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Journey back in time to Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Explore Fort Worth, Texas, USA! Uncover its rich history and discover the stories of the people who once called it home. Dive into old newspaper articles, vintage pictures, postcards, and genealogy to learn more about this fascinating town.

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Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Hotel Touraine, Fort Worth, Tex.

Founded in 1849 by Major Ripley Allen Arnold as a military outpost against Comanche raids, it was named for Major General William Jenkins Worth, commander of U.S. troops in Texas at the time. After the army left in 1853, settlers around the fort moved into its buildings. The community began to expand in 1856 when, by popular vote, it displaced neighbouring Birdville (now a part of suburban Haltom City) as the county seat. The actual transfer of county offices to Fort Worth took place in 1860.

A stopover point for longhorn cattle drives on the Chisholm Trail in the early 1870s, Fort Worth became a cattle-shipping boomtown (often called Cowtown) after the arrival in 1876 of the Texas and Pacific Railway. Fort Worth subsequently became the meat-packing centre of the American Southwest. Oil finds caused the development of the petroleum-refining industry in the 1920s, and during World War II aircraft manufacturing began there.

britannica.com

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Fort Worth Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards

Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Hotel Touraine, Fort Worth, Tex.
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Hotel Touraine, Fort Worth, Tex.
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Fort Worth, Texas. City Park Dam.
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Fort Worth, Texas. City Park Dam.
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Lake Erie, in the good old summer time, Fort Worth, Tex. (train to Lake Erie)
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Lake Erie, in the good old summer time, Fort Worth, Tex. (train to Lake Erie)
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Texas & Pacific Passenger Station
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Texas & Pacific Passenger Station
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Hoxie Building, 1909
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Hoxie Building, 1909
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - First National Bank Bldg., 1910
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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First National Bank Bldg., 1910
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Federal Building, 1910
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Federal Building, 1910
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Henderson Street, 1910
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Henderson Street, 1910
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - St. Ignatius Academy
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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St. Ignatius Academy
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Masonic Temple
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Masonic Temple
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Main Street, 1917
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Main Street, 1917
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Partial View of Business Section
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Partial View of Business Section
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - First Christian Church
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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First Christian Church
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Skyline, featuring: Neil P. Anderson Bldg., Electric Bldg., Worth Hotel, Fair Bldg., Petroleum Bldg.
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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Skyline, featuring: Neil P. Anderson Bldg., Electric Bldg., Worth Hotel, Fair Bldg., Petroleum Bldg., W. T. Waggoner Bldg., Telephone Bldg., Sinclair Bldg., Fort Worth National Bank, Trinity Life Insurance Bldg., Texas Hotel
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - Looking East Down 7th Street Canyon, Fort Worth, Texas
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Looking East Down 7th Street Canyon, Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - United States Court House
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United States Court House
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - City Hall
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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City Hall
Fort Worth, Texas, USA - West Freeway and Skyline of Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas, USA

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West Freeway and Skyline of Fort Worth, Texas

Discover Fort Worth: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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1849 - June 6 – Fort Worth, Texas, is founded.

wikipedia.org
June 6, 1849
1895 - Fort Worth
Fort Worth, a post-village, capital of Tarrant co., Tex., on the West Fork of the Trinity River, 32 miles by rail W. of Dallas. It has 19 churches, 7 banks, 9 news paper offices, high and public schools, manufactures of woollen and cotton goods, a packing-house, and a brewery. Pop. in 1890, 23,076.
Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
1897 - THE WORK OF LIGHTNING
Latest Particulars of the Death of Charlie Howell

Charlie Norvell was a young man between 17 and 18 years of age. He was a farmer and trader and lived with his father, one brother and three sisters one mile southwest of town.

Yesterday Charlie was sitting on his horse near the court house fence on the square here during a thunderstorm, when a flash of lightning instantly killed him and his horse.

The young man never drew a breath after he was stricken, and the horse scarcely moved a muscle.

Physicians from different portions of the square were quickly by the side of the unfortunate young man, but all pronounced life extinct. A large crowd collected, and friends bore him to a table in the court house to await the coming of his father, whose grief at the unexpected occurence can be imagined.

Charlie was conveyed to his father's residence and will be buried today.

Several men standing near were knocked down but were not seriously hurt, and the Morris hardware house... Read MORE...

February 12, 1899 - Texas and the eastern plains experienced their coldest morning of modern record. The mercury dipped to 8 degrees below zero at Fort Worth TX.

WeatherForYou.com
1901 - Big Fire Yesterday. The Department Had Hard Work To Do Before Breakfast. Beautiful Depot Burned.
Santa Fe-Central Station Badly Damaged.
Business Is Going On As Usual.
Roof Burned Off of Main Building, But Walls and Side Rooms are intact-Fire Started in Boiler Room and Climbed Wall to Roof. Details of the Catastrophe-Uninjured Portion Rearranged.

The beautiful union station of the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe and the Houston and Texas Central railroads on Jones Street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth, was badly damaged by fire at an early hour yesterday morning. The roof of the main building was entirely destroyed, and while the walls are intact, much of the decorations were injured by the fire, smoke and water. The alarm was given at 5:35, engines in the yards whistling vigorously in addition to the alarm of the department. The fire raged for nearly two hours, but by 7:30 it was entirely extinguished.

The fire originated in the boiler room in the basement of the south end of the building. While it is now positively known it was due to wooden boxing that had been recently ... Read MORE...


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1912 - Tot, 5, Buried When Church Ceiling Falls, Is Unhurt - Other Wedding Guests Injured in Accident Resting Well.
Of a dozen wedding guests injured by the collapse of the vestibule ceiling at the Broadway Baptist Church Tuesday night, just after the wedding of Miss Edna Mae Potts and Robert W. Wilson, one victim alone was running around, laughing and playing Wednesday.

She is Miss Elizabeth Darrah, 5-year-old daughter of R. R. Darrah, 2125 Edwin avenue, Mistletoe Heights. Elizabeth was buried alive by the tumbling plaster and she said Wednesday that she enjoyed it after it was all over.

Elizabeth might not have been buried, but she was so little she couldn't help herself. When Mrs. Darrah went to the child's little bed early Wednesday morning. Elizabeth's eyes were wide open.

"Mamma," she asked wonderingly, "how did you get me out of that, anyway?"

All the other victims of the accident were resting well Wednesday, but two of them, Miss Mabel Stephens, 1412 Illinois avenue, and Mrs. J. R. Jester, 708 May street, wife of the pastor of the Broadway Church, were still in pain. They were... Read MORE...

1916
Fort Worth, a city, capital of Tarrant co., Tex., on the West Fork of the Trinity River, 30 miles W. of Dallas, on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas, the Texas and Pacific and other railroads. It has foundries and machine-shops, grain- elevators, packing-houses, tanneries, breweries, and manufactures of flour, woollen and cotton goods, cotton-seed oil, agricultural implements, etc. It has a large stock-yard, and is the seat of a polytechnic college, the Fort Worth University, and the Fort Worth Medical College. Pop. in 1890, 23,076 ; in 1900, 26,688.
Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher
1922 - March 2 - WBAP-AM, Fort Worth Texas, begins broadcasting

historyorb.com
1949 - March 2 - Lucky Lady II (USAF B-50 Superfortress), completes 1st nonstop round- the-world flight at Fort Worth, Tx, covering 23,452-mis in 94 hrs

historyorb.com
January 16, 1964 - Fort Worth, TX, received 7.5 inches of snow, and Dallas reported a foot of snow.

WeatherForYou.com
Here's a list of places to go and things to do in Fort Worth:
Fort Worth Stockyards:

Experience the Old West in the historic Stockyards district. Catch the daily cattle drive, explore western shops, and grab some delicious Texas barbecue.

Kimbell Art Museum:

Delight in world-class art at the Kimbell, known for its impressive architecture and a collection that spans centuries and cultures.

Fort Worth Zoo:

Spend a day with over 7,000 animals at the Fort Worth Zoo. It's a great spot for families and animal lovers.

Sundance Square:

Discover Sundance Square's vibrant downtown area with its shops, restaurants, and live entertainment. It's a great place to stroll day or night.

Botanic Garden:

Relax in the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, a beautiful oasis with various themed gardens, including the Japanese Garden and Rose Garden.

Fort Worth Water Gardens:

Cool off at the stunning Water Gardens. The architectural marvel is a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city.

Cultural District:

Explore the Cultural District, home ... Read MORE...

Discover YOUR Roots: Fort Worth Ancestry

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Fort Worth, Texas, USA

We currently have information about 8 ancestors who were born or died in Fort Worth.

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Remembering the Brave, Honoring the Fallen Celebrate the spirit of Memorial Day with this stunning ceramic coffee mug featuring vintage postcards commemorating the holiday. Perfect for honoring the brave men and women who served, this mug is both a functional keepsake and a nostalgic work of art. Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or enjoying an afternoon tea, this dishwasher-safe and microwave-friendly mug is a timeless way to show your patriotism. Ideal as a gift for veterans, history buffs, or anyone who cherishes American traditions, this mug makes Memorial Day even more meaningful.
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Updated: 2/1/2024 6:28:22 PM