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Fort Worth Western History

Chisholm Trail Mural

Indians. Cattle. Railroads. Oil. The Western History of Fort Worth reads like the history of the American West.

Fort Worth Western History began as an army outpost in 1849, established to protect settlers from Indian attacks. Soon, Fort Worth became the last major stop on the legendary Chisholm Trail, the dusty path where millions of cattle were driven North to market. The Western History of Fort Worth was the wild era of "Hell's Half Acre," an area of town filled with gambling parlors, saloons, and dance halls. Later, the railroad transformed the Fort Worth Stockyards into a premier livestock center. And when oil began to gush in West Texas, Fort Worth was at the center of the wheeling and dealing.

Known as "Cowtown" for its rough-and-rowdy roots, Fort Worth still celebrates its colorful Western history and heritage today.

 

Explore Our Western Heritage