Region: Prairies and Lakes
In 1841, John Neely Bryan laid claim to this area and built a single log cabin. He envisioned a commerce center that capitalized on the expanse of land and its river. With the arrival of the railroad in the mid-1870s, Dallas became a thriving business town and market center. An influx of French, German, Swiss and English immigrants, highly skilled and cultured, gave Dallas a cosmopolitan air unmatched anywhere on the frontier at the time. Dallas continued to emerge as a major economic force due to a strong entrepreneurial, can-do spirit. Neiman Marcus was founded in 1907, followed by the Federal Reserve Bank in 1914, Southern Methodist University in 1915 and Dallas Love Field Airport in 1927. "Dad" Joiner struck oil nearby on the East Texas Oil Field in 1930, and the Texas Centennial Exposition was held in 1936. With DFW International Airport's opening in 1973, Bryan's dream of a major inland port was unquestionably accomplished.
Dallas is a mecca for shoppers, as it boasts more shopping centers per capita than any other U.S. city. Not only is Dallas home to the internationally recognized specialty store Neiman Marcus and retail giant JCPenney, but it is also the site of America's oldest shopping center, Highland Park Village. Other well-known centers that are a magnet for regional and national clients include Galleria Dallas, North Park Center, West Village and Mockingbird Station.
Galleria Dallas, inspired by Milan, Italy's famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, features an ice rink surrounded by shops. www.dallasgalleria.com.
Dallasites pursue art and culture with almost as much enthusiasm as shopping. Collector and philanthropist Raymond Nasher and his late wife, Patsy, gifted Dallas with the $70 million Nasher Sculpture Center, located in the Dallas Arts District. The new Latino Cultural Center is buzzing with multicultural activities and artistic endeavors.
International cuisine and world-class accommodations are blended together in the very fabric of Dallas. There are more than 12 entertainment districts within a short distance of downtown, each with its local history and flavor, offering a unique mixture of arts, culture, shopping, dining and fun: Dallas Arts District, Fair Park, Deep Ellum, Main Street, Greenville Avenue, Knox-Henderson, Uptown, West Village, West End, Oaklawn, Mockingbird Station and the Bishop Arts District.
You can also experience live theater, comedy, drama and outstanding opera. The Dallas Summer Musicals are held June through October at the Music Hall in Fair Park with the last production running through the State Fair of Texas. Held in the fall, the State Fair draws more than three million visitors annually to the 277-acre campus of Fair Park. It is the largest exposition in North America and features prize livestock and horse competitions, Big Tex, Fletcher's famous corny dogs, big name entertainers, the annual Texas-OU football game, the Grambling-Prairie View football game and a huge midway with the "Texas Star" Ferris wheel, the tallest in the northern hemisphere and one of the largest in the world.
Professional sports are played throughout the year with six teams making their home in the Dallas area: The Dallas Cowboys (NFL), Dallas Mavericks (NBA), Dallas Stars (NHL), Dallas Desperados (AFL), FC Dallas (MLS) and Texas Rangers (MLB).
Getting around is a breeze on the Light Rail System of Dallas Area Rapid Transit System. DART provides fast, convenient service to work, shopping and entertainment areas in Dallas, Garland, Plano and Richardson. Plus, the Trinity River Express commuter line links DART customers to DFW International Airport and downtown Fort Worth. For schedules and fares, visit www.dart.org.
Dallas City Parks and Recreation Department offers year-round indoor and outdoor activities at many recreational facilities and parks. 214/670-4100.