A History Buff’s Guide to Fort Worth

We are lucky to be surrounded by so much rich history in Fort Worth. Keep reading to learn more about a few of our favorite historical tours, museums, and landmarks located right here in the Fort Worth/Dallas area.

10 of Fort Worth’s Best Historical Tours, Museums, and Landmarks

Any history buff will love visiting these Fort Worth spots:

JFK Tribute

There is a memorial located in General Worth Square in Downtown Fort Worth where President John F. Kennedy made his last public speech. The JFK Tribute consists of an 8-foot bronze statue, made by Lawrence Ludtke, and a 10-foot curved granite wall with quotes and three large photos of JFK from throughout his presidential term. If you’d prefer to beat the heat, visiting the tribute at night can be cooler and just as enjoyable. When the sun begins to set, the granite wall, including the photographs and quotes, get back lit, as does the statue.

The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza

If you’re looking for a little more time focused on the life and death of President John F. Kennedy, the sixth floor of the Dealey Plaza has been transformed into a museum to honor Kennedy and his legacy. This floor is where they suspect Lee Harvey Oswald shot JFK from as the president and his wife rode through the plaza in a motorcade.

The museum includes a number of exhibits detailing the social and political movements of the 1960s and a recreation of Oswald’s perch, complete with the used cartridge shells that they found in front of the corner window just 45 minutes after the shooting. You can visit the museum between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. almost every day of the week, but they don’t open until noon on Mondays.

Bonnie and Clyde Tour and Grave Sites

This infamous fugitive couple hailed from Dallas and returned throughout their short lives when looking for refuge or visiting family. You can visit the grave sites on your own or opt for a guided tour to explore some of the landmarks that are important to their story. Heritage Tours offers a package that includes a day of sightseeing, entrance to all of the sites, transportation, and lunch.

Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum

The Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum was founded in 1984 by a group of Holocaust survivors from Dallas. The museum’s intent is “Teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference.” In the Holocaust wing, you can learn the history and persecution of the Jewish people, specifically at the hands of the Nazi regime. You can visit this museum Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the weekends.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing

Learn all about the history and production of U.S. currency at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing public tour and visitor center. The Fort Worth location is responsible for producing over half of the country’s currency, and you can even watch the printing process firsthand from an enclosed walkway suspended above the production floor. The self-guided tour is completely free and accessible Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

African American Museum of Dallas

The African American Museum was founded in 1974 and still serves as the only museum in the Southwest devoted to preserving and displaying African American historical, cultural, and artistic materials. While visiting, you can see a number of exhibits and artifacts, some of which date all the way back to the early 1800s. Plan your visit between Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. or any time between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

Livestock Exchange Building

Originally built as a center for cattle traders in 1902, the Livestock Exchange Building quickly became known as “The Wall Street of the West.” Located in Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards district, the building now primarily houses professional services. However, there is the North Fort Worth Historical Society Museum in the building where you have the opportunity to learn more about the history of the cattle industry in Fort Worth. You can stop by to check it out Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but keep in mind that the museum opens at noon from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Log Cabin Village

This living history museum is a great place to immerse yourself in Texas’ pioneer era. Perfect for the entire family, Log Cabin Village allows you to explore a blacksmith shop, an herb garden, a smokehouse, and a Marine school, among other cabins and period-specific artifacts. Stop by between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, or from 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Cowgirl Hall of Fame and Museum

Learn about the impact and stories of the trailblazing women that helped shape the wild frontier at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Originally founded in 1975, this museum still serves as the world’s only museum dedicated to the legacy of the pioneer women of the West. You can visit the museum and hall of fame Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., or from noon until 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Leonard’s Department Store Museum

Leonard’s was a beloved department store that served Fort Worth’s downtown from 1918 until the 1970s. The Leonard’s Department Store Museum is dedicated to its memory, displaying photographs, advertisements, and even some of the store’s memorabilia, including part of the escalator, which was the very first in Fort Worth. Admission is free, and the museum is open between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, but it closes at 4 p.m. on Mondays.

The Fort Worth/Dallas area is full of history, creating a never-ending playground of learning and exploring for history buffs. Though these are ten of our favorite historical haunts at Hiley Mazda of Fort Worth, there are undoubtedly more. What did we miss? Let us know, and we’ll be sure to add it to our list.