What to see in Dallas – the cultural capital of North Texas

What to see in Dallas – the cultural capital of North Texas

Dallas is one of the largest cities in the US state of Texas and it is impossible to see all its sights in a short time. It amazes with an abundance of interesting locations that will appeal to both adults and children – for example, modern urban parks with green lawns, installations and food outlets. It is also impossible to pass by local museums and galleries with interactive exhibits. There is a dark page in the history of the city connected with the assassination of President Kennedy. A memorial and a commemorative exposition are dedicated to this event. There is something for everyone here, and our list of the best things to do in Dallas will help you decide on a program.

Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is a green area located near the city center on the shores of White Rock Lake. The Dallas Arboretum & Botanical Garden covers an area of ​​66 acres and is among the best arboretums in the world, as evidenced by numerous awards. Among the buildings in the garden stand out the DeGolyer House (The DeGolyer House), erected in 1939 by the owner of this land, and the Alex Camp House (1938). The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden regularly hosts concerts, educational programs for children and adults, and other events.

White Rock Lake

White Rock is an artificial lake five miles northeast of downtown Dallas. It is forbidden to swim here due to the fact that White Rock Lake serves as a source of water for nearby settlements. Despite this limitation, this area is one of the favorite places for recreation among local residents. There are picnic and dog walking areas, jogging and biking trails, gazebos, a cultural center and a museum. White Rock Lake is a popular destination for sailing, kayaking, rowing and kayaking.

Nasher Sculpture Center

The Nasher Sculpture Center is one of the most popular museums in Dallas, opened in 2003. It houses a collection of sculptures collected by Raymond and Patsy Nasher. Among the exhibits are works by Picasso, Rodin, Matisse, Giacometti, Serra and other outstanding masters. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the Nasher Sculpture Center hosts temporary exhibitions and themed events. Sculptures are installed not only indoors, but also outdoors.

Downtown Historic District (Dallas Downtown Historic District)

The Downtown Historic District includes several blocks in downtown Dallas. It combines architectural styles from different centuries and houses many attractions – museums, markets, theaters and sculptures. Speaking of the latter, Pioneer Plaza is located in the Dallas Downtown Historic District. She is famous for her sculptural group, consisting of fifty-two parts. The composition depicts three cowboys on horseback driving a herd of forty-nine bulls.

Aquarium Dallas World (Dallas World Aquarium)

Dallas World is an aquarium and zoo that opened in 1992 in a former warehouse in the city center. Over the next 12 years, the Dallas World Aquarium (DWA) area expanded with neighboring buildings. On the lower level there are tanks with fish, jellyfish, corals, rays and a tunnel with sharks. On the third floor is the Cloud Forest Trek, which takes visitors into the rainforest with living plants and animals. All this is complemented by an LED screen that creates a jungle atmosphere. In addition, birds, ocelots, agoutis, turtles, sloths, manatees, penguins and other animals live in DWA.

Old City Park

Old City Park is an open-air museum that was called the Dallas Heritage Village until 2022. It consists of thirty-eight restored and furnished houses of the XIX-XX centuries. All of them were brought from the north of Texas. Among the buildings of Old City Park are a Greek-style mansion, a school, a farm, a shooting range, a hotel, a church, a bank, a railway depot, a doctor’s office. Atmosphere is added by people dressed in authentic old costumes and historical reconstructions.

Dealey Plaza

Dealey Plaza is a small public park in the West End of downtown Dallas. Here is an interesting neo-Romanesque building. It previously housed the Old Dallas County Court, and later opened the Dallas County Red Museum of History and Culture. However, this place is not known for its architecture, but for the assassination of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza is a Dallas museum housed in the former Texas School Book Depository. It was from the sixth floor of this building that, according to the official version, in 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald shot John F. Kennedy. The exposition dedicated to this tragic event opened on the sixth floor in 1989. Here you can see unique footage of the incident, not published anywhere else. Visitors to The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza learn about the political landscape of the 1960s, the president’s two-day trip to Texas, the crime itself and the 48 hours after, and the consequences of the assassination for the United States and the world.

Clyde Warren Park

Clyde Warren Park is a public green space in downtown Dallas above the Woodall Rogers Freeway, opened in 2012. This is a modern recreation area with children’s playgrounds, reading areas, a dry fountain and a dog walking area. At the center of Klyde Warren Park is a large restaurant and stage. Skyscrapers are located around the park, which look especially spectacular after sunset.

Arena American Airlines Center

The American Airlines Center is an arena located in Victory Park. It was opened in 2001. It is the home stadium for the Dallas Mavericks basketball and Dallas Stars hockey teams. The American Airlines Center regularly hosts concerts and other entertainment events.

Reunion Tower

Reunion is a 561-foot-tall observation tower. It opened in 1978 as part of the Hyatt Regency Dallas hotel complex completed at the same time. At the top of the Reunion Tower is a ball-shaped structure that houses the GeO-Deck (470 feet) observation deck. This is the perfect place to see Dallas in 360 degrees. A minute lift up in an elevator with transparent walls is also a kind of attraction.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is located in the Victory Park area. He moved to a new building on this site in 2012. At the Perot Museum of Nature and Science, you can learn how birds and dinosaurs are related, see the skeletons of the latter, admire the beauty of the cosmos, explore alternative energy sources, follow the path of evolution, become an engineer for a few minutes, get acquainted with the amazing capabilities of the human body, and much more. Most of the museum’s expositions are interactive and will be of interest to both adults and children.