Fort Worth, the 5th biggest city within the state of Texas and the 17th biggest city in the United States of America, is the second largest cultural and economic center of the Dallas-Fort-Worth-Arlington metropolitan area. First built as a protective Army outpost which overlooks the Trinity River, the city of Fort Worth has a western heritage with traditional designs and architecture.
Fort Worth's history is directly associated with the history of Texas frontier and the history of Dallas. During 1849, Major Ripley Arnold established a new fort site close to the Clear and West Forks gathering. He put up a post on the banks of the Trinity and named it Camp Worth in honor of William Jenkins Worth, a US Army General, a well-respected veteran of the Mexican-American War. The U.S. officially granted the name "Fort Worth" during 1849. Lots of pioneers began to live in the area surrounding Fort Worth despite the Native Americans who were still considered a threat to the community. The Civil War and Reconstruction practically wiped Fort Worth off the map because of money shortages burdened by the citizens. It slowly revived itself in the 1870's, and soon, the city opened saloons, general stores, national banks, and numerous others. Schools likewise opened gradually after the war, and when the cattle trade exploded in the area, the city's economy grew and became called "Cowtown."
People who like visiting museums could go to American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum, Amon Carter Museum (provides people a stunning survey of American art, from the first landscape painters of the 1830s to modern artists of the twentieth century), Ball-Eddleman-McFarland House, Ballet Concerto (presented annually since 1983 the "Summer Dance Concert", that has been an outdoor dance event presented at no cost within Fort Worth's Cultural District), Fire Station No. 1, Cattle Raisers Museum, Fort Worth Community Arts Center (showcases the talents of regional artists in theatre, dance, art, music, studio, poetry and opera), Fort Worth Museum of Science and History/Omni Theater (it is home to lots of interactive and exciting exhibits for children of all ages), Galleries (Artspace 111, Art on the Boulevard, Hometown Galleries, The Firehouse Art Studios and Gallery, Lucky Draw Pottery Gallery and Artisans Studio, Milan Galleries, William Campbell Contemporary Art and Spur Ranch Gallery), ITC Historic Wall (celebrates the African-American mercantile and warehouse district which thrived in the eastern edge of downtown during early Fort Worth), Kimbell Art Museum, and Leonard's Department Store Museum (department store in downtown Fort Worth).
There are several businesses headquartered within Fort Worth. They comprise: Acme Brick, Airforce Airguns, Alcon (US Headquarters), AmeriCredit, American IronHorse, Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company, Bell Helicopter Textron, Ben E. Keith, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp., Cash America International, Consolidated Robotics, Cawley, Coria Laboratories, Ltd., Gillespie & Assoc., and Dickies.