The southwestern United States is rich in attractions and places of interest. The city of Dallas (Texas, USA) is one of the ten most populated megacities of the country. In terms of population, he is in ninth place in the United States and third in the state.
Geography and Population
The city is located on the banks of the Trinity River, not so much large and full of water, as insidious. To prevent flooding of the areas adjacent to the river, it is fortified with powerful embankments 15 meters high.
Over 2.5 million inhabitants inhabit Dallas. Texas became famous largely thanks to this particular metropolis, known not only for the highest skyscrapers and numerous parks, but also for the oil and gas industry, the largest banks and insurance companies, as well as the telecommunications industry.
Dallas story
Dallas is a relatively young city, the year 1841 is considered the year of its foundation. It was then that the legendary and enterprising merchant John Brian founded a trading post on the site of the future city. Gradually, a settlement was formed around it, the inhabitants of which were former followers of S. Fourier, who abandoned the ideas of the commune in favor of good earnings.
It is believed that the name of the city is associated with the name of George Dallas - one of the 19th-century American vice presidents. However, such a statement is debatable, and no one remembers the true reasons for Dallas to gain his name.
When the city of Dallas appeared on the US map, Texas was predominantly an agricultural state. But the first settlers, most of whom were artisans and traders, set the vector for the development of the city, which determined its fate. In the last quarter of the 19th century, it turned into a large shopping center, where state agricultural products, mainly grain and cotton, flock. And the construction of the railway made trade more convenient and profitable.
However, the real prosperity of the city began after an oil field was discovered near it in 1930. Oil refining revenues attracted big businessmen and financiers and changed Dallas. The state of Texas from purely agricultural has become the focus of industry and banks.
Another milestone in the development of the city was the start of the production of microcircuits invented by Jack Kilby. The development of high technology even the oil industry pushed to the background.
City of skyscrapers
Modern Dallas is breathtaking in its fantastic urban landscape. The colossal towering skyscrapers towering into the sky make it look like the scenery of a film about the distant future.
A visitor hoping to see saloons and a ranch here will be disappointed, but not for long. Modern upward-looking architecture will make him forget about the exotic of the Wild West.
From the observation deck of the famous Reunion Towers tower, whose height is 171 meters, you can see the whole city, and in the revolving restaurant, at one of the upper levels, you can enjoy Texas cuisine.
However, they also do not forget about their past in the city. So, in order to see the world's largest and amazingly powerful sculptural composition of 50 bulls, you need to come to Dallas. Texas became known in the world precisely for its cowboys, and only then did oil and financial magnates appear in his life.
And in the world's largest bar "Billy Bobs" you can feel the atmosphere of the Wild West. Texas surroundings and color in it have invariably been preserved since 1910.
Dallas Parks
Despite the abundance of skyscrapers, shopping and financial centers, more than 400 parks adorn Dallas. Texas is located in the subtropics, and a warm climate and plenty of moisture allow you to create real paradise in them. The largest and most famous of the parks is Fair Park. On its territory there are many attractions and nine museums, one of which is built in the art deco style, Texas State Hall.
Old City Park is not only the oldest park in the city, it has many historical sights and reconstruction of the homes of the first settlers.
One cannot but mention the huge Dallas zoo, where you can see a huge number of different species of animals and birds.
Mostly, the parks are located along the shores of Trinity and next to Lake White Lake. There is also a botanical garden and a huge arboretum on the coast of this lake.
Historic and Cultural Attractions
The main historical value for the inhabitants of Dallas is a small wooden house - an exact copy of the hut of the founder of the city, John Brian, which is located in the historic center. But the oldest surviving architectural structure of the city can be considered the building of the Cathedral of Santario de Guadalupe.
Not far from Brian's hut is another attraction related to the gloomy page in the history of the city. This is a memorial reminiscent of November 22, 1963 - the day of the assassination of John F. Kennedy. There is a museum in the city dedicated to this president.
Dallas is not only one of the main financial and industrial cities of the state, but also its cultural capital. Located in the city center, the arts district occupies 28 hectares and is the largest in the United States. Along with the Museum of Art, which is absolutely free to visit, Dallas has a museum dedicated to contemporary art, as well as many different exhibitions and galleries, including exotic ones, such as the Cowboy Women Museum or the Railroad Museum.
The cultural life of Dallas is multinational, it is imprinted by the large number of Hispanics and Northerners living here, African Americans and descendants of the Indians. However, not only Dallas, Texas, USA, but also the entire North American continent is distinguished by ethnic diversity and cultural diversity.