Recreational and educational complex located immediately east of downtown with many of the buildings were constructed for the Texas Centennial Exposition in 1936
General Information
From downtown Dallas, take I‑30 east and exit at Fair Park. From the north or south, take I‑35E or I‑45 into downtown and then head east on I‑30 to the Fair Park exit.
Overview
Fair Park is a 277-acre National Historic Landmark immediately east of downtown Dallas, built largely for the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition and still one of the largest collections of Art Deco architecture in the country. Landscape architect George Kessler laid out the grounds in 1906 under the City Beautiful movement, but it was the six-month Centennial Exposition — overseen by architect George Dahl — that gave the park its signature look. Several of the original buildings survive and now house year-round museums, along with the Cotton Bowl and Music Hall.
The complex's biggest draw is the annual State Fair of Texas, held here since 1886 and now running 24 days from the last Friday in September through the third Sunday in October.
Things to Do
Tour the Hall of State
One of the Exposition's grandest buildings, now managed by the Dallas Historical Society with exhibits on Dallas history and culture.
Visit the African American Museum
Built on the site of the Exposition's Hall of Negro Life, its permanent collection includes works by Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, John T. Biggers, and other major African American artists.
Walk Through Texas Discovery Gardens
Housed in the former Horticulture Building, the gardens include the glass Blachly Conservatory and surrounding grounds.
Ride the Texas Star
Opened in 1985, this Ferris wheel is the fourth-largest in North America and a Fair Park landmark.
Catch a Game at the Cotton Bowl
The 92,200-seat stadium hosted the Cotton Bowl Classic for decades and still hosts the annual Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma each fall.
See a Show at Music Hall
This Spanish Colonial Revival theater, built as the Exposition's General Motors Building, is now home to Dallas Summer Musicals.
Go to the State Fair of Texas
The park's signature event runs 24 days each fall, from the last Friday in September through the third Sunday in October.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article "Fair Park", which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0
