Best Art Walks In North Texas
Fair Park Arts Walk
1121 First Ave.
Dallas, TX 75210
(214) 426-3400
www.fairpark.org
Dallas' Fair Park was the site of the 1936 World's Exposition. Fair Park has the largest collection of art deco buildings, sculptures and murals in the world. Even though the park covers 277 acres, you need not walk the entire area. There are two (the Esplanade and the Lagoon) walking tours that are offered. The tours are free and open to the public. There is a downloadable map from the Internet to assist you and specifics of the park given via your cell phone in a self-guided tour of Fair Park.
Deep Ellum Walk
2630 Commerce St.
Dallas, TX 75226
www.deepellumtexas.com
Developed in the late 1800s, Deep Ellum is the home to a variety of eclectic artists. Deep Elm, now known as Deep Ellum, was one of the first commercial districts for African-Americans and European immigrants in Dallas. In the early 1900s, Henry Ford selected Deep Ellum as the site for one of his automobile manufacturing plants. Located just east of downtown Dallas, the colorful neighborhood of murals on many of the buildings and nearly 20 art galleries provide a plethora of visual tastes to those who visit. During the spring and summer months, there are public art shows and sales that line the sidewalks.
Religious Arts Walk – Ross Ave.
Cathedral Shine of the Virgin of Guadalupe
(214) 871-1362
www.cathedralguadalupe.org
First United Methodist Church
(214) 220-2727
www.firstchurchdallas.org
First Baptist Church
(214) 969-0111
www.firstdallas.org
When one thinks of art, they may not necessarily think of houses of worship as being art-filled places. Dallas has some prominent historic churches located downtown with beautiful art. Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe is the first Catholic Parish in Dallas and anchors one of the busiest intersections in downtown. Established in 1869, its stained glass windows and sculpture along with its architecture, designed by premier architect of the 19th century Nicholas J. Clayton, are inspiring. Surrounded by commerce and art, the First United Methodist Church in Dallas has been a cornerstone of faith for 169 years. The neo-Gothic sanctuary with pipe organ and chapel are breathtaking. Just off Ross Avenue on San Jacinto is First Baptist Church. Founded in 1868, the Victorian-style church is massive. Along with a sanctuary and a five-story educational building, the campus makes up 500,000 square feet. In 2013, First Baptist completed a $130 million renovation. The most impressive note is the 150-foot-wide stadium-style video screen board that runs the length of the sanctuary proscenium.
Related: Historic Walking Tours Of DFW
Design District Walk
1350 Manufacturing St.
Dallas, TX 75207
(214) 741-5018
www.dallasdesigndistrict.net
Just west of the city off I-35 Stemmons Freeway is the Dallas Design District. This is where interior designers go to shop. Many of the galleries are open to the public and offer a variety of art from paintings by Reflectionist artist JD Miller of Samuel Lynne Galleries to leather works and European styles by Bernadette Schaeffler. You can see the world through furniture, sculpture and paintings in galleries like Scott & Cooner, which has unique modern pieces for home and office, Laura Rathe Fine Art which offers sculpture and paintings by some of the most renowned artists in the world, and Sun to Moon Gallery for photographic art. In the spring and fall, the Dallas Art Dealers Association features two art walks. Whether you are looking for traditional Old World style or Modernistic pieces, the Design District has it all.
Arts District - Museum Arts Walk
Dallas Museum of Art
1717 N. Harwood
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 922-1200
www.dma.org
(214) 979-6430
www.crowcollection.org/learn/tours
(214) 242-5100
www.nashersculpturecenter.org/visit/tours
The Dallas Museum of Art offers tours of its collection at 2 p.m. every Saturday. It also offers themed tours during its monthly Late Nights on the third Friday of every month from 6 p.m. to midnight. The Nasher Sculpture Garden offers self-guided and docent-guided tours Tuesday through Friday and family tours on Saturday mornings. The Crow Collection of Asian Art also offer tours on Saturday at 1 p.m. by a gallery educator. No reservation is required for the Crow Collection tours. Tours of the DMA and the Crow are free to the public. Tours of the Nasher are included in the price of admission.
Arts District - Theatre Arts Walk
2389 Flora St.
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 880-0202
www.attpac.org/your-visit/tours
The Arts District includes more than just the museums of Downtown Dallas. It also includes the theatre arts buildings of the Meyerson Symphony Center, the entire AT&T Performing Arts Center, which includes the Winspear Opera House, the Wyly Theater and the outside performance spaces of the Sammons area. General, educational and architectural tours are offered. Tours start at 10 a.m. and run every half hour until 3 p.m. The architecture tours are guided by trained docents and are free to the public but must be scheduled at least seven days in advance.
