Fort Worth is a true southwestern gem, and is probably one of the
nicest cities in Texas.

Never having been a real fort, Camp Worth kind of lost its purpose after
the frontier moved further west, but rebounded during the Civil War
(due to the frontier shrinking back east for a few years). Fort Worth
was still very small, though, and it wasn't until Joseph McCoy promoted
the cattle drives that the city began to boom, with a red light district
called Hell's Half Acre and a checkpoint for cattle trade, the world
famous Stockyards.

Fort Worth is really proud of its past, and it shows. The Cultural District,
up old and cobbled Camp Bowie Boulevard, leads to fine art - the world
renowned Kimball - modern sculpture, stock shows, and cattle trade
halls of fame (Cowgirl, Cattle Raiser's, and African American Cowboy
museums). The Stockyards are FUN to explore, especially when you
get away from all the tourist areas. Downtown is a fairly safe place to
stroll. And the city is chock full of commercial architectural gems.

I fell in love with Fort Worth years ago, and I find myself drawn to this
great city. Maybe the photos show that!
Above: Cool neon at the Stockyards
Above: A stockyard mural depicting the Chisholm
Trail and Justin Boots. H.J. Justin actually opened
his first cobbler shop on the Chisholm Trail - in
Spanish Fort, about 100 miles north of Fort Worth.
This mural just might be depicting Spanish Fort,
which is now a ghost town.
Above: Tarrant County Courthouse as seen from
North Main, and the ugly Tandy Towers
overshadowing it. A travesty! The Fort Worth
courthouse is the only one that, to my knowledge,
has its facade painted on.
Right and bottom
right: Faint
reminders of ancient
businesses at the
stockyards
Above: a cool fire escape at the
stockyards
Above: The Swift Meat Processing Company
emblem. Fort Worth had two major meat processing
plants (the other one was Armor) at the Stockyards.
Today, the Swift plant is a complete ruin, perfect for
urban exploring (for the brave. I'm just too chicken)!
I'll take more photos of the plant soon
Above, right, and below right: The mission style
Montgomery Ward building, which had offices,
warehouses, and a department store on the ground
floor. The old building is currently being gutted and
made into lofts, or so the plans are. After I heard that
the building would soon undergo major changes, I
hurried as quickly as I could to get some parting
shots. The great windows are now completely gone.
Above, right, and below right: The Union Pacific
station is a real art-deco delight. Though it's
currently being renovated, you can still catch the
Amtrak and the Lone Star Express (running between
Dallas and Fort Worth) from its old platforms. To the
west of the station is the gigantic UP warehouse,
with great tile work (below right). The emblem for UP
still graces the main entrance (right).
Above and below: Fort Worth's gorgeous public
market. I need more info on this building! The
market is close to the Union Pacific station,
south of downtown Fort Worth, and lies in the
vicinity of Hell's Half Acre.
WAY MORE TO COME!
Above: cool snow cone stand at Camp Bowie boulevard.
Steppin' Out in Fort
Worth