From cattle drives to steam trains, North Texas celebrates its bygone days with an array of entertaining historic sites for you to enjoy. Get in touch with the region’s past and plan a trip to a historic park or district near you.
The past meets the present in Fort Worth’s Stockyards National Historic District. The proud heritage of Texas is represented in the rodeos, roping shows, cattle drives and street-front saloons of the Stockyards District. Learn about the past by attending one of the entertaining events that take place in the district on a regular basis. The roots of the Texas livestock trade started to grow in this district. It was a bustling hub for livestock shipping, exchange and meat processing from the late 19th century into the early 20th century. Today, visitors browse the specialty shops, art galleries and restaurants that fill the historic buildings of the lively, traditional western neighborhood. Some of the historic structures have been converted to quaint hotels, inviting guests to escape back in time for a bit longer. For more information, visit www.fortworthstockyards.org/attractions.aspx.
Take a stroll through different eras of the region’s history with a visit to Farmers Branch Historical Park located in Farmers Branch, which displays structures dating from the 1850s through the 1930s. Buildings include a train depot with an antique caboose, a schoolhouse and a church. There are several historic homes including a Queen Anne-style cottage with a traditional garden of roses, and a number of early log cabins. The park also pays tribute to America’s best loved sport, baseball! See how the game has changed as you cheer on teams that play it the way it was played back in the 1800s. For more information, visit
www.ci.farmers-branch.tx.us/play/historical-park.
Hear the echo of history through the Grapevine Historic District, which is filled with 19th century buildings, a visitors center and an operational railroad with antique steam locomotives. Catch a train through time on the vintage railway that follows the old Cotton Belt Line. Travel through the region in style in refurbished, early 1900s coaches pulled by a circa-1896 steam-powered engine. Experience Grapevine’s heritage at the town’s Grapevine History Museum located within the original Cotton Belt Train Station, circa 1901. The museum chronicles the variety of populations that have called the region home from antiquity to modern times. Visit www.grapevinetexasusa.com for more information.
Go back to the days of pioneers and visit a few of the region’s oldest remaining historic structures in Grayson County Frontier Village. Set up like a settlement of the early frontier, the village recreates life as it was in the early days of Texas through demonstrations for visitors. Buildings that were relocated and reconstructed include the Bass House, which dates from the 1850s and was the first in the area to feature glass windows, as well as a log schoolhouse dating from the 1840s, among others. The village also features a museum that is dedicated to the history of the region and showcases memorabilia and artifacts. For more information, visit www.allacrosstexas.com.
Catch up with the past and visit the region’s happening historic sites!
