Fort Worth is the quintessential Texas city. Cowboy history? Yup. Cultural gems? Check. True grit? Hell yeah.
With a nickname like Cowtown, you know what you’re gonna get. In the 1860s, this town was the main destination for cattle drives along legendary routes such as the Chisholm Trail.
Even today, the Stockyards National Historic District now serves a hub for visitors to witness honest-to-goodness cowboy- related activity.
Experience weekly livestock auctions at the Exchange Building as weekend rodeos at the legendary Cowtown Coliseum and the twice-daily clip- clopping of longhorn cattle on the cobblestone streets.
Enjoy history of a different kind just a few kilometres away in the Fort Worth Cultural District. The world-class Kimbell Art Museum contains artwork by Monet, Cézanne, Picasso and Matisse, all bathed in natural light radiating from barrel- vaulted ceilings.
Head next door for another unusual structure, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, which appears to float on a placid pond.
Impressive views await inside, too, including colourful Andy Warhol silk screens.
Finally, explore an oft-forgotten history at the nearby National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame, which highlights the significant role of women in the American West.