Discover Fort Worth: Sites, stories, and unique character

Fort Worth's unique personality shines through stories of its colorful past, beloved landmarks, and strong work ethic. The notorious Hell’s Half Acre once epitomized the Wild West spirit, where outlaws and gamblers roamed streets now covered by the Convention Center. Modern Fort Worth draws crowds to revived sites like the Stockyards, now home to Mule Alley and Billy Bob’s Texas, and showcases natural beauty along the Trinity River Trails.

Celebrities like Jon Hamm and Billy Bob Thornton dine at local barbecue joints, while the city celebrates its recognition as one of America’s hardest-working cities.

From true crime moments like the exhumation of Lee Harvey Oswald to acclaimed TV appearances in shows like “Landman,” these stories capture Fort Worth's vibrant culture and enduring appeal.

A thunderstorm moving toward downtown Fort Worth from the north on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. By Matt Leclercq

NO. 1: NEED ANOTHER REASON WHY FORT WORTH IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN DALLAS? JUST CHECK THE WEATHER.

There are plenty of rivalries between Fort Worth & Dallas. Whose drivers are worse? Dallas. Which city is friendlier? Fort Worth, of course. How about the weather? We now know. | Published June 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Matt Leclercq

Hells Half Acre was generally believed to be bounded by Throckmorton, Jones, and Lancaster streets, from 9th to 15th Streets, which intersected with Houston, Main, and Rusk (now Commerce).

NO. 2: SEX, GAMBLING SECURED FORT WORTH’S WILD WEST REPUTATION THROUGH LORE OF HELL’S HALF ACRE

How bad was Cowtown back in the old days? City’s reputation was of debauchery and unsavory characters according to a local historian, author. | Published June 21, 2024 | Read Full Story by Tiffani Jackson

Visitors flood East Exchange Avenue near Mule Alley in the Fort Worth Stock Yards on Friday, December 10, 2021. By Amanda McCoy

NO. 3: QUIT GRIPING ABOUT THE STOCKYARDS. IT’S THE BEST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN TO FORT WORTH | OPINION

Fifty years ago, the Stockyards was known for flophouse hotels, vacant storefronts and a powerful aroma like fertilizer. Now, it draws more tourists than the Eiffel Tower, the Taj Mahal or the San Antonio River Walk and Alamo. | Published July 5, 2024 | Read Full Story by Bud Kennedy

A mural in progress of being painted by local artist Juan Velasquez to celebrate MLB All Star Week on the 1400 block of South Main on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Fort Worth. The mural honors the Hispanic community of Fort Worth and its contributions to baseball and softball. By Amanda McCoy

NO. 4: FORT WORTH, TEXAS, IS THE WEIRDEST ‘MAJOR LEAGUE’ CITY IN THE UNITED STATES

MLB’s All-Star Week will use Fort Worth for some of its events, which is the city’s primary link to pro sports. | Published July 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mac Engel

Oct. 4, 1981: The casket containing Lee Harvey Oswald’s remains for 18 years was exhumed and moved into the privacy of a tent at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Fort Worth before it was taken to Dallas for an autopsy. By image not found

NO. 5: THE DAY THEY DUG UP LEE HARVEY OSWALD IN FORT WORTH: 1981 PHOTOS SEEN FOR FIRST TIME.

We searched through negatives in Star-Telegram storage to find these long-forgotten photos of Lee Harvey Oswald’s exhumation in Fort Worth. | Published September 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Matt Leclercq

Actor Jon Hamm stopped by Fort Worth’s Brix Barbecue this week. By Screenshot

NO. 6: CELEB SIGHTINGS: STARS LOVE THESE FORT WORTH RESTAURANTS

From iconic actor Billy Bob Thornton to NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, you never know who you might run into in a Cowtown restaurant. | Published September 27, 2024 | Read Full Story

Elaine Booth poses for a photo pretending to ride a horse at the Stockyard Museum in Fort Worth on Wednesday, July 10, 2024. Booth is from South Africa and was visiting her daughter who lives in Austin.

NO. 7: FORT WORTH LOCATIONS NAMED AMONG ‘MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES’ IN TEXAS, SOUTHERN LIVING SAYS

Cowtown has two of the top Texas attractions in the state for 2024, according to Southern Living. | Published November 13, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kendrick Marshall

Plate of brisket, beans, and good barbecue from The Original Roy Barbecue in Trophy Club, where Tik Tok influencer Keith Lee rates the brisket a 9.1 out of 10. By Bud Kennedy

NO. 8: THIS NORTH TEXAS BARBECUE SPOT MADE YELP’S TOP 100 PLACES TO EAT. IT’S WORTH A VISIT

Eight other Texas restaurants made the list, too. | Published February 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ella Gonzales

A car drives down West 4th Street in downtown Fort Worth, the No. 16 hardest working city in America.

NO. 9: FORT WORTH IS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S HARDEST-WORKING CITIES, SAYS NEW STUDY

Give yourself a pat on the back. | Published February 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Ella Gonzales

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.