Fort Worth Cultural District Boasts Diverse Museum Offerings
Known as the Museum Capital of the Southwest, Fort Worth boasts a robust collection of museums in its cultural district. Be it art, science or even a little cowgirl culture, there’s something for everyone in this former rough-and-tumble cowtown. The good news is, all of these cultural district museums have excellent wheelchair access. Even better — they are all within walking distance of one another, on wide level sidewalks with plenty of curb-cuts. And if you can’t manage the 2.2-mile round trip walk, it’s easy to drive to three museums and take a short stroll to two others. So get ready to get your cultural fix in the vibrant Fort Worth Cultural District.
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
www.cowgirl.net
First up on the Fort Worth Cultural District museum stroll is the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. This one-of-a-kind exhibition honors women who embody the spirit of the American West. Trailblazer inductees include everyone for painter Georgia O’Keefe and author Laura Ingalls to Justice Sandra Day O’Conner.
There’s level access to the museum entrance, elevator access to all floors, and a loaner wheelchair available for guests. And there’s plenty of room to maneuver through the galleries that include rotating exhibits and a substantial permanent collection. Highlights of the the permanent collection include Annie Oakley’s wedding ring, Dale Evan’s saddle, and over 6,000 rodeo and ranching photographs. It’s a great place to lean about the inspiring stories of some remarkable women pioneers, ranchers, performers and rodeo stars.
Forth Worth Museum of Science and History
www.fwmuseum.org
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is just a .2-mile walk from the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. This interactive museum features hand-on science exhibits for all ages.
Favorite galleries include Innovation Studios where visitors can invent, design and doodle, and the Plains Cultures Gallery which features exhibits about the indigenous people of the Great Plains. And there’s even a special area for the little ones to explore, that encourages learning through play. Save some time to visit the Noble Planetarium to learn more about the cosmos. And if all this museum hopping has worked up your appetite, the onsite Sparks Cafe has a tempting assortment of sandwiches, salads and soups available.
Kimbell Art Museum
kimbellart.org
Another must-see in the Fort Worth Cultural District is the Kimbell Art Museum, which is a .7-mile walk from the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. Widely considered to be one of the best small art museums in the world, the Kimbell permanent collection is comprised of some 350 pieces of Asian, African and Oceanic art, antiquities and art of the Ancient Americas. It includes objects dating back to the third millennium BC, and it’s complemented by visiting exhibitions, films and workshops. Add in the Kimbell Cafe, which serves lunch, afternoon tea and an early evening happy hour, and you have a complete cultural package.
Comprised of two buildings, the wheelchair-accessible entrances are located on Van Cliburn Way for the Kahn Building and on Camp Bowie Boulevard for the Plano Pavilion. The Plano Pavilion can also be accessed from the underground parking garage, which offers plenty of accessible spaces. Loaner wheelchairs are available in both buildings, and if you can’t manage the walk or roll between them, a wheelchair-accessible shuttle is available. They’ve truly thought of everything at the Kimbell.
The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
www.themodern.org
The Modern Art Museum of For Worth, which is just a .1-mile walk from the Kimbell, is also worth a stop on any Fort Worth Cultural District tour. Housed in a concrete and glass building surrounded by a reflecting pond, the Tado Ando design is a work of art by itself. The permanent collection includes pieces of international modern and contemporary works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. Special exhibits and docent led tours are available; and the Cafe Modern offers a fine dining experience in an elliptical dining room that overlooks the reflecting pond.
Accessible parking is located close to the front door, and there’s barrier-free access to all galleries, restrooms and studios. A loaner wheelchair is also available at the coat-check. The museum also offers portable stools for slow walkers who need to take a break every now and then. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth is a great mix of access and art.
Amon Carter Museum
www.cartermuseum.org
Last but certainly not least, don’t miss the Amon Carter Museum, which is a .6-mile walk from the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. Accessible parking is available in the museum parking lot off Camp Bowie Boulevard, and on the south side of Lancaster Avenue. There’s barrier-free access to all the museum entrances, elevator access to all floors and plenty of room to maneuver through the galleries. A loaner wheelchair is also available at the Information Desk.
Housed in a building designed by Philip Johnson, the museum is well known for its collection of Western and American masterpieces. The permanent collection spans the early 19th century to the mid-20th century, and includes sculptures, photographs, paintings and other works on paper. Masterworks by Frederic Church, Georgia O’Keefe, Stewart Davis and Thomas Eakins are just the tip of the iceberg in the permanent collection. And don’t forget to save time to peruse the photography repository, which includes works by Neil Dorr, Eliot Porter and Karl Struss. It’s truly a Fort Worth favorite. And after you explore the galleries, it’s just a .6-mile walk back to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. — where your cultural stroll began.
