Few other cities can claim the legendary flavor of the twin cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Both their past and present show the drive and determination that have brought them growth and prosperity.

Dallas was founded in 1841 by a Tennessee lawyer, John Neely Bryan. The city was mapped out to serve as a trading post at a crossing point on the east bank of the Trinity River. Today, historians continue to debate the origins of Dallas's name. Some believe Bryan named it for George Mifflin Dallas, vice-president of the United States under James K. Polk, and some believe it was named after Commodore Alexander James Dallas, brother of the vice-president. It is said that according to Bryan himself, he named it for his "friend Dallas." However, there are almost as many theories as to who this "friend" was as there are concerning Dallas's other great conspiracy.

Dallas formally became a town in 1856 and a city in 1871. Prominent wars of the 1800s and 1900s helped Dallas's economic growth. Dallas served as a supply center during the American Civil War. Following the war, Dallas's flourishing cattle ranges helped build the city's economic growth, and the discovery of oil in South Texas after 1900 provided Dallas with a specific industry, maintaining the city's swelling economy. World War II and the Cold War provided excellent economic opportunities for Dallas, as the city's defense industry was used immensely. Today, in addition to Dallas's economic appeal, well-known sites of interest such as the West End Market Place, the Southfork Ranch and Dealey Plaza complement this city's magnetic appeal to visitors

Compared to Dallas, Fort Worth had a much more infamous period of early development. This includes barroom-brawling cowboys in the 19th century and later, the infamous downtown venue of Hell's Half Acre, a red-light district where the likes of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hid from their captors, and where Depression Era villains Bonnie and Clyde sought refuge from the law. Historically known for its stockyards, which originated during the 1800s Chisholm Trail Days, Fort Worth established itself as a stockyard town. In 1873, the arrival of the railroad provided excellent revenue for the city as cattle drivers decided to utilize Fort Worth's stockyards, memorialized today in the Stockyard National Historic District. Even while other economic opportunities such as the oil industry developed, Fort Worth continued to rely mostly on its cattle business through the 1920s. Today, Fort Worth continues to pride itself as America's Cowtown.

Throughout their history, Dallas and Fort Worth worked to grow and adapt to the many challenges they faced. They have applied these lessons as they entered the modern era, and the following facts quickly show the benefits they have reaped.

Dallas - Fort Worth (DFW): Fast Facts

• In 1992 DFW ranked first nationally in attracting new manufacturing companies, new plants and plant expansions.
• At the time, DFW was second in corporate relocations and fourth in the creation of new jobs.
• By 1992, 22 corporations listed on the Fortune 500 had made their headquarters in DFW.
• Four foreign-trade zones in DFW helped to bring in more than 500 foreign-owned companies.
• Cotton was DFW's original cash crop, followed by oil and insurance.
• DFW is a communications and transportation center and the world headquarters of the U.S. Army and Air Force Exchange Service.
• DFW added more than 1 million new residents in the 1990s, half from other states or foreign countries, and was first in job growth for the decade.

HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS

Dallas City Hall
Dallas's skyline became famous, particularly due to the long-running TV series "Dallas." Most of the major skyscrapers that make up the skyline were completed in the 1980s. I.M. Pei was responsible for many of these architectural creations including City Hall. Also not to be missed at City Hall is the impressive bronze statue of the famed 20th century British sculptor Henry Moore, located in the plaza outside.

Dallas Museum of Natural History
For those interested in plant and animal history, this museum covers 60 million years of Texas development, including life-like scenes of various animals including bison, bears, alligators and wolves. One of the jaw-dropping exhibits is a 35-foot prehistoric sea serpent that is estimated to be 75 million years old. The museum also houses the skeleton of a mammoth elephant that was discovered in the Dallas area. For those looking for hard-to-find natural history books, try the gift shop here.

West End Historic District - Dallas
Serving today as an entertainment center, this area of brick warehouses built between 1900 and 1930 was brought back to life in 1976. Contained in restored buildings are more than 30 restaurants and 100 retail shops.

Stockyards National Historic District - Fort Wort
A pride of Cowtown, the district lies North of downtown Fort Worth. This carefully restored 19th-century neighborhood is still dressed with original brick and stucco buildings. Included in this historic delight is the popular Livestock Exchange (131 E. Exchange Ave.), which continues to hold hog and cattle auctions. Also located in the district is the Stockyards Collection Museum where you can learn about the history of Fort Worth and the stockyards. If you like hands-on learning, continue wandering through the neighborhood where you will see saddle and boot makers, saloons, a rodeo arena and a vintage train station.

Texas School Book Depository - Dallas
Dallas will always have the inescapable association of being the city where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and naturally there is a huge draw to the many sites associated with that event. The former Texas School Book Depository houses the Sixth Floor Museum, probably the most worthwhile site to visit if you are going to pick one. The museum considers the various conspiracy theories related to the assassination, as Americans (more than 85 percent) have never been convinced of the government's conclusion that Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald acting alone and firing from this building. November 22, 1963, and the events that stemmed from that day have been almost frozen in this museum where visitors can explore the minute-to-minute details as they unfolded then, and watch and re-watch the first FBI murder report being reprinted endlessly. Perhaps the most chilling exhibit is the corner window where visitors can stand and look out over the view that Lee Harvey Oswald would have had that day.

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