From fine art museums to performing arts venues designed by Pritzker Prize winning architects, the Dallas Arts District is a cultural oasis of vibrant creativity in the heart of Dallas.
Truly a “village of the arts,” the Dallas Arts District is the largest single dedicated area in the United States to art, spanning 19 blocks and encompassing 68 acres. The result of careful, long term strategic planning, the Dallas Arts District was officially established 30 years ago by city planners.
Today, 13 facilities and organizations call the Dallas Arts District home, including the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center, the Trammell & Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art, and more.
Long before it gained official designation as the “Arts District,” this Dallas neighborhood was already a vibrant hub for creativity and architectural innovation. Today, strolling through the 19-block neighborhood is like taking a walk through Dallas’ history. The Dallas Arts District is home to everything from buildings erected from as far back as the late 1880’s, just 40 years after Dallas’ founding, to contemporary masterpieces by Pritzker-prize winning architects.
Explore the past and catch a glimpse of the future with a 90-minute architecture walking tour of the Arts District, hosted by the Dallas Arts District and the Dallas Center for Architecture. The tour highlights the buildings and visionaries who helped create the largest urban art district in America. Held rain or shine on the first and third Saturdays of each month, tours begin at 10:00 a.m. at the ceremonial entrance to the Dallas Museum of Art (located at the intersection of Flora and Harwood). Reservations and prepayment are required; visit www.thedallasartsdistrict.org for more information.
Not to be missed highlights in the Dallas Arts District include The Dallas Museum of Art and the Trammell and the Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art. If you have time, plan a visit to hear the Dallas Symphony Orchestra perform at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Designed by Pritzker award winning architect I. M. Pei, the concert hall is considered one of the greatest in the world for its stunning architecture and unparalleled acoustics.
A day visiting museums and touring the beautiful architecture is sure to work up an appetite. Stop by one of the many restaurants in the Dallas Arts District for a quick bite or a leisurely meal. Many of the museums are home to tasty cafes and restaurants, including the Atrium Café and Seventeen Seventeen at the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Cafe by Wolfgang Puck at the Nasher Sculpture Center. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, pop into Dimples Cupcakes and satisfy your sweet tooth.
The Fairmont Dallas hotel is located in the heart of the Dallas Arts District, and numerous hotels are located close by, including The Adolphus, Aloft Dallas Downtown, Hyatt Regency Dallas, and Sheraton Dallas.
If you are driving to the Dallas Arts District, a wide variety of underground and ground-level parking options are available, located strategically near major museums and performing arts venues.
If you’re leaving the car at home, the DART rail stops at Pearl Street and St. Paul Street; upon disembarking from either station, simply walk two blocks north to the Arts District. The historic McKinney Avenue trolley also connects the Dallas Arts District with Uptown Dallas. In the evenings from 5pm to closing, you can also take the free Art Cart shuttle from One Arts Plaza to various venues throughout the district. It’s a great way to enjoy dinner at One Arts Plaza without fighting traffic or worrying about rushing to park before your show.
Whether you’re visiting Dallas for a quick day trip or a long weekend, no visit is complete without a trip through the 19 blocks of architecture, art and entertainment in the Dallas Arts District.
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