Fort Worthy History

08/29/2026

Hello Dolly! 52 years ago, Dolly Parton was singing at Arlington Stadium and Fort Worth’s WBAP Country Gold on August 26, 1974. Dolly performed at the fourth anniversary celebration, an annual music festival marking the station’s switch to full-time country music in 1970.

Dolly took the stage with her guitar in a dazzling green outfit covered in sequins and jewels. The event was photographed by WBAP-TV, the Fort Worth television station.

If you grew up listening to WBAP Country Gold, you might have been hearing Dolly on the radio—and seeing her right here at Arlington Stadium.

We’ll miss you, Dolly. Thank you for leaving us so many songs—and a little piece of North Texas history. 🦋🦋🦋

📸 Courtesy: UNT Libraries Special Collections, Portal to Texas History.

08/15/2026

Fort Worth Schools, Then & Now 🏫
Sixth Ward School — 1893 built several years after Fort Worth established its public school system in 1878. The school was later renamed Stephen F. Austin Elementary School in 1904. Remarkably, the building still stands today at 319 Lipscomb Street and is recognized as Fort Worth’s oldest surviving public school building in its original location.

The 1892 school was designed by Fort Worth architects Messer, Sanguinet & Messer in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Its red brick walls, white limestone trim and massive arched entrance were a striking presence in Fort Worth’s Southside.

As Fort Worth grew, so did the school. In 1909, architects Sanguinet & Staats designed a major addition that doubled the building’s size. They matched the original brick, limestone and architectural details so carefully that the two sections appear to have been designed as one building.

The building served Fort Worth children for 85 years, until the school closed in 1977. Its next chapter was quite different: in 1980, Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing Company purchased the building and adapted it for use as its corporate headquarters. Fort Worth’s historic architecture was preserved in the process, leaving some original black boards and black pipe stoves in place. In 1983, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, the historic building has come full circle. Premier High School – Fort Worth Southside operates at 319 Lipscomb St., once again making this remarkable old building a place of education.

So when you look at this 1893 photograph, you’re not just seeing a group of schoolchildren. You’re looking at the beginning of a story that includes education, architecture, business, preservation—and more than 130 years of Fort Worth history.

📸 Sixth Ward School, 1893
Courtesy of the University of Texas at Arlington Library / The Portal to Texas History

08/14/2026

Fort Worth Schools, Then & Now 🏫 De Zavala Elementary School, 4th Grade Class — March 1906
More than 120 years ago, these Fort Worth children gathered for their class photograph at De Zavala Elementary School.
Look at their faces, clothing and expressions. Each child had a story, a family and a future that we can only imagine today. This photograph gives us a remarkable glimpse into the lives of Fort Worth students at the beginning of the 20th century.

For generations, De Zavala has been part of the fabric of Fort Worth. Fort Worth ISD closed De Zavala Elementary at the end of the 2025–26 school year, with students transitioning to nearby Lily B. Clayton and E.M. Daggett Elementary schools.

But the story of the building isn’t necessarily ending. The same College Avenue campus is now associated with Daggett Montessori, giving this longtime place of learning a new chapter.

From the children pictured here in 1906 to the generations of students who followed, this location has been a place of learning for more than a century.

Buildings change. Schools change. But the memories made inside them become part of a city’s history.

📸 March 1906 — De Zavala Elem. School, 4th Grade Class
Courtesy of the Fort Worth History Center, Fort Worth Public Library, Historic Photograph Collection.

Do you have a De Zavala memory, family photograph or story to share? We’d love to hear it.

08/06/2026

Happy 65th Birthday to Six Flags Over Texas at Arlington! Six Flags Over Texas officially opened on August 5, 1961. The park was designed to depict the six sovereigns that had ruled over Texas throughout time. Unveiling a well-rounded park was important to architect, Wynne. Several rides were designed to replicate “real” experiences from their located park area. Shops and dining locations also follow the formula, featuring the appropriate food and souvenir offerings. Each park area also featured themed street performances and in-depth landscaping.

Attendance 1961 opening day - 8,374 people.
Admission - $2.75 for adults / $2.25 for children.
Parking was 50 cents!
Hamburgers were 35 cents.
Soft drinks were 10 cents.

*What were/are some of your favorite rides?

07/31/2026

Historic Downtown - Cowtown Fort Worth Postcard. Backside reads: “Blue Skys and Texas Sunshine Deep in the heart of historic downtown Cowtown, Fort Worth, Texas. Taken from Central YMCA, this impressive color picture shows many of the landmarks and tall buildings of this city of over 400,000 progressive citizens. Shown are: Phoenix Furniture, Bank of Commerce, Continental Life, First Christian Church, Fort Worth Club, Continental National Bank, Worth Theatre, Worth Hotel, Star-Telegram, Fair Store, Gas and Oil Building, Texas Electric and Neil P. Anderson Building.“
Vintage Postcard Collection

07/29/2026

Many Texans fondly remember Dr. James “Red” Duke—the legendary trauma surgeon with the cowboy hat, trademark mustache, and down-to-earth health tips.

Before becoming one of Texas’ most recognizable physicians, Dr. Duke spent time at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He later helped establish Houston’s Life Flight program and transformed emergency medicine across Texas.

His television health reports informed, encouraged, and often brought a smile to millions of Texans.

Do you remember watching Dr. Red Duke on TV?

https://youtu.be/tTZCz3-UWow?is=7Fv8cEV8pmqD0oPJ

For 40 years, Dr. James H. "Red" Duke has been the face and voice o...

07/04/2026

🇺🇸 Happy 250th Birthday, America! 🇺🇸
As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence today, here’s a remarkable chapter from Fort Worth’s patriotic past that many have never heard.

In November 1915, the Liberty Bell made its final journey across America—and Fort Worth was one of the fortunate cities chosen for a visit.

After initially being denied, Mayor Elisha T. Tyra and other city leaders successfully persuaded organizers to include Fort Worth on the Liberty Bell’s return trip from the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco.

When the Liberty Bell Special finally arrived—running late after enthusiastic crowds delayed it along the route—Fort Worth did something unique. Rather than asking thousands of people to file past the bell, the city uncoupled the Liberty Bell’s specially designed railcar and attached it to an Interurban streetcar. The bell traveled north on Houston Street, turned onto Weatherford Street, and then made its way south on Main Street, allowing the people of Fort Worth to see one of America’s most treasured symbols of liberty.

An estimated 75,000 people lined the streets to witness the moment. Fort Worth’s population was only about 99,500, meaning nearly three-quarters of the city’s residents—and many visitors from surrounding communities—came together for the historic occasion.

Bands played patriotic music. Military cadets marched. Union and Confederate veterans joined the parade. Schoolchildren rode on patriotic floats, while 84-year-old Mary Skidmore, daughter of a Revolutionary War soldier, rode in the seat of honor at the front of the Liberty Bell car.

Just one hour later, the Liberty Bell was coupled back to its train and continued on to Arlington and Dallas.

It would never leave Philadelphia again.

Today, 111 years later, as America celebrates its 250th birthday, it’s worth remembering that Fort Worth once welcomed the very bell that rang out the promise of liberty in 1776.

Happy Independence Day from Fort Worthy History! 🇺🇸

Did anyone in your family ever share stories of seeing the Liberty Bell in Fort Worth? We’d love to hear them in the comments!

📷 If you have historic photographs of the 1915 Liberty Bell visit, please share them below!

06/27/2026

Bringing a 7th St. picture to life and imagine walking in their shoes. 🤔

06/27/2026

Let’s take a walk down 7th Street in 1940. ✨
We’re standing on 7th Street, looking east. The Worth Theater is showing Bob Hope in The Ghost Breakers. Next door stands the Fort Worth Club, still with us today, where Fakes & Company once sold furniture and appliances.

Cross Throckmorton Street, staying on the same side, and you’ll come to the Bewley Building, easily recognized by the large Weldon’s Jewelry sign out front. That building is gone today.

Just beyond it is the dark building with the distinctive tower—the old Board of Trade Building. It was demolished in 1949, and by 1952 the first four stories of the Continental National Bank had risen in its place. By 1957, that tower would become the tallest building in Fort Worth.

Continue across Houston Street, and you’ll see the First National Bank, recognizable by its steel-framed rooftop sign facing south. It’s still standing today.

Next comes the towering Farmers & Mechanics National Bank Building. From 1921 until 1957, it was Fort Worth’s tallest building. If you’ve ever looked up from the corner of 7th and Main, you’ve probably noticed its famous carved warrior heads still watching over downtown.

Cross Main Street, and you’ll find the Aviation Building, another landmark that’s no longer with us.

Now let’s cross to the south (right) side of 7th Street and head back toward the camera. Above the familiar “Dr Pepper…Your Friendly Pepper Upper” sign, you can spot The Fair department store sign. The building remains, though The Fair is long gone.

Need gas? Pull into the Sinclair station. Parking for the day? The Worth Parking Garage is just beyond. And while you’re there, why not grab some Caramel Corn Candies from the nearby stand?

Finally, at the far right edge of the photo, the storefront with the large glass windows and blinds is the General Finance Company. This photograph was taken from that location.

A single snapshot, but so many stories packed into one Fort Worth street corner.

Courtesy: archive photo North Texas Portal