At the site of this present metropolis the first anglo-American settler built a single cabin in 1841. Two years later the "town" consisted of two log cabins. By the mid-1870s, Dallas had become a thriving business town and market center with a cosmopolitan, urbane air unmatched anywhere on the frontier at the time. This was primarily due to several immigrations of skilled and cultured groups of French, German, Swiss, English, and other Europeans

Biblical Arts Centre
A splendid nondenominational showcase of biblical arts accented by soaring arched ceilings, massive stone columns, an atrium courtyard; galleries with great religious art from around the world: paintings, sculptures, icons, clerical artifacts; replica of the tomb of Christ, and St. Paul's "Gate at Damascus." Highlight of the center is enormous oil painting, 124 feet long by 20 feet high, depicting the Miracle at Pentecost, interpreted by dramatic sound-and-light program.

Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park
Is home to a varied collection of more than 5000 aquatic animals, including marine and freshwater fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. A 10,500-gallon, nine-foot-tall Amazon Flooded Forest Exhibit showcases some 25 species of fish found in the Amazon River of South America. The exhibit includes an educational video of the importance of the flooded forest ecosystem. Special attractions include piranha feedings at 2:30 p.m. on Tues., Thurs., and Fri.

Dallas Museum of Art
Superb core collection of pre-Columbian artwork plus major European and American art, including Church's "The Icebergs" and Oldenburg's monumental "Stake Hitch." Other exhibits include choice examples by Monet, O'Keeffe, and Matisse; sculptures of Rodin and Henry Moore, plus special traveling exhibits. The American galleries house extensive collection of American art together with long-term loans to contrast all the arts of the Western Hemisphere Dallas World Aquarium and Zoological Garden A showcase of sea life from around the world. Some spotlighted splendors of the ocean include Bahamian Acropora corals, giant Tridacna clams, bonnet-head sharks, and stingrays. Adjacent tropical rain forest harbors toucans, monkeys, jaguars, snakes and cascading waterfalls has been added. Inspired by the Orinoco River Basin in Venezuela, the rain forest building serves as a complement to the aquarium. Open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas.