Fort Worth Cultural Guide, Fort Worth, Texas (D)

Now in its 50th year, this Fort Worth institution was named after the famous Fort Worth newspaper tycoon, Amon Carter. The museum focuses on the art of the American West, and is home to the great works of such prominent artists as Frederic Remington, Charles M. Russell, Charles Deas, Albert Bierstadt and Georgia O'Keeffe.

You will also find antique daguerrotype photographs dating from the early 1800s, as well as dynamic and compelling photographs from around the country up to the 1980s. The museum has a permanent collection as well as seasonal displays in partnership with museums from the world. The museum's is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and from 10am to 8pm on Thursdays. Sunday, it is open from noon to 5pm. It is closed on Mondays and major holidays. Admission to the permanent collection is free.

The Kimbell Art Museum's collection may be small, but it is big on quality. The museum focuses on acquiring quality artwork, not on acquiring collections. Its permanent collection ranges from ancient times up to the mid-20th century. The Kimball holds works by Picasso, Fra Angelico, Caravaggio, Poussin, Velázquez, Bernini, Rembrandt, Goya, Monet and Cézanne. The museum has pieces from Ancient Egypt, Pre-Columbian America, African and Oceanic Arts, as well as Asian and European works. No pieces are younger than mid-20th century, as this is the starting point of the collection at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Museum is open from 10am to 5pm Tuesdays through Thursday, and from 10am to 8pm on Fridays. Saturday it is open from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm. It is closed on Mondays and major holidays. Admission to the permanent collection is free.

The Bass Performance Hall opened its doors in 1998, and since then, it's become a cultural icon in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The trumpeting angels on the building's exterior give all who pass a glimpse of the beauty that awaits inside. The performance hall serves as a home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Cliburn Concerts. Bass Performance Hall offers 2,056 seats and occupies a full city block in the heart of downtown Fort Worth. Tours of the hall are available on Saturdays starting at 10:30am.

The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth boasts one of the foremost post-World War II art collections of all media types in the central United States. The permanent collection includes more than 3,000 pieces by world-renown artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Gerhard Richter, Susan Rothenberg, Richard Serra, Andres Serrano, and Andy Warhol. The museum frequently has revolving exhibitions of modern art and offers educational classes, tours and lectures. The museum is open on Tuesdays from 10 am–5 pm (Feb-Apr, Sep-Nov 10 am-7 pm), Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 am–5 pm, Fridays from 10 am–8 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am–5 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays and major holidays.

The National Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum honors the women who pioneered the American West and made an impact with their spirit, resilience, and self-reliance. Historical women the museum honors include such notable figures as Laura Ingalls Wilder, Dale Evans, and Annie Oakley. Here you will learn the history of American settlement from the eyes of the female pioneers. You'll find artifacts of the women who shaped and carved the land, from farmers and ranchers to writers and artists, and even old rodeo lithographs featuring cowgirls from the early 20th century. Museum hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for senior citizens and children aged 3 to 12. Children under 3 are free. The museum offers group rates and docent tours with two-week advance notice.

In 1945 the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History opened in two rooms at DeZavala Elementary School. Today, the museum houses more than 175,000 historical and scientific objects with an emphasis on Texas and the Southwest. The scientific disciplines the museum houses range from botany to paleontology, and even has a herbarium collection of native plants dating back back to the 1880s. The museum has several interactive exhibits designed for small and big kids, such as the Dream Time Exhibit, Doodler Studio, and the Inventor Studio. View the solar system at the Noble Planetarium, which uses the innovative Zeiss-manufactured hybrid planetarium system. Or, see a movie at the Omni Imax Theater Dome, where you can enjoy educational and adventurous films on a domed screen. The museum's hours are 10am to 5pm daily except major holidays. The Omni Theater has a revolving schedule of films available on the museum's website.

Sid Williams Richardson made his fortune in the Keystone Field in West Texas in the 1930s. From 1942 to 1950, Richardson amassed a large collection of artwork that definitively reflected the Texas spirit and the American West. The collection features the works of greats such as Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell. Richardson was fond of action and suspense, and the art he collected shows it. Unknown artists like Charles Schreyvogel, Oscar E. Berninghaus, Frank Tenney Johnson, William R. Leigh and Edwin W. Deming. The museum's collection includes 4 out of 17 of Frederic Remington's last major works, and is considered one of the best assortment of late-life Remington paintings in the world. Guided tours and hands-on studio activities for kids are offered. The museum hours are Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am to 8pm and Sunday from noon to 5pm. It is closed on major holidays. Admission is free.

Since 1958, Casa Mañana has been bringing Broadway productions to Fort Worth. With its unique rounded stage, the atmosphere is more personal and intimate, allowing better viewing and acoustics than the average theater. The theater not only offers Broadway shows, but also children's theater productions, such as "The Wizard of Oz" and "Brer Rabbit." The theater also offers and acting and voice classes. The museum's normal hours are Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm. Shows may have a different schedule.

The Circle Theater is a landmark in the downtown scene. Located underground, it has been putting on live productions since 1981. Its mission is to showcase little-known plays in an intimate 125-seat atmosphere. The theater arranges seating on three sides of the stage so audience members can get up close and personal to the play. Showtimes vary, but usually start between 7:30pm and 8pm. On Saturdays, the theaters often has shows starting at 3pm. Tickets range from $15 to $30 per seat, depending on day and time.

Founded in 1981 by Rudy and Marion Eastman, the Jubilee Theater is the original home of African-American theater in the North Texas area. Since then, it has become a benchmark for quality African-American theatrical productions. During the first years of the 21st century, the Jubilee Theater won prestige and awards, establishing a solid reputation among thespians and enthusiasts alike. Ticket prices range from $15 to $25 depending on show date. Thursday show tickets purchased online are $10 each.

Fire Station Number 1 is a part of the Museum of Science and History, situated in a satellite location on the corner of 2nd and Commerce Streets. The building itself is a historical landmark. It was built in 1907 and served as a fire station for more than 100 years. Inside the museum you'll find a scale model of the original city circa 1849, an interactive bunkhouse model where you'll learn about ranch life in years past, the uniform and writing desk of Maj. Gen. William Jenkins Worth, the man for whom the city is named, and a display on the prehistoric Clovis people who roamed the area thousands of years ago. The station is open daily from 9am to 8pm. Admission is free.

The Stockyards are a step back in time; a tribute to Fort Worth's ranching and cattle driving history. The city was the last major stop along the Chisolm Trail for rest and supplies before heading north into Indian Territory. Between 1866 and 1900, more than 4 million head of cattle passed through Fort Worth, hence its nickname, "Cowtown." Inside the Stockyards you'll find Billy Bob's Texas - a real Texas honky tonk. You'll also find the Championship Rodeo, the Stockyards Museum, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show, restaurants, vintage hotels and shopping. Set aside a full day to enjoy this area. It's a step back into history that you won't soon forget. The Stockyards vendors each have their own admission and hours, which you can find on its website.

Log Cabin Village is a living museum of structures from the pioneer days of Texas dating from 1848 up to the 1870s. Seven log homes, a blacksmith shop, and a board and batten one-room school and a log smoke house grace the grounds near the Trinity River in a wooded area. Each structure is fully furnished with artifacts from the time period, with beds, stoves and even textiles common on the North Texas prairie. You'll also see photographs and preserved documents and books. Group tours and family activities are available on site. Admission is $4 for senior citizens and kids ages 4-17, $4.50 for adults 18 and over. Children 3 and under are free. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 9am to 4pm, Saturday and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. The village is closed on Mondays.

The Fort Worth Community Arts Center is where upcoming regional artists emerge and showcase their talents. Plays by local university students, productions by the Black Dance Theater and exhibitions by local artists are just a few of the events on the calendar at any given time. Here, adults and children can learn more about art by participating in activities that celebrate the arts. Center hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.