportunities at the zoo, including wildlife photography classes.
