Dallas-Texas History & Culture: Meet People and Have Fun!

Let's explore the Fort Worth National Stockyards National Historic District, a quintessential Texas history and culture destination with museums, shopping, dining and entertainment.

Fort Worth, Texas is "where the West begins".

This is a great time to visit the Fort Worth Stockyards because this is also the weekend of the

The Fort Worth Stockyards is a historic district that is located in Fort Worth, Texas, north of the central business district. A 98-acre (40 ha) portion encompassing much of the district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District in 1976. It holds a former livestock market which operated under various owners from 1866.

Step into the West. Fort Worth is where the West begins, and nothing embodies Western heritage better than the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. From the original brick walkways to the wooden corrals, every inch of the Stockyards tells the true history of Texas’s famous livestock industry.

Come and explore 41 bars & restaurants, 50 shops and over 17 must-see attractions, all surrounded by the rich history of the Fort Worth stockyards. From the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive and historic tours to live music and more, get ready to experience an authentic glimpse of the American West that can only be found here.

Fort Worth Stockyards - Web Links

It's Frank Sinatra's birthday, born December 12, 1915, so let's celebrate the musical legacy of Ol' Blue Eyes - The Chairman of the Board.

Our music history livestream program will play video selections from Frank Sinatra's best musical and film performances along with commentary on his fascinating life and career.
During our program you'll have an opportunity to discuss the music with your fellow attendees via Zoom.

Frank Sinatra (December 12, 1915 - May 14, 1998) was an American singer, actor and producer who was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 150 million records worldwide.
Born to Italian immigrants in Hoboken, New Jersey, Sinatra began his musical career in the swing era with bandleaders Harry James and Tommy Dorsey. Sinatra then found success as a solo artist becoming the idol of the "bobby soxers".
Sinatra released a string of successful albums and was also the recipient of eleven Grammy Awards. Using his Las Vegas shows as a home base, he toured both within the United States and internationally until shortly before his death in 1998.
While Sinatra never learned how to read music, he worked very hard from a young age to improve his abilities in all aspects of music. A perfectionist, renowned for his dress sense and performing presence, he always insisted on recording live with his band. His bright blue eyes earned him the popular nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes".
Sinatra also forged a highly successful career as a film actor and led a colorful personal life, including turbulent affairs with many women.
Frank Sinatra continues to be seen as iconic figure in music, film and popular culture.

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It’s Friday night, let’s “experience the light and color of France” at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth by visiting their “Bonnard’s World” exhibit.
There are two Friday night tours, one from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm and the other from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, both led by members of the museum staff. I plan on attending the earlier 6:00 pm tour. The museum also has an excellent permanent art exhibit that you should visit (before or after our tour), and on Friday night there’s a happy hour from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Tickets for the Bonnard exhibit and tour are $18 for adults - free for museum members and some discounts may be available for non-members.

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The Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, hosts an art collection as well as traveling art exhibitions, educational programs and an extensive research library. Its initial artwork came from the private collection of Kay and Velma Kimbell, who also provided funds for a new building to house it.
The Kimbell’s collection is comprised of Antiquities, European Art, Asian Art, Art of the Ancient Americas, and African and Oceanic Art.
The building was designed by architect Louis I. Kahn and is widely recognized as one of the most significant works of architecture of recent times. It is especially noted for the wash of silvery natural light across its vaulted gallery ceilings.

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Bonnard's Worlds
November 5, 2023 - January 28, 2024
Experience the light and color of France!
In Bonnard’s Worlds, the Kimbell Art Museum presents its first exhibition dedicated to the works of French painter Pierre Bonnard (1867–1947), inspired by its 2018 acquisition of the artist’s Landscape at Le Cannet (1928). As an artist, Bonnard found inspiration in the natural spaces, intimate interiors, and people that surrounded him in his homes and on his travels through Paris, Normandy, and the French Riviera. Through his paintings—glowing with intense colors and flooded with light—he invites us all into the most fascinating corners of these worlds.

“Elizabeth” (Cate Blanchett) - Film History Livestream & Discussion

You are invited to a screening of “Elizabeth”, our latest film history livestream.
This 1998 feature film stars Cate Blanchett in the title role of Queen Elizabeth I.
This will be a two-part program. Part one, approximately 20-30 minutes, will be a brief overview of the film including historical context, things to look for, accuracy, etc. Part two will be a full screening of the film.
During this film history program there will be an opportunity to discuss the film with your fellow participants via Zoom.

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Elizabeth I (7 September 1533 – 24 March 1603)[a] was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last monarch of the House of Tudor and is sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen".
Elizabeth was the only surviving daughter of Henry VIII by Anne Boleyn, his second wife, who was executed when Elizabeth was two years old. Anne's marriage to Henry was annulled, and Elizabeth declared illegitimate. Henry restored her to the line of succession when she was ten, via the Third Succession Act 1543. After Henry's death in 1547, Elizabeth's younger half-brother Edward VI ruled until his own death in 1553, bequeathing the crown to a Protestant cousin, Lady Jane Grey and ignoring the claims of his two half-sisters, the Catholic Mary and the younger Elizabeth, in spite of statutes to the contrary. Edward's will was set aside within weeks of his death and Mary became queen, deposing and executing Jane. During Mary's reign, Elizabeth was imprisoned for nearly a year on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels.
Upon her half-sister's death in 1558, Elizabeth succeeded to the throne and set out to rule by good counsel. One of her first actions as queen was the establishment of an English Protestant church, of which she became the supreme governor. It was expected that Elizabeth would marry and produce an heir; however, despite numerous courtships, she never did. She was eventually succeeded by her first cousin twice removed, James VI of Scotland, the son of Mary, Queen of Scots; this laid the foundation for the Kingdom of Great Britain.
As she grew older, Elizabeth became celebrated for her virginity. A cult of personality grew around her which was celebrated in the portraits, pageants, and literature of the day. Elizabeth's reign became known as the Elizabethan era. The period is famous for the flourishing of English drama, led by playwrights such as William Shakespeare, the prowess of English maritime adventurers, such as Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh, and for the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

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Elizabeth is a 1998 British biographical period drama film directed by Shekhar Kapur and written by Michael Hirst. It stars Cate Blanchett in the title role of Elizabeth I of England, with Geoffrey Rush, Christopher Eccleston, Joseph Fiennes, John Gielgud, and Richard Attenborough in supporting roles. The film is based on the early years of Elizabeth's reign, where she is elevated to the throne after the death of her half-sister Mary I, who had imprisoned her. As she establishes herself on the throne, she faces plots and threats to take her down.
Elizabeth premiered at the 55th Venice International Film Festival on 8 September 1998 and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 23 October. The film became a critical and commercial success. Reviewers praised Kapur's direction, costume design, production values and most notably Blanchett's titular performance, bringing her to international recognition, while the film grossed $82 million against its $30 million budget.