Texas may be known for its cowboy image, but its cultural districts are well on their way to becoming equally as famous. Major metropolitan areas like Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio are known for their investment in history and culture. In addition to these metropolitan areas, smaller towns offer a chance to explore unique venues such as the Cowboy Artists of America Museum in Kerrville, which includes both permanent and rotating collections of cowboy art.
You'll get a chance to sample more than just country music when visiting Texas. Blues, R&B, and Tejano attract a following almost equal to that of country music. And sharing the cultural spotlight are the many professional symphonies and ballets across the state, each well known for consistently fine performances. In addition, historical sites throughout the Lone Star State draw visitors to learn more about Texas' rich history.
Art and Cultural Districts
Texas is home to museums that are known across the country for their extensive in-house collections and the variety of visiting collections from around the world. The Dallas Arts District is the largest such development in the nation and is home to more than 160 museums, galleries and performing arts institutions. The Dallas Museum of Art includes among its treasures works by European Masters, French Impressionists, American Masters, and others. The museum also displays pre-Columbian, African contemporary, and post World War II pieces.
The Nasher Sculpture Center opened in 2003 in a prime location next to the Dallas Museum of Art. Named for respected developer, philanthropist and art collector Raymond Nasher, the Center features works from Nasher’s collection. The facility contains an outdoor sculpture garden, an indoor gallery, a small auditorium and a café. Works by artists such as Calder, de Kooning, Matisse, Picasso, Rodin, Moore and others are featured on a rotating basis.
Also in the Arts District is the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, which was designed by internationally acclaimed architect I.M. Pei and is the home of the top-rated Dallas Symphony. Dallas is considered the birthplace of regional theater, and the Dallas Theater Center is one of the nation's premier theater companies. The Center’s Kalita Humphreys Theater is the only theater designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Dallas’ Fair Park is another cultural hub. Recognized in 1986 as a National Historic Landmark for its art deco architecture, it is home to the Dallas Aquarium, the Museum of Natural History, and the Women's Museum: An Institute for the Future, which is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution that chronicles the lives of women in America.
For more cultural riches, head west to Fort Worth, a city that is a surprising mix of cowboy history and culture. A multimillion-dollar collection of works from prehistoric to Picasso are on view at the Kimbell Art Museum, which has been named one of the best small museums in the country. The Amon Carter Museum, known for its collection of American photography and iconic American paintings and sculpture, recently reopened following a $39 million renovation. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra is at home in the acclaimed Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass Performance Hall, which is modeled after the great opera houses of Europe.
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth moved into a new home in 2002. The new building was designed by internationally renowned architect Tadao Ando and will contain 53,000 square feet of gallery space. The museum is second in size only to The Museum of Modern Art in New York in terms of gallery space dedicated to modern art in the United States. This popular institution — the oldest museum in Texas — features masterworks of modern and contemporary American and European art from 1945 to the present, including painting, sculpture, works on paper, and photography. The museum also hosts special exhibitions throughout the year.
San Antonio is well known for its cultural attractions, and the city’s art museums are no exception. The San Antonio Museum of Art is housed in the historic 1884 Lone Star Brewery and includes among its comprehensive collection the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Latin American Art. The Witte Museum's philosophy is hands-on learning, with exhibits exploring Texas history and science. Also in San Antonio is the McNay Art Museum, housed in an elegant Spanish-style mansion that features a fine collection of European and American art, including works by Cezanne, Degas, Picasso, Gauguin, Van Gogh and Chagall. The Museo Americano at the Alameda Theater and Museum complex, which tell the story of the Latino experience in America, is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, opened in late 2003.
Houston’s Museum District is home to 11 institutions as well as restaurants and beautiful green spaces. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston is the sixth largest museum in the nation and has an eclectic collection including African sculpture, Asian art, American painting, decorative arts and textiles, and costumes. The Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston is housed in an award-winning, all-metal structure and is dedicated to bringing cutting-edge contemporary art to the city. Always free to the public, the Menil Collection began as the private collection of the late John and Dominique de Menil and now includes more than 15,000 paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs and rare books. While it may not be a traditional museum, Space Center Houston is a state-of-the-art education and entertainment complex. The Center provides an adventure into the past, present and future of NASA's manned space flight program. Interactive exhibits, IMAX films and behind-the-scenes tours offer visitors of all ages an opportunity to explore the final frontier.
Downtown Houston’s Theater District is home to eight performing arts organizations including the Houston Ballet, the Houston Grand Opera and the Alley Theater troupe. The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, which celebrated its grand opening in May 2002, will contain 3,150 seats. The addition of these seats gives Houston more than 16,000 theater seats in the downtown area, making Houston second only to New York City in downtown theater seating capacity. The Houston Symphony Orchestra performs at Jones Hall, which is considered to be a world class venue by experts in the field.
Uniquely Texas
Many cultures have left their imprint on Texas. As a result, hundreds of historical sites across the state have been preserved to remember and honor the people and places that shaped the Lone Star State.
San Antonio offers visitors ample opportunities to learn about the many cultures that influenced Texas history. The Institute of Texan Cultures focuses on the more than 26 cultural and ethnic groups who settled the state. Exhibits in the museum explore where these groups came from, what they did, as well as their food, clothing, music and festivals. Art exhibits by contemporary Mexican artists are on display at the Mexican Cultural Institute also located in San Antonio. Or visit the city’s five Spanish missions, including the Alamo, which were established by Franciscan friars and have been preserved for visitors to tour daily.
Just north of San Antonio, in Austin, The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum tells the story of Texas. The museum is a dynamic educational institution that engages visitors through a variety of programs and exhibit experiences. The museum features both permanent and rotating exhibits, an interactive theater and an IMAX theater.
Kerrville is home to the Cowboy Artists of America Museum, a splendid showcase of contemporary cowboy art by artists such as Joe Beeler, James Boren, and Robert Duncan. This museum, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, is only a short drive from San Antonio.
In Fort Worth, plan to see the Sid Richardson Collection of Western Art, which features works from the collection of late Texas oil man Sid Richardson, whose favorite artists included Frederic Remington and Charles M. Russell.
Texas Music
Name your favorite kind of music and you will find a venue playing your song. Austin, the state capital, is known as the "Live Music Capital of the World." Music is everywhere in this city. The city's almost 200 music venues offer everything from country to rock, jazz to Latino. The majority of the clubs are located either in the Sixth Street downtown entertainment district or the Warehouse district just west of downtown. Austin is also home to the “Austin City Limits” public television series, and free tours of the show’s studio on the University of Texas campus are offered every Friday at 10:30 a.m. Each spring, music lovers from around the world converge on Austin for the South by Southwest Music Festival, which draws hundreds of bands representing a variety of musical styles for a week of non-stop music. Film and interactive media conferences are also part of the South by Southwest Festival.
The Kerrville Folk Festival is an annual music fest in Kerrville that begins on the Thursday before Memorial Day and lasts 18 days. The festival features performances by more than 100 singer/songwriters and their bands and offers workshops in songwriting, booking and management for touring artists.
The city of Lubbock’s Depot District, built around an historic trail depot, is a hub for entertainment on the South Plains. This unique entertainment district features live music almost every night of the week at both historic and new venues. The Depot District is also home to the Buddy Holly Center, which contains memorabilia from Lubbock’s most famous musician and honors Texas musicians who have made their mark in music. The annual Buddy Holly Symposium and Music Showcase, held annually over Labor Day weekend, celebrates the life and music of Buddy Holly.
The Panhandle Plains town of Levelland, just 30 miles west of Lubbock, has become known as a hotbed of musical talent. Country music legends such as Tom T. Hall and Redd Stewart have roots in this area, as well as new superstars like Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks and Lee Ann Womack. Visitors can attend free performances of South Plains College's Thursday Nite Live, a live musical variety television show broadcast the first Thursday of each month during the fall and spring that features a mix of acclaimed artists and students. During the summer months, South Plains College students perform music ranging from country/Western to rock and gospel in the South Plains Opry.
For more information on all there is to see and experience in Texas, visit www.TravelTex.com.
