From glass and steel cloudbusters to intimate, turn of the century clock towers, Dallas/Fort Worth & Beyond is home to a wide array of architectural marvels. Step into a Romanesque style courthouse in downtown Dallas. Take in the Art Deco architecture at Fair Park. Or soak up the awe-inspiring sites inside the world-renowned Bass Concert Hall in Fort Worth. Whether you’re desperate for dormers or craving Corinthian, this is the perfect excursion for you.
Ellis County Courthouse
Built in 1895, is listed in the top 100 most photographed structures in the state of Texas, featuring Richardson Romanesque architectural style.
100 W. Main Street
Waxahachie, Texas
Fair Park Dallas
Fair Park was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986 because of its exceptional significance in American history. It is home to an extraordinary collection of 1930s Art Deco art and architecture. From the mysterious Woofus statue to the beautifully restored murals and gold-leafed eagle atop the Tower Building, the treasures of the past are an awe-inspiring treat for visitors of today
Fair Park is also home to the State Fair of Texas as well as home to 8 museums – African American Museum, Dallas Aquarium, Museum of the American Railroad, Museum of Nature & Science, Hall of State, Texas Discovery Gardens, Texas Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, and The Women’s Museum.
1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd. at Grand
Dallas, Texas 75210
(214) 670-8400
(214) 670-0265
Bass Performance Hall
The Bass Performance Hall was named “one of the top 10 opera houses in the world” by Travel + Leisure. The crown jewel of downtown Fort Worth is named after Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass. This acclaimed, multi-purpose facility is the permanent home of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Ballet Theater, the Fort Worth Opera, the Cliburn Concerts, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, as well as special presentations by Casa Mañana. Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas, also regularly hosts popular musical performers of all kinds.
525 Commerce St.
Fort Worth, Texas 76104
(817) 212-4200
(817) 212-4325
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
The Modern focuses on post World War II international modern and contemporary art, including paintings, sculpture, works on paper and international contemporary photography. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth’s building was designed by the award-winning Japanese architect Tadao Ando.
3200 Darnell St. at University Dr.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
(817) 738-9215
(866) 824-5566
Marty Leonard Community Chapel – Lena Pope Home
The world-famous E. Fay Jones described his Chapel design as an instrument for nature to play its music, and, by the way, the light and shadows move and change, he had turned it so that the music changes throughout the day and year. This architecturally significant building that reflects the influence of Jones’ study with Frank Lloyd Wright. Tours for all ages. Free.
3131 Sanquinet
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
(817) 255-2576
(817) 731-9858
Farmers Branch Historical Park
The Historical Park is nestled within 22 acres that trace the proud heritage of Farmers Branch, from the 1840s through the 1940s. The Gilbert House, built between 1856-1857, is the oldest rock structure in Dallas County still on its original foundation. Other local historic structures on the grounds include the 1937 Dodson House, home of the first Mayor of Farmers Branch; a one-room school that was once part of the Farmers Branch school from 1900-1915; and the original Farmers Branch railroad depot, built in 1877. Also features other structures from outside of Farmers Branch which has been moved to the park for preservation.
2540 Farmers Branch Lane
Farmers Branch, Texas 75234
(972) 406-0184
Kimbell Art Museum
A world-renowned collection of art from antiquity to the 20th century, including European masterpieces, Greek and Roman antiquities, and Egyptian, Near Eastern, Asian, Mesoamerican and African art.
3333 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
(817) 332-8451
Nasher Sculpture Center
Nasher Sculpture Center is home to one of the finest collections of modern and contemporary sculpture in the world. The Center is located on a 2.4-acre site adjacent to the Dallas Museum of Art in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. Renzo Piano, a world-renowned architect and winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 1998, is the architect of the Center’s 55,000 square foot building. Piano worked in collaboration with landscape architect Peter Walker on the design of the 1.4acre Garden.
2001 Flora St.
Dallas, Texas 75201
(214) 242-5100
(214) 242-5160
Tarrant County Courthouse
This is one of the architectural masterpieces of the city. It serves as the terminus of Main Street and it sits high on the bluff of the Trinity River. It was designed by Gunn and Curtiss Architects of Kansas City and it is a striking example of American Beaux-Arts Design. Probst & Co. from Chicago was the General Contractor. It was modeled after the Texas Capitol Building in Austin and uses pink granite. It was one of the first structural steel framed buildings built in the Southwestern United States. The courthouse is 194 feet in height.
100 E. Weatherford
Fort Worth, Texas
Dallas County Courthouse
Built in 1891, the Romanesque Revival design of MA Orlopp, is made of Pecos Red Sandstone and blue granite. This courthouse is well known as “Old Red” and currently houses the Dallas Visitors Information Center and the Old Red Museum of Dallas History.
100 S. Houston St
Dallas, Texas 75202
(214) 571-1000
Chautauqua Auditorium
One of the few octagonal auditoriums in America.
Grand Ave & W. Main
Waxahachie, Texas
Kalita Humphreys Theater
Home to the Dallas Theatre Center, Kalita Humphreys is the only theater in the U.S. designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The monolithic concrete building was a combination of curved and angular forms typical of Wright’s late-period public projects. The vertical cylindrical forms of the four-and-a-half story building, encircled by horizontal cantilevered decks, presented a sculptural façade, both monumental and dynamic, within a wooded park setting. The entire building was based on a 60/120-degree equilateral parallelogram, such that there were no right angles. The unit-system organized not only the floor plan but also many of the details from the smallest design of the window shapes to the facetted columns and the built-in furniture.
3636 Turtle Creek Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75219
(214) 522-8499
Amon Carter Museum
The Amon Carter Museum was established through the generosity of Amon G. Carter Sr. (1879 – 1955), to house his collection of paintings and sculpture by Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell; to collect, preserve, and exhibit the finest examples of American art; and to serve an educational role through exhibitions, publications, and programs devoted to the study of American art.
Designed by renowned and award-winning architect, Philip Johnson, the museum’s original architect, he also designed and completed the building’s most recent expansion in 2001.
3501 Camp Bowie Blvd.
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
(817) 738-1933
Fort Worth Water Gardens
The Water Gardens were designed by noted New York architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee and was dedicated to the City of Fort Worth by the Amon G. Carter Foundation. The park is frequently billed as a “cooling oasis in the concrete jungle” of downtown. Its focal points are three pools of water; the quiet meditation pool, the aerating pool which features multiple fountains and the active pool which has water cascading 38 feet (11 meters) down terraces and steps into a small pool at the bottom. It also has over 500 species of plants and trees throughout the park. Part of the film Logan’s Run was filmed in the active pool at the Water Gardens in 1976.
1502 Commerce St.
Fort Worth, Texas
(817) 871-5755
Thanks-Giving Square
The area was designed by famed architect Philip Johnson and was completed in 1976. The most prominent and recognizable feature of Thanks-Giving Square is the Chapel of Thanksgiving, a small, spiral tower that features an enclave for prayerful thanks. The entrance to the chapel is at the end of a 125-foot (38 m) bridge that runs over a cascading waterfall.
Inside the chapel, the spiral is topped with stained glass windows, leaving a flood of color when looking up in the chapel. Collectively, the stained glass, which was designed by Gabriel Loire of Chartres, France is called the Glory Window. It was designed to feature brighter colors as the spiral reached its apex, becoming brighter and brighter as it reached the center.
1627 Pacific Avenue
Dallas, Texas
(888) 305-1205
A.W. Perry Homestead Museum
1909 homestead features rentals and free tours.
1509 N. Perry Road
Carrollton, Texas
(972) 466-6380
More Dallas Architecture Tour Resources
Dallas Architecture: Tour the City’s Best
www.visitdallas.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas/dallas-architecture-tour.html
Dallas Architecture Tour Steep yourself in great design spanning throughout the ages as you explore Dallas’ collection of architecturally significant venues. From newer marvels like the Perot Museum to Dallas skyline icons like Reunion Tower, the magnificent builds will keep you looking up for hours.
ARCHITECTURE WALKING TOURS – DallasADEX.org
www.dallasadex.org/tours/walking
The Arts District tour, a 90 minute walk through the largest urban arts district in the country, examines the historic buildings remaining from one of the most vibrant freedman’s towns in Texas as well as the contemporary architecture of Dallas architects and four Pritzker Prize laureates.
Home – DallasADEX.org
www.dallasadex.org
The Dallas Center for Architecture is now AD EX, the Architecture and Design Exchange. Join us as we explore the neighborhoods or come for a casual discussion about architecture.
Architectural Tours – Preservation Dallas
www.preservationdallas.org/events/architectural-tours
2019 FALL ARCHITECTURAL TOUR. Saturday, October 26 . Guests enjoyed a great day for touring several Modern Masterpieces in Dallas! The day started out with a fascinating lecture about the start of modern architecture in Dallas and how Dallas came to have such incredible modern designs from 1950s to 1970s.
An Architectural Tour – The Dallas Arts District | Life of …
www.lifeofanarchitect.com/an-architectural-tour-the-dallas-arts-district
The Dallas Center for Architecture gives an excellent walking tour of this area twice a month (you can go here and look at their calendar of architecturally related events and happenings). Their 90-minute architecture walking tours are led by trained tour guides and examine buildings from the 1890’s to the present day.
Discover Dallas architecture with AD EX Tours – DallasADEX.org
www.dallasadex.org/tours
Discover Dallas architecture with AD EX Tours. Join us as we explore the neighborhoods, skyline, and iconic buildings of Dallas. DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT WALKING TOUR. Come explore the Dallas Arts District and its history from the 1860’s to the present an an AD EX architecture Walking Tour.
Arts District Architecture Tour | Dallas Arts District
www.dallasartsdistrict.org/plan-your-visit/architecture-tour
dallas arts district architecture walking tour Presented in partnership with the Dallas Arts District, our 90-minute Dallas Arts District architecture walking tour is led by a trained tour guide and will examine buildings from the 1890’s to the present day.
Dallas Architecture: A Quick Tour of the Big D
www.thoughtco.com/architecture-in-dallas-texas-178460
The city of Dallas, Texas has architecture to fit everyone’s tastes and needs. From the swirling white Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge designed by the Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to skyscrapers by American Pritzker winners Philip Johnson and I.M.Pei, to a hemicycle theater by Frank Lloyd Wright and a 1970s-era observation tower named Reunion, Dallas architecture says it all.
Tour of Homes – AIA Dallas
www.aiadallas.org/v/site-about/Tour-of-Homes/3t
About Tour of Homes: Open to the public, the self-guided tour showcases the finest residential architecture in the Dallas area, as designed by Texas architects. The dwellings feature cutting edge, modern residential design, and demonstrate the wealth of talent possessed by our area’s best architects.
Skyline360 Tours – DallasADEX.org
www.dallasadex.org/tours/skyline
Skyline360 Tours Come explore the Dallas skyline in a brief survey tour. Offered at both Klyde Warren Park and Main Street Garden, this brief “standing” tour gives participants a brief overview of the Dallas skyline and its iconic architecture.
THE 10 BEST Dallas Architectural Buildings (with Photos …
www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g55711-Activities-c47-t3-Dallas_Texas.html
“Whatever your thoughts on religion, prayer, and giving thanks, I think we can all agree that this is a beautiful park in downtown Dallas.” “Definitely a must-visit for anyone with an interest in architecture or religious buildings.”
Aia Dallas Tour of Homes
www.hometourdallas.com
The anual AIA Dallas Tour of Homes. 2019 Homes. 2018 Homes
The 10 Best Dallas Tours, Excursions & Activities 2020
www.viator.com/Dallas/d918-ttd
Visit the site of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas on this tour with a guide. Traveling by bus, see the places and learn about the events related to November 22, 1963, such as the Grassy Knoll, Dealey Plaza, John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza, the presidential motorcade route, the Dallas Municipal Building, the Texas Theatre, and the Lee Harvey Oswald Rooming House.
Dallas Architecture Forum | dallasarchitectureforum.org
dallasarchitectureforum.org
The Dallas Architecture Forum’s monograph, Dallas Modern, featuring 20 outstanding contemporary residences in Dallas, is available now from The Forum. More information and order HERE . “If there’s an authority on beautiful buildings around town, it’s the Dallas Architecture Forum, a nonprofit that’s been discussing and driving …
The Hidden Architectural Wonders of Downtown Dallas …
www.papercitymag.com/home-design/jay-cantrell-downtown-dallas-walking-tour-architectural-hidden-finds-magnolia-adolphus-hotel
J ay Cantrell, an architecture teacher at Skyline High School and artist, launched Architectural Walking Tours of Downtown Dallas a couple of months ago. The tour has quickly gained popularity …
Architectural Walking tours of downtown Dallas – Home …
www.facebook.com/jcantrelldesign
Architectural Walking tours of downtown Dallas. 790 likes. We will take a walking tour of the extraordinary buildings that shape the architectural landscape of the Central Downtown Business district.
Four Home Tours Not to Miss This Year – D Magazine
www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-home/2018/d-home-100/home-tours-in-dallas
Preservation Dallas Architectural Tour The group puts on two tours a year—one in the fall and one in the spring. This fall’s tour focuses on late architect Frank Welch’s residential projects …
DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT WALKING TOUR – DallasADEX.org
www.dallasadex.org/tours/walking/dallas-arts-district-walking-tour
The AD EX Dallas Arts District architecture walking tour is led by a trained tour guide and examines buildings and developments from the 1890’s to the present day. You will explore the architectural detail of the District (including the designs of four Pritzker Prize laureates) as well as the institutions, individuals, and visionaries who are …
Architecture City Guide: Dallas | ArchDaily
www.archdaily.com/108515/architecture-city-guide-dallas
Dallas is hosting both the Super Bowl this coming Sunday and this weeks Architecture City Guide! If you are heading there for the big game be sure to take a look at our list of buildings featured …
THE 10 BEST Dallas Walking Tours (with Photos) – Tripadvisor
www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g55711-Activities-c42-t183-Dallas_Texas.html
Jun 10, 2020 – Whether you are a local or a tourist, get to know the area even better while on foot with the best Dallas walking tours on Tripadvisor. Read the reviews of your fellow travelers and book top-rated walking tours in Dallas for 2020.
THE TOP Dallas Architecture Tours (w/Prices)
www.viator.com/Dallas-tours/Architecture-Tours/d918-g4-c26967
Dallas Architecture Tours: Check out Viator’s reviews and photos of Dallas tours. This site uses cookies to improve your experience, to enhance site security and to show you personalized advertising. Click here to learn more or control your settings. By clicking on or navigating the site, you agree to our use of cookies.
Step Into Dallas History: Architectural Walking Tours of …
candysdirt.com/2019/11/08/architectural-walking-tours-of-downtown-dallas
Cantrell is an architecture teacher, artist, and entrepreneur who lives in the Kirby Building. To say he is deeply passionate about Dallas architecture is putting it mildly. Cantrell is intent on changing the perception of architecture in Dallas. Almost a year ago, just before Thanksgiving, he launched Architectural walking tours of downtown …
Mark Lamster Architecture Tour – The Dallas Morning News
architecturetour.dallasnews.com
Join architecture critic Mark Lamster on a specially curated, one-of-a-kind architecture tour of downtown Dallas. The tour will begin at The Dallas Morning News downtown office and conclude at Klyde Warren Park. Wednesday, October 16 at 10 a.m.
Architecture Tours – Perot Museum of Nature and Science
www.perotmuseum.org/programs-and-events/adults-only/architecture-tours/index.html
The tour takes up to 1 ½ hours. Please inform our tour guide if you or anyone in your party requires special accommodations. Have a group of 10 or more? Book a private architecture tour via group sales! Contact us at 214.428.5555 ext. 8 or [email protected].
Dallas Highlights Tour – DISCOVER DALLAS TOURS
www.discoverdallastours.com/dallas-highlights.html
Dallas Highlights Tour Think BIG! Founded in 1841 on the banks of the Trinity River, Dallas is now the fourth-largest metro area in the United States. Discover world-class art, Pritzker award winning architecture, explore thriving neighborhoods and see
2019 FALL ARCHITECTURAL TOUR Preservation Dallas …
moderndallas.net/2019-fall-architectural-tour
They will be discussing the modern architecture movement in Dallas and how the tour houses are excellent examples of what was a bold new style for Dallas. This entire day will be filled with surprises and unparalleled homes. Check in for the tour begins at 8:30 a.m. with refreshments.
Preservation Dallas – 2019 Fall Architectural Tour
modciti.com/2019/10/preservation-dallas-2019-fall-architectural-tour
They will be discussing the modern architecture movement in Dallas and how the tour houses are excellent examples of what was a bold new style for Dallas. This entire day will be filled with surprises and unparalleled homes. Check in for the tour begins at 8:30 a.m. with refreshments.
Tour of Homes – AIA Dallas
www.aiadallas.org/v/site-home/Tour-of-Homes/3t
Open to the public, the self-guided tour showcases the finest residential architecture in the Dallas area, as designed by Texas architects. The dwellings feature cutting edge, modern residential design, and demonstrate the wealth of talent possessed by our area’s best architects.
Dallas, TX Architecture Tours Events | Eventbrite
www.eventbrite.com/d/tx–dallas/architecture-tours
Lining up plans in Dallas? Whether you’re a local, new in town, or just passing through, you’ll be sure to find something on Eventbrite that piques your interest.
Tours & Outings – Preservation Dallas
www.preservationdallas.org/events/tours-outings
TOURS & OUTINGS The Wilson House. Visit this elegant Queen Anne Victorian mansion that now houses the Preservation Dallas. Informal tours last between 10 and 30 minutes, depending upon the size of the group. Visitors learn about the architectural details of the Wilson House and its adaptation from residential to institutional use.