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Fort Worth Stockyards

Coordinates: 32°47′25″N 97°20′46″W / 32.79028°N 97.34611°W / 32.79028; -97.34611
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Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District
Entrance to Fort Worth Stockyards, 2022
Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District is located in Texas
Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District
Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District
Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District is located in the United States
Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District
Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District
LocationRoughly bounded by 23rd, Houston, and 28th Sts., and railroad, Fort Worth, Texas
Coordinates32°47′25″N 97°20′46″W / 32.79028°N 97.34611°W / 32.79028; -97.34611
Area98 acres (40 ha)
Architectural styleMission/Spanish Revival
WebsiteFort Worth Stockyards National Historic District
NRHP reference No.76002067[1]
Added to NRHPJune 29, 1976

The Fort Worth Stockyards is a historic district that is located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, north of the central business district. A 98-acre (40 ha) portion encompassing much of the district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Fort Worth Stockyards Historic District in 1976.[1] It holds a former livestock market which operated under various owners from 1866.[2]

History

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Stock yards, north Fort Worth, Texas (postcard, c. 1900s)

The arrival of railroads in 1876 made the area a very important livestock center. Fort Worth Union Stockyards opened for business on January 19, 1890, covering 206 acres. On February 7, the Fort Worth Dressed Meat and Packing Company was founded. This facility was operated without profit until purchased by G. W. Simpson of Boston. In an effort to produce revenue, they reached out to the Swift and Armour companies to establish packing houses. By 1886, four stockyards had been built near the railroads. Boston capitalist Greenleif W. Simpson, with a half dozen Boston and Chicago associates, incorporated the Fort Worth Stock Yards Company on March 23, 1893, and purchased the Union Stock Yards and the Fort Worth Packing Company. The Stockyards experienced early success. By 1907, the Stockyards sold a million cattle per year. The stockyards was an organized place where cattle, sheep, and hogs could be bought, sold and slaughtered. Fort Worth remained an important part of the cattle industry until the 1950s. Business suffered due to livestock auctions held closer to where the livestock were originally produced.[3]

Today

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Riscky's Barbeque and a separate Riscky's Steakhouse are located in the Fort Worth Stockyards
Fort Worth Stockyards and Skyline, 2007 painting by R. Vojir

The Fort Worth Stockyards now celebrates Fort Worth's long tradition as a part of the cattle industry and was listed on the National Register as a historical district in 1976. The listing included 46 contributing buildings and one other contributing structure.[1] Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks within the district include the entrance sign,[4] the Livestock Exchange Building,[5] and the Thannisch Block Building housing the Stockyards Hotel.[6] State Antiquities Landmarks also include the entrance sign[7] as well as the Armour & Swift Plaza[8] and the Cowtown Coliseum.[9]

The Stockyards consist of mainly entertainment and shopping venues that capitalize on the "Cowtown" image of Fort Worth. Home to the famous boot making company M.L. Leddy's which is located in the heart of the Stockyards and The Maverick Fine Western Wear and Saloon where customers "can 'belly up' to the bar, relax and have a cold beer while in the Stockyards; just like they did in the days of the big cattle drives", as they shop around the store.[citation needed] The city of Fort Worth is often referred to as "Where the West Begins."[3] Many bars and nightclubs (including Billy Bob's Texas) are located in the vicinity, and the area has a Western motif. There is also an opry and the weekend rodeos at Cowtown Coliseum.[10] Some volunteers still run the cattle drives through the stockyards, a practice developed in the late 19th century by the frontiersman Charles "Buffalo" Jones, who herded buffalo calves through the streets of Garden City, Kansas.[11]

A reenactment of a 19th Century cattle drive took place in 1999 as part of the city's sesquicentennial celebration.[12] Weather permitting, drives continue to be held twice daily except on certain holidays.[12][13]

On April 1, 2011, the Fort Worth Stockyards Stables were remodeled and reopened. They are located next door to the Hyatt hotel in an original Historic Stockyards building that was built in 1912. Moved to the Armour building after the 2015 remodel. The stables offers horse rentals on the open trails of the Trinity River and carriage rides.

The Grapevine Vintage Railroad runs a heritage railway service between Grapevine–Main Street station and the Stockyards.

Preceding station Grapevine Vintage Railroad Following station
Terminus Grapevine Vintage Railroad Main Street Depot
Terminus
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  • White Elephant Saloon
    White Elephant Saloon
  • General Store and Trading Post, Star Café
    General Store and Trading Post, Star Café
  • Cattle pens
    Cattle pens
  • Grapevine Vintage Railroad at the Stockyards
    Grapevine Vintage Railroad at the Stockyards
  • Postcard with an aerial view of the Stockyards, undated
    Postcard with an aerial view of the Stockyards, undated

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "Fort Worth Stockyards".
  3. ^ a b "Chapter 35: Fort Worth Stockyards". Building the Lone Star: An Illustrated Guide to Historic Sites: 87–90. 1986.
  4. ^ "Details for Fort Worth Stock Yards Entrance (Atlas Number 5439002033)". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  5. ^ "Details for Fort Worth Livestock Exchange (Atlas Number 5439002029)". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  6. ^ "Details for Thannisch Block Building (Atlas Number 5439005278)". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  7. ^ "Details for Fort Worth Stock Yards Sign (Atlas Number 8200000577)". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  8. ^ "Details for Armour & Swift Plaza (Atlas Number 8200000579)". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  9. ^ "Details for Cowtown Coliseum (Atlas Number 8200001964)". Texas Historic Sites Atlas. Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  10. ^ "Stockyards Championship Rodeo". Visit Fort Worth. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  11. ^ "C.J. "Buffalo" Jones". skyways.lib.ks.us. Archived from the original on May 3, 2011. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  12. ^ a b "The Fort Worth Herd is Now Hiring: Applicants will have a chance to be Cowtown ambassadors". Fort Worth Magazine. March 16, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "Fort Worth Herd Twice Daily Cattle Drive". Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
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