Guide to Dallas: Arts & Culture

Dallas is a haven for those of all different cultures and inclination, and its art, cultural, and historical institutions pay tribute to this. In fact, the Dallas metro area boasts more than 50 professional and community theater companies, and over 175 museums. From classic museums to bloody historical sites, there’s always something to see in Dallas.

Art and Theater Take Center Stage<

The Dallas Arts District is the nation's largest urban arts center and home to the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center and the Dallas Museum of Art. Located just east of downtown Dallas is Fair Park, a National Historic Landmark and the world's largest collection of art deco architecture.

Fair Park is home to nine museums and covers over 275 acres. The Kalita Humphreys Theatre is known not only as home to the Dallas Theater Center but also as the only public theater ever designed by world-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright

Music lovers can find camaraderie with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and its society, the Dallas Opera and its fans, or any of a number of other musical organizations. Dallas is also known for its jazz, theater, and the Dallas Black Dance Theater.

Living History in Dallas

Two areas in Dallas have been designated National Historic Landmark Districts--Dealey Plaza, where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and the Texas School Book Depository, where Lee Harvey Oswald was reported to have fired his infamous rifle shot. Near the heart of Dallas lies the Deep Ellum, which was once the center of commerce for black Americans from the late 1800's until the thirties.

Other noteworthy Dallas landmarks include the Confederate Monument designed by sculptor Frank Teich in 1896 and Old City Hall, which was built in 191--and the location where Lee Harvey Oswald was shot to death by Jack Ruby. Old City Park takes visitors back in time and features 38 historic structures portraying life in old Texas.

Sources:
City-Data.com MSN Encarta