Many faces of Dallas. Texas - from ranches to skyscrapers

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

The Southwestern United States is rich in sights and places of interest. The city of Dallas (Texas, USA) is one of the ten most populous cities in the country. In terms of population, it belongs to the ninth place in the United States and the third in the state.

Geography and population

The city is located on the banks of the Trinity River, not so much large and full-flowing as insidious. To prevent flooding of the areas adjacent to the river, it is fortified with powerful embankments 15 meters high.

Dallas has over 2.5 million residents. Texas became famous largely thanks to this 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.

History of Dallas

Dallas is a relatively young city, the year of its foundation is considered to be 1841. It was then that the legendary and enterprising merchant John Bryan founded a trading post on the site of the future city. Gradually, a settlement formed around it, the inhabitants of which were the former followers of C. Fourier, who abandoned the ideas of the commune in favor of good earnings.

It is believed thatThe name of the city is associated with the name of George Dallas, one of the American vice-presidents of the 19th century. However, such a statement is debatable, and no one remembers the true reasons for Dallas gaining his name.

When the city of Dallas appeared on the US map, Texas was a predominantly agricultural state. But the first settlers, most of whom were artisans and merchants, set the vector for the development of the city, which determined its fate. In the last quarter of the 19th century, it turns into a major trading center, where the agricultural products of the state, mainly grain and cotton, flock. And the construction of the railway made trade more convenient and profitable.

However, the real heyday 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 center of industry and banks.

Another milestone in the development of the city was the beginning of the production of chips invented by Jack Kilby. The development of high technologies even pushed the oil industry into the background.

City of skyscrapers

Modern Dallas strikes the imagination with a fantastic urban landscape. The colossal towers of skyscrapers soaring into the sky make it look like the scenery of a movie about the distant future.

A visitor who expects to see saloons and ranches here will be disappointed, but not for long. Modern skyward architecture will make himforget about the exotics of the Wild West.

From the observation deck of the famous Reunion Towers, whose height is 171 meters, you can see the whole city, and taste Texas cuisine in a revolving restaurant on one of the upper levels.

However, the city does not forget about its past either. 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 for its cowboys, and only then oil and financial magnates appeared in his life.

And in the world's largest bar "Billy Bobs" you can feel the atmosphere of the Wild West. The Texas entourage and flavor have 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 the warm climate and abundance of moisture make it possible to create real paradises in them. The largest and most famous of the parks is Fair Park. There are many attractions and nine museums on its territory, 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 a reconstruction of the dwellings of the first settlers.

Not to mention the huge Dallas Zoo, where you can see a huge variety of species of animals and birds.

Mostly, the parks are located along the banks of Trinity and next to White Lake. On the coast of thisThe lake also houses a botanical garden and a huge arboretum.

Historical and cultural sites

The main historical value for the residents of Dallas is a small wooden house - an exact copy of the hut of the founder of the city, John Bryan, 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 associated with a dark 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 also 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 center of the city, the arts district covers 28 hectares and is the largest in the United States. In addition to the Art Museum, which is completely free to visit, Dallas also has a museum dedicated to contemporary art, as well as many different exhibitions and galleries, including exotic ones, such as the Cowboy Woman Museum or the Railroad Museum.

Dallas's cultural life is multinational, influenced by the large number of Hispanics and Northerners, African Americans and descendants of Indians living here. However, not only Dallas, Texas, USA, but the entire North American continent is distinguished by ethnic diversity and diversity of cultures.