In celebration of National Museum Day, the Fort Worth Cultural District will hold "Day in the District" this Saturday, September 25 from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. You know what that means -- eight great museums, all for free.
Even getting to the district can be a zero dollar affair -- The T will provide complimentary transportation, making a continuous loop throughout the Cultural District. Don't think you can catch a bus? The easiest route from most directions is to take University Drive or Montgomery Street north from I-30. From downtown Fort Worth, go west on 7th Street or Lancaster Avenue.
But what can you expect at each museum? We've got a few picks for things to see while the museums are free:
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Photography fans owe it to themselves to visit the Carter's two highlighted photo exhibits during the weekend. First, the "Ansel Adams: Eloquent Light" exhibit, running through November 7, collects forty landmark and lesser-known pieces by the artist-photographer. Also, check out the "Masterworks of American Photography" exhibit through January 23, 2011. The exhibit highlights photos as a medium for capturing and documenting events, places, and people in a snapshot.
Fort Worth Botanic Garden
Enjoy the gardens as the leaves start turning colors and the heat of the Summer fades into Fall. The Botanic Garden is a great place for a midday picnic, too, so pack a lunch for everyone and head there for a break from the indoor exhibits.
Fort Worth Community Arts Center
The Community Arts Center is the place to be for live entertainment from a variety of performers, including latin musicians and dancers, belly dancing, Texas heritage music, theater performances, and much more. Check out a complete list of all the free performances by clicking here.
Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Kids (like ours) love the Fort Worth Children's Museum, located inside the Museum of Science and History, plus the DinoLabs and DinoDig exhibits that inspire the amateur paleontologist. The museum has been recently renovated to a expanded, updated facility with plenty for first-timers and museum veterans to see again and again. Check out our look inside the renovation by clicking here.
Kimbell Art Museum
Mayans are the focus of the Kimbell's currently featured exhibition "Fiery Pool: The Maya and the Mythic Sea," highlighting works of art from the ancient Central American civilization in all sorts of mediums -- massive stone monuments, jade and turquoise hand-carved goods, and detailed paintings on ceramics. All of the art touches back on the amazing mythology and storytelling of the Mayan people, including their relationship with the sea. Check out more about the exhibit, which runs through January 2, 2011, at this link.
Log Cabin Village
As a "living history museum" the Log Cabin Village shows visitors how the Texas pioneers lived in this area in the mid to late 1800s. Longtime Fort Worth residents may have visited the Village during their school days, but there's been newer developments you may want to visit -- a Marine School from the 1870s was added in 2003, and a restoration of the Reynolds Smokehouse, once located in Azle, was opened in 2005.
Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth
A new exhibit featuring Fort Worth artist Vernon Fisher opens during the "Day in the District" event at the Modern. "Vernon Fisher: K-Mart Conceptualism" surveys Fisher's entire career, including early collages and some of the best-known blackboard paintings, all combined with text from the author.
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor and famed photographer Georgia O'Keeffe are only two of the many honorees in the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, which is part of the National Cowgirl Museum. This year, they'll induct Temple Grandin, Ph.D. of animal sciences at Colorado State University, to the list, making it a pretty great time for Grandin whose life story was recently turned into a multi-Emmy Award winning film for HBO. Beyond the varied list of honorees, the Cowgirl Museum holds films, photos, and much more -- all highlighting the "cowgirl way of life."
For more information about the Day in the District visit www.fwdayinthedistrict.org.
Day in the District
Fort Worth’s Cultural District
Saturday, September 25
10 A.M. to 5 P.M.
