Beginner's Guide to Texas http://beginnersguide.com/texas/ Texas en Copyright 2007 Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:41:08 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.35 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Restaurants 1. Abacus
Abacus brings casual elegance into a unique Five Star dining experience. Enjoy flavorful dishes prepared by Chef Rathbun and his talented team. Rathbun and his staff strive to provide personalized service and a dining experience beyond any expectations. Rathbun's has visited kitchens worldwide to research new ways to prepare food because of his interest in creative and unusual. This research is widely reflected in the Abacus menu that demonstrates Rathbun's eclectic style. He creates unique dishes using Mediterranean, Cajun/Creole, American, Southwestern and Pacific Rim influences.

Abacus has received numerous accolades since its opening in 1999. It has received Mobil Four-Stars, AAA Four Diamonds and Five Stars from The Dallas Morning News. Chef Kent Rathbun was nominated in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004 by the James Beard Foundation for Best Chef: Southwest.

Abacus’ menu can be enjoyed in the restaurant dining room, at the bar, or at the chef's table, all of which are non-smoking. Private dining is available and Abacus also hosts special events, including wine maker dinners, wine country tours and interactive cooking classes. Prices are on the high side with most entrees in the $30-50 range.

2. Bob’s Steak and Chop House
If someone asks who has the best steak in Dallas, most any Dallas resident would probably answer “Bob’s.” Bob’s Steak and Chop House – ranked as one of the top steakhouses in the country – has two locations in the Dallas area and has built a major following throughout the metroplex.

The menu, like most steakhouses, offers shrimp cocktail, chopped salad and an array of sides to go with your choice of meat. Entrees average around $20-30. Dress is business casual.

3. Primo’s Bar and Grille
You’re sure to want some Tex-Mex while you’re in the Lone Star State. For a distinct, local taste, Primo’s is a great choice. Established in 1986 by two cousins using family recipes, Primo's quickly became a local favorite. Primo’s serves stuffed jalapenos, deep-fried tacos and sizzling fajitas.

Primo’s has been recognized many times by Dallas’ Food and Wine magazine. It has been awarded Best Value Restaurant (2004), Best Patio in Dallas (2003), Best Restaurant after Midnight (1995), Best Place for a 1st Date (1990), Best After-Work Watering Hole (1990) and Best Tex-Mex Appetizers (1990).

Meals are moderately priced, averaging around $12-17. Dress is casual.

4. Fish City Grill
It started at Michele’s Coffee bar in 1994. Several menu and name changes later, Fish City Grill’s three locations are some of the most popular seafood places in Dallas.

With a menu full of signature items – including Oyster Nachos – seafood lovers will be able to find just the right item to fill their appetites. They also have a “Things That Don’t Swim” portion of their menu for those just tagging along.

Prices are relatively inexpensive with most entrees – excluding the major seafood, of course – under $10. Dress is casual.

5. Ziziki's Restaurant & Bar
This upscale bistro features mainly Mediterranean dishes with Greek and Italian specialties as well. Zizkik’s two locations have accumulated several awards. They have received the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator every year since 1995. They were also recognized in the Zagat Guide as one of the best new restaurants in 1998. In 2000 they were awarded Best Brunch by the Dallas Observer.

Diners can enjoy their meal in the intimate dining room or on the European-style garden patio (at the Travis Walk location only). Lunches range from $7.50 to $11.95; dinners from $14.95 to $29.95. Dress is dressy casual.

6. Simply Fondue
Peter Jacoves founded Simply Fondue in the last 1980s after recognizing a need for a fun and interactive dining experience in Dallas. The restaurant opened to rave reviews and business has been booming ever since. Recently, more locations have opened across Dallas and across Texas and the owners are looking to start expanding across the country.

For a main course Simply Fondue offers Traditional, Mediterranean, Cajun, Cheese and Southwest fondues for chicken, beef, seafood and vegetable entrees. There are also dessert fondues available, as well as four course entrees. Most meals will run from $15 to $25.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-restaurants-and-activities/restaurants.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-restaurants-and-activities/restaurants.php Dallas Restaurants and Activities Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:02:51 +0000 Activities 1. Dealey Plaza
Built in the late 1930s, Dealey Plaza, with its Art Moderne style, was once considered the ceremonial gateway to Dallas. It was built to honor publisher and civic leader George Dealey. This small park was Dallas' original riverfront settlement.

Of course, Dealey Plaza’s place in history changed dramatically with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy as his motorcade passed the park's grassy knoll. A National Historic Landmark, reflecting pools and a bronze memorial plaque give one pause. The Sixth Floor Museum, which opened in February 1989, is two blocks away.

Over two million visitors come to Dealey Plaza every year. Some come to reflect on the assassination and how it happened; some come because they feel they have to as an American.

2. Sports
Home of the Cowboys (NFL), Rangers (MLB), Stars (NHL) and Mavericks (NBA), Dallas has seen its share of sports highlights. The new American Airlines Center is one of the best looking arenas in sports. The home of the Stars and Mavs has a brick exterior that gives this state-of-the-art venue a classic look. Texas Stadium, the historic home of the Cowboys is in its last years, with a new stadium near the Rangers’ Ballpark at Arlington in the works.

3. Fort Worth Stockyards
Considered one of Texas’ most popular tourist attractions, the Fort Worth Stockyards give visitors a taste of Texas past. With rodeos, cattle herding and the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back into the Old West. With many shops featuring Cowboy-themed apparel and gifts, you can dress the part as well. The Stockyards also host daily, weekly and annual events.

4. Six Flags Over Texas
This Six Flags is in its 45th year and the park is celebrating by opening 10 new rides for 2006. The park is also starting nightly parades. Some rides that Six Flags Over Texas features are Runaway Mountain – a one-of-a-kind steel coaster enclosed in a 65-foot tall mountain – and Texas Giant – a monstrous wooden roller coaster that towers 14 stories into the Texas sky and reaches a top speed of 62 mph.

5. Dallas Arboretum
The Dallas Arboretum and botanic garden is considered to be one of the most magnificent gardens in the nation. The gardens and lawns, on the shores of an enchanting lake that overlooks Downtown Dallas, feature intriguing sculptures, sparkling fountains and two historic mansions.

6. Dallas World Aquarium
The aquarium features more than 85,000 gallons of saltwater with marine life from all over the world. Visitors can walk through a 22,000-gallon tunnel to experience a panoramic view of reef life. The Predators exhibit features aquatic animals found at the top of the food chain. Ten 2,000-gallon displays present marine life from Palau, Southern Australia, Lord Howe Island, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Bahamas, British Columbia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Japan. Representing the waters of four continents, three oceans and various seas, the aquarium gives a glimpse of the underwater world.

7. Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park
Located in 13 wooded acres just south of downtown Dallas, Dallas Heritage Village provides visitors with a unique museum experience. Their mission is to preserve structures, artifacts & other historical materials related to the history of Dallas & North Central Texas. Dallas Heritage Village is a living history museum portraying life in North Texas from 1840-1910. The museum is composed of 38 historic structures and boasts a working Civil War era farm, a traditional Jewish household, elegant Victorian homes, a school, a church and commercial buildings.


Sources:
http://www.abacus-restaurant.com/newsite/indexinner.php
http://www.wineskinny.com/past_issues/restaurants/bobs_steakhouse.htm
http://www.bobs-steakandchop.com/index1.html
http://www.primosdallas.com/
http://www.fishcitygrill.com
http://www.zizikis.com/location.htm
http://www.simplyfondue.com/
http://www.fortworthstockyards.org/index.htm
http://www.jfk.org/Home.htm
http://www.mytravelguide.com/attractions/profile-78006505-United_States_Texas_Dallas_Dealey_Plaza.html
http://www.dallasarboretum.org/
http://www.dwazoo.com/default.html
http://www.dallasheritagevillage.org/

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-restaurants-and-activities/activities.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-restaurants-and-activities/activities.php Dallas Restaurants and Activities Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:03:52 +0000 Dallas Hotels and Accommodations Overview Dallas has many hotels for you to stay during your visit. As with any city, you’ll want to find a hotel closest to where you’ll be spending most of your time. Here is a list of five hotels in the four main areas of Dallas, which different budgets kept in mind.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations-overview.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations-overview.php Dallas Hotels and Accommodations Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:05:03 +0000 Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Area 1. Omni Mandalay Hotel Irving
Located on a canal in the Las Colinas business center, the ONi Mandalay Hotel Irving is only seven miles from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and eight miles from Six Flags Over Texas. The 28-story hotel offers an outdoor pool and children's playground overlooking the canal, an on-site massage therapy clinic, 31,000 square feet of meeting space and two restaurants. The hotel's 421 guestrooms offer generous work spaces, complimentary wireless Internet access, complimentary bottled water, minibars and marble bathrooms with bathrobes. Rates start at around $219.00.

2. Hawthorn Suites DFW Airport Irving
Located two miles from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport's north entrance, the Hawthorn Suites are five miles from Grapevine Mills mall, seven miles from Las Colinas and 11 miles from Texas Stadium. The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to the airport, Texas Stadium for Cowboys games and any other destinations within five miles of the hotel. Complimentary buffet breakfast is served daily. The three-story hotel has 96 guest suites, all with free local calls, refrigerators, microwaves, coffeemakers, premium channels, and complimentary wireless Internet access. Rates begin at about $64.

3. Wyndham Hotel - Las Colinas
Renovated in 2006, this smoke-free hotel is located in the Las Colinas Urban Center, six miles from Texas Stadium and 11 miles northwest of downtown Dallas. All guestrooms have phones with voice mail and cable TV with free Showtime. This hotel offers wireless and wired high-speed Internet access. Other amenities include a restaurant and a lobby lounge. Rates start at around $118.

4. Best Western Irving Inn & Suites DFW Airport
Just two miles from DFW Airport, this Irving hotel is five miles from Texas Stadium and Lone Star Park and 10 miles from downtown Dallas. Guestrooms offer pay-per-view movies, complimentary local calls, microwaves, refrigerators, and complimentary wireless Internet access. The hotel has a complimentary breakfast and airport shuttle, outdoor pool and spa tub, business center and a fitness center. Rates begin at $59.

5. Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center on Lake Grapevine
This nine-story hotel – which is a sister hotel of Opryland – is six miles from DFW Airport, one mile from the Bass Pro Shops and Grapevine Mills outlet mall and 22 miles from downtown Dallas. On-site restaurants and lounges include a wine-cellar steakhouse and a Nuevo Latin café. Also within the massive hotel are a 25,000-square-foot health spa with a fitness center, an indoor lap pool, several shops and a salon. All 1,511 guestrooms offer high-speed Internet access, refrigerators, CD players, Gilchrist & Soames toiletries and safes with built-in laptop and cell-phone chargers. Rates start at around $194.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/dallasfort-worth-international-airport-area.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/dallasfort-worth-international-airport-area.php Dallas Hotels and Accommodations Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:06:17 +0000 Downtown Dallas 1. Dallas Plaza Downtown Convention Center
This contemporary downtown hotel is less than one-half mile from the Dallas Convention Center. Guestrooms include complimentary wireless Internet access, balconies and premium cable TV channels.
The hotel restaurant offers panoramic skyline views of Dallas. Amenities include an indoor pool and a fitness center. Rates start at about $89.99.

2. Hotel Lawrence
Built in 1925, this recently renovated, 10-story hotel is located across the street from Union Station. It’s only two blocks from the Sixth Floor Museum and three blocks from the convention center. The hotel offers a library of music CDs and serves evening milk and cookies. In the morning, a complimentary buffet breakfast includes hot waffles fresh off the griddle. The hotel’s 118 guestrooms offer city views, CD players and high-speed Internet access. White-tiled bathrooms have pedestal sinks and stylish chrome-and-glass fixtures. Rates begin at around $100.

3. The Adolphus-A Noble House Hotel
This 1912, Baroque-style hotel is within a half-mile of the convention center, the JFK Memorial, the Dallas Museum of Art and the Farmers' Market. Traditional afternoon tea is served Thursday through Sunday in the lobby, and the hotel offers a collection of antiques, ceiling murals, tapestries, engravings and other artwork. The 428 rooms provide fine cotton sheets, feather pillows and custom fabrics. European lithographs hang on the walls and the sitting areas offer antique-style furnishings. Rates begin at around $200.

4. Adam's Mark Hotel Dallas
This business-friendly, 38-story hotel is in the downtown arts and financial district, two blocks from the Majestic Theater and eight blocks from the convention center. The hotel has a 230,000-square-foot conference and exposition center with wireless Internet access; a health club includes cardio machines and indoor and outdoor lap pools. All 1,840 guestrooms offer high-speed Internet access, work desks, complimentary premium channels, video-game consoles, Garden Botanika bath products and city views. Rates start around $143.

5. The Magnolia Hotel
Occupying a 1922 bank building, the 29-story Magnolia is located in the financial and historic district of Dallas, four blocks from Dealey Plaza and five blocks from the convention center. The Magnolia offers a 24-hour fitness center and a tiled spa tub; a daily Continental breakfast and evening milk and cookies are complimentary. All 330 guestrooms have pillow-top mattresses with custom bedding, oversized work desks, high-speed wireless Internet access, refrigerators, bathrobes, and soaking tubs. Rates begin around $156.50.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/downtown-dallas.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/downtown-dallas.php Dallas Hotels and Accommodations Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:07:06 +0000 North Dallas 1. The Richardson Hotel
This 18-story hotel is located one mile from the Eisemann Center, within three miles of the University of Texas at Dallas, eight miles from the Galleria and 15 miles from downtown. Guests can use a fitness center with massage-treatment rooms and an outdoor splash pool and spa tub. Complimentary wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel. All 342 guestrooms offer high-speed Internet access, Gilchrist & Soames toiletries and beds with leather headboards, pillow-top mattresses and 300-thread-count triple sheeting. Rates start at about $110.

2. Comfort Suites Addison
This 78-room, all-suite hotel is located in the northern Dallas suburb of Addison, four miles from the Galleria Mall. Guest suites offer sofa beds in the living areas and have kitchenettes with refrigerators, microwaves and coffeemakers. Those traveling on business can take advantage of the business center and complimentary wireless Internet access. Rates begin around $75.

3. Summerfield Suites – Addison
This Addison hotel is eight miles from downtown Dallas and 13 miles from the airport. Suites include kitchens complete with stoves and dishwashers, high-speed Internet access and VCRs. The hotel provides a fitness center, an outdoor courtyard pool, a spa tub and complimentary hot breakfast. Rates start at $92.

4. Courtyard by Marriott Addison Quorum
This “Restaurant Row” hotel is less than three miles from The Galleria and 13 miles from downtown Dallas. Guestrooms provide with complimentary high-speed Internet access and also have cable TV with premium channels and movies. The hotel offers complimentary wireless Internet access in the lobby and high-speed Internet in the business center. Rates begin around $159.00.

5. Country Inn Suites Addison
This North Dallas hotel is three miles from the Galleria Mall, 10 miles from downtown and 12 miles from Texas Stadium. Complimentary high-speed Internet access and local calls, microwaves and refrigerators are included in all guestrooms. A complimentary manager’s reception is held Monday through Thursday evenings, offering beer, wine, soda and snacks. Rates start at about $85.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/north-dallas.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/north-dallas.php Dallas Hotels and Accommodations Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:07:46 +0000 Infomart/World Trade Center Area 1. Red Roof Inn Dallas - Market Center
This hotel is located six miles northwest of downtown Dallas and the Dallas Convention Center; the Market Center is three miles away. Standard guestrooms with one king bed or two double beds feature dial-up Internet access, free local calls and premium cable channels.
Guest laundry facilities, free self-parking, complimentary newspapers and a 24-hour front desk are among the amenities offered. Rates start at about $49.

2. Sterling Hotel Dallas at Texas Stadium
This hotel is in the center of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, less than two miles from Texas Stadium. All guestrooms offer coffeemakers and cable TV. Most rooms have city views. The hotel provides a coffee bar, free parking and a complimentary airport shuttle. Rates start at around $55.00.


3. Radisson Dallas Love Field
This 13-story hotel is located in a business corridor two miles from the Dallas Market Center and Texas Stadium. Downtown Dallas and the convention center are five miles away. This hotel offers complimentary shuttle service within a five-mile radius, 16,000 square feet of flexible meeting space and a 24-hour, self-service business center. Guestrooms offer large desks with ergonomic chairs. Complimentary extras include weekday newspapers, HBO and high-speed Internet access. Rates begin at about $65.

4. Hawthorn Suites Dallas Market Center
The huge wholesale merchandise center, Dallas Market Center, is three miles from this hotel as is Dallas Love Field. The 98 studio-style suites have a full kitchen, a fireplace and offer premium cable and pay movies. A complimentary hot breakfast buffet is offered daily and a light dinner is provided Monday through Thursday evenings. Rates start at about $72.

5. Wingate Inn - Dallas - Market Center
This hotel is located six miles from the airport and seven miles from downtown Dallas. Guestrooms include desks, upholstered armchairs, dual-line telephones and free high-speed Internet access. The hotel offers a free airport shuttle and complimentary Continental breakfast. Rates begin around $93.


Source:
http://www.expedia.com

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/infomartworld-trade-center-area.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations/infomartworld-trade-center-area.php Dallas Hotels and Accommodations Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:08:24 +0000 Dallas: An Overview and History Dallas is a relatively young city compared to most in America. However its past is as colorful and eventful as any. Dallas has a unique personality, keeping up to date with the latest New York trends and fashions while proudly holding on to its Cowboy heritage. In Dallas you’ll find important history, matchless adventure and a healthy serving of southern hospitality.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-an-overview-and-history/dallas-an-overview-and-history.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-an-overview-and-history/dallas-an-overview-and-history.php Dallas: An Overview and History Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:09:27 +0000 Dallas Statistics 1. Population
Dallas is the ninth-largest city in the United States. The current population breakdown:
City of Dallas ... 1,208,318
Dallas County ... 2,244,768
Dallas Metro ... 3,693,501 (The Dallas Metro area is made up of six
Counties. They are Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Kaufman and Rockwall.)
Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex ... 5,476,351

2. Location
Dallas is located in the Central Time Zone in North Central Texas.
35 miles east of Fort Worth
245 miles north/northwest of Houston
300 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico, near the headwaters of the Trinity River.
Topography
Area: 384 square miles
Elevation: 450-750 feet (137.2-228.6 m)

3. Climate
Normal average daily temperature: 65.4°F (18.9°C)
Warmest month: July
Daily mean temperature: 85.3°F (29.6°C)

4. Miscellaneous
Dallas is the No. 1 visitor destination in Texas. The city encompasses 384 square miles of prairie, with native pecan, cottonwood and oak trees located along the Trinity River and the numerous creeks that feed it. The elevation ranges from 450 to 750 feet.

As the Southwest's leading business and financial center, it boasts the largest wholesale market in the world and lays claim to being one of the top convention cities in the United States.

From historical ambiance and boutique charm to modern glamour and state-of-the-art amenities to the more modest and economical — Dallas offers a myriad of hotel choices. Dallas offers the finest in Southern hospitality and a wealth of over 65,000 hotel rooms ranging from first-class luxury to family pricing.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-an-overview-and-history/dallas-statistics.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-an-overview-and-history/dallas-statistics.php Dallas: An Overview and History Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:10:50 +0000 History In 1839, Tennessean lawyer John Neely Bryan took his adventurous side exploring. He was impressed with what he believed to be the perfect ingredients for a trading post and eventually a town: plenty of raw land, Native Americans with whom to do business and a river. Bryan went back to Tennessee to tie up some loose ends and then returned in 1841. He laid claim to 640 acres and sketched out a town, designating a courthouse square and 20 streets.

Gradually and with some adversity, the young city grew. A "can-do" spirit helped bring railroads in the 1870s, the Federal Reserve Bank in 1914, Southern Methodist University in 1915, Dallas Love Field Airport in 1927, the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936, Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in 1973 and the Republican National Convention in 1984.

For every one of these major public endeavors, there have been countless private enterprise initiatives.

In 1907, fashion and elegant living were redefined when Neiman Marcus opened in downtown Dallas and J.S. Armstrong opened his exclusive Highland Park shopping development north of the city.

In 1930, 100 miles east of Dallas, C.M. "Dad" Joiner struck oil. With the discovery and development of the East Texas Oil Field – the largest petroleum deposit on earth at the time – Dallas became a center of oil-related activity. Although Dallas County has never had a working oil well, the region's role as the financial and technical center for much of the state's drilling industry has been as good as gold. Commerce and industry have followed suit, adding to the city's success and progress.

The 1960s was a time of turmoil in many U.S. cities, and Dallas had its share. The lowest point in Dallas history came on Nov. 22, 1963, when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated on a downtown street. Although history would show that Dallas itself was not to blame, the people of Dallas took it hard and entered a period of deep self-evaluation and introspection.

Under the leadership of Mayor J. Erik Jonsson, the city regained its self-esteem. Dallas had many things to be proud of at the time. Football's Dallas Cowboys began their journey to becoming “America’s Team” in the 1960s. Also getting their start towards success were entrepreneurs such as Ross Perot and Mary Kay Ash. The Dallas Market Center continued to grow, and Six Flags Over Texas opened in nearby Arlington. But most importantly, it was in 1965 that the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth agreed to build an airport to serve the entire region.

As the 1980s came to a close, Fortune Magazine named Dallas/Fort Worth – site of much major corporate relocation – the No. 1 business center in the land. Dallas also gained international attention as a dominant force in the convention, meetings and tourism industry. Dallas is one of the leading convention destinations in the U.S., due to the city's outstanding convention and meeting facilities, world-class accommodations, numerous restaurants, and endless variety of entertainment and recreational opportunities.

Important to this effort was the rejuvenation of downtown Dallas as a major center for entertainment and other pursuits. The Dallas Arts District, the West End Historic District along with continued renovation and upgrading of downtown hotels, has been a driving force in this renaissance.

As the 21st century advances, Dallas continues to build on its strengths: friendly people, entrepreneurial spirit, flair for style and innovation, mild climate, excellent accessibility, and outstanding quality of life. Visitors and residents alike enjoy exceptional opportunities.

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-an-overview-and-history/history.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-an-overview-and-history/history.php Dallas: An Overview and History Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:11:42 +0000 JFK Unfortunately, one of the most famous, but unforgettable parts of Dallas’ history is a tragedy. But that “can-do” Dallas attitude has come into play here as well, creating a tremendous landmark in honor of a fallen hero.

In 1963, Dallas witnessed the death of one of the most revered presidential figures in our nation's history, President John F. Kennedy. Since that time, Dallas has succeeded in preserving the inspirational legacy the president left behind. The place of his death has since turned into a site of historical commemoration for those who have vivid recollections of the man and the infamous moment.

In 1989, The Sixth Floor Museum of the Texas School Book Depository opened in downtown Dallas. This exhibit features historic photographs, artifacts, and documentary films, which have taken millions of visitors on a tour through the life, death and legacy of JFK. The sixth floor is the location from which Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot and killed the president.

Since that sunny 1963 day in Dallas, the nation continues to search for the truth surrounding the death of our 35th President. The movie JFK, starring Kevin Costner and directed by Oliver Stone, was filmed in Dallas and included extensive footage of the School Book Depository, now known as the Dallas County Administration Building.

On November 22, 1993, the 30th anniversary of Kennedy’s death, Dealey Plaza was designated a National Historic Landmark. This area includes Dealey Plaza Park, the triple underpass and its bridge, all surrounding buildings and a portion of the rail yards north of Elm Street. Although tragic circumstances surround the designation, the city of Dallas has a great honor in preserving the historic significance of the site.

These two sites serve Dallas with more than just tourist attractions. The Dallas County Historical Foundation, which operates The Sixth Floor Museum and hosted the opening ceremony for Dealey Park, hopes these two sites will provide educational guidance for future generations. Foundation President Walter Blake said, "These two landmarks will have strong influences in the Dallas area as they force us to focus on our responsibilities in a democracy to preserve both good and bad history, and on the positive legacy of John F. Kennedy that lives on to inspire countless Americans who are not yet born."

In 1969, Phillip Johnson, a Kennedy family friend, constructed the John F. Kennedy Memorial in downtown Dallas. This 50-foot square, open-roofed, concrete-walled monument resembles an open tomb. Designed to the specifications expressed by former First Lady Jacquelyn Kennedy Onassis, "John F. Kennedy" is inscribed on the black marble. Visitors still leave flowers and notes here, especially on November 22 every year.

Recent additions to the Sixth Floor Museum educational exhibit include artifacts from the Jacquelyn Kennedy Onassis Estate sale. Also added is an exhibit of 13 cameras in use at Dealey Plaza in 1963, including the Abraham Zapruder camera, which captured the entire assassination.

SOURCES
http://www.visitdallas.com/visitors/about/

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-an-overview-and-history/jfk.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/dallas-an-overview-and-history/jfk.php Dallas: An Overview and History Wed, 26 Apr 2006 22:12:25 +0000 San Antonio, Texas: Restaurants and Entertainment sanant.jpg

San Antonio, Texas: Restaurants and Entertainment Overview

Restaurants

Entertainment

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/newbies-picks/san-antonio-texas-restaurants-and-entertainment.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/newbies-picks/san-antonio-texas-restaurants-and-entertainment.php Newbie's Picks Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:32:53 +0000 Dallas Hotels and Accommodations dalhote.jpg

Dallas Hotels and Accommodations Overview

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport Area

Downtown Dallas

North Dallas

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/newbies-picks/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/newbies-picks/dallas-hotels-and-accommodations.php Newbie's Picks Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:35:52 +0000 Dallas: An Overview and History dalhist.jpg

Dallas: An Overview and History

Dallas Statistics

History

JFK

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/newbies-picks/dallas-an-overview-and-history.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/newbies-picks/dallas-an-overview-and-history.php Newbie's Picks Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:39:28 +0000 Dallas Three-Day Itinerary daliten.jpg

Dallas Three-Day Itinerary Overview

Day 1 - Dealey Plaza

Day 2 - Historical Dallas

Day 3 - Miscellaneous Sights

]]> http://beginnersguide.com/texas/newbies-picks/dallas-threeday-itinerary.php http://beginnersguide.com/texas/newbies-picks/dallas-threeday-itinerary.php Newbie's Picks Tue, 08 Aug 2006 17:41:08 +0000