In 1936 Dallas, TX had what amounted to a world’s fair. More than 50 buildings were erected for it, and it attracted 6 million outsiders, locals, and 1 President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It lasted for 6 months and left behind the largest collection of 1930s art deco architecture on the planet in the shadow of the old, no-longer-used Cotton Bowl Stadium. Fair Park has gained both state and national historic landmark status.
Ruth and I visited it for the 2nd time earlier in 2020 and admired its 277 acres of potential. The 1936 art deco esplanade still exists and has been kept up. It still looks like it must have when the Texas Centennial played out in Fair Park to celebrate its 100th birthday, but today Fair Park mostly attracts runners, dog walkers, and us. It’s opened daily and welcomes curious visitors off Parry Avenue very close to downtown Dallas. A DART accessible mass-transit station is within walking distance of this extant art deco showcase. Many of the remaining buildings have been restored and upgraded with colorful murals, one building is clearly being restored, and there is lots of talk of turning this into a major Dallas tourist attraction after we conquer coronavirus.
The Cotton Bowl has not been played in this on-site stadium since 2009. After that, it moved to Arlington, TX and is now played, when in Dallas, at the AT&T Stadium. This is a controversial issue here, and I would not be surprised if the still existing stadium in Fair Park is used again at some point.
This area is definitely worth seeing when in Dallas.
Hank
