Who says planning is not half the fun of going on a trip? Glenn and Nancy are busy exploring options all over Texas and have far more ideas than they can possibly carry out. First stop is Fort Worth. Nancy's 5th great grandmother, Ruth (Smith) Brown, is said to have been one of the first eight White women in Fort Worth. Such a distinction! Ruth owned 320 acres in northeast Tarrant county on one side of the Trinity River, and her son-in-law, Ransom Loving, owned 320 acres on the other side of the river, their land touching at one corner. 
Ruth moved to Texas with two of her daughters and their families in the mid 1800's as part of the Peter's Colony in Denton County, but the hostilities of the Indians made it unsafe and they moved into the Fort. Later census records show the families living on streets that are now part of the main, downtown city center, Belknap, Throckmorton, and Taylor to name a few. We've decided to stay in one of the hotels adjoining Sundance Square, downtown Fort Worth's trendy entertainment and shopping district. From the Sundance Square website:
History...
Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth is rich in Western history and lore. During the great cattle drives of the late 1800's, Fort Worth was one of the major stops on the legendary Chisholm Trail. Cowboys on the trail would visit downtown Fort Worth for some much needed recreation. The downtown area was filled with saloons, gambling parlors, shooting galleries and dance halls, which attracted a rough mix of gamblers, cattlemen, outlaws, and lonesome doves.
The area was named for the Sundance Kid, who with his partner, Butch Cassidy, was a frequent visitor to the area, then know as Hell's Half Acre. Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, well-known participants in the "Shootout at the OK Corral," could also be spotted from time to time in Sundance Square. Most of the buildings in Sundance Square date from the turn of the 20th century, and have been beautifully restored to provide a wonderful architectural view of the past. The red brick streets and lush courtyards add to Sundance Square's authentic aura.
A few of the notable buildings in Sundance Square include the Knights of Pythias Hall (1901), the Land Title Building (1889), and the Jett Building (1907), which features the Chisholm Trail Mural painted by Richard Haas in the mid 1980s and spans the building's southern façade. The mural commemorates the Fort Worth segment of the Chisholm Trail cattle drives of 1867-1875.
Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth is rich in Western history and lore. During the great cattle drives of the late 1800's, Fort Worth was one of the major stops on the legendary Chisholm Trail. Cowboys on the trail would visit downtown Fort Worth for some much needed recreation. The downtown area was filled with saloons, gambling parlors, shooting galleries and dance halls, which attracted a rough mix of gamblers, cattlemen, outlaws, and lonesome doves.
The area was named for the Sundance Kid, who with his partner, Butch Cassidy, was a frequent visitor to the area, then know as Hell's Half Acre. Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday, well-known participants in the "Shootout at the OK Corral," could also be spotted from time to time in Sundance Square. Most of the buildings in Sundance Square date from the turn of the 20th century, and have been beautifully restored to provide a wonderful architectural view of the past. The red brick streets and lush courtyards add to Sundance Square's authentic aura.
A few of the notable buildings in Sundance Square include the Knights of Pythias Hall (1901), the Land Title Building (1889), and the Jett Building (1907), which features the Chisholm Trail Mural painted by Richard Haas in the mid 1980s and spans the building's southern façade. The mural commemorates the Fort Worth segment of the Chisholm Trail cattle drives of 1867-1875.
Today...
In Sundance Square, you'll find something for everyone. The many restaurants range from casual to elegant, from intimate dining to a family-style atmosphere. Lining the blocks, you'll find notable stores like Barnes & Noble, Jos. A. Bank, Pappagallo Classiques, Leddy's Ranch at Sundance near other small speciality boutiques. Sundance Square is also home to one of the world's finest concert/performance halls and is a premier address for urban residential properties. Day or night, there's a high-energy ambience in the air in Sundance Square. A feeling of excitement, innovation and fun.
1 comment:
What a great adventure. Don't check your IRAS
Pretend its 1895. No cell phones....women could not vote, just ride horses...and don't worry about gas prices.
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