Dallas, TX

Old Red Courthouse History Museum
DESCRIPTION: The fifth facility built to serve as a Dallas County Courthouse, Old Red was designed in the Richardson Romanesque style with construction that began in 1890; home of the Dallas Visitors Center, now serves as the Museum of Dallas County History & Culture; architecture in the museum is as much a marvel as its first rate exhibits; this is a must visit for everyone wanting to understanding early dynamics that created "Big D"

ADMISSION: small fee
DAYS & HOURS:
ADDRESS: 100 South Houston Street
PHONE: 214-745-1100
WEBSITE: http://www.oldred.org

Dealey Plaza & The Sixth Floor Museum
DESCRIPTION: The National Historic Landmark District with preserved (though taller) trees on the grassy knoll and Texas School Book Depository, is where JFK was assassinated on 22 November 1963 - it remains the most visited destination in Dallas; The 6th Floor Museum, located on the 1st, 6th and 7th floors in the former book depository, serves as an educational and permanent historic exhibit collection that examines the life, death and legacy of President John F. Kennedy and a shooter's perch on the 6th floor; containing hundreds of photographs, artifacts, and riveting videos about JFK and events of that fateful day, the museum is captivating from a curatorial perspective; unfortunately, the museum exhibits overwhelmingly slant towards the "Lee Harvey Oswald as Single Assassin Theory" making you wonder what they have left out; when visiting this museum, consider that the U.S. Congress' House Select Committee on Assassinations 1979 report concluded that JFK was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald, probably as a result of Conspiracy due to: scientific evaluation of audio signatures for at least 4 recorded gun shots within 6 seconds that came from both the grassy knoll AND the Texas School Book Depository, the Zapruder film most likely indicates that the kill shot came from JFK's right front (originating from the grassy knoll), dozens of eye witnesses (including a policeman) in Dealey Plaza gave independent, yet consistent testimony that they heard shots from the grassy knoll; let us hope for a better balance of exhibits and commentary in a upgrade to this museum of national importance

ADMISSION: small fee
DAYS & HOURS:

ADDRESS: 411 Elm Street at Houston Street in Dealey Plaza
PHONE: 214-747-6660
WEBSITE: http://www.jfk.org

Dallas Arts District
DESCRIPTION: home to 13 facilities and organizations including: Annette Strauss Artist Square, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Theater Center, Morton Meyerson Symphony Center, Nasher Sculpture Center, Trammell Crow Center, and the Crow Collection of Asian Art

DAYS & HOURS: 24/7

ADDRESS: 17-block theme park of the arts, downtown
PHONE: 214-953-1977
WEBSITE: http://www.artsdistrict.org

Dallas Museum of Art
DESCRIPTION: features one of the largest collections of post-1945 art in the Southwest, and has the second largest program for school children among art museums nationwide; presents numerous programs, exhibits, films, activities and more; the DMA has one of the best African Art collections in the Southwest and its senior curator of African & Art of the Americas is now Dr. Roslyn Adele Walker is the former director of the African Art Museum of the Smithsonian Institution; during Summer months on Thursday evenings, DMA hosts Jazz Under the Stars

ADMISSION: Adults $10, 
age 65+ $7,
 Children under 12 FREE
DAYS & HOURS: Thu 11a–9p, 
Tue-Wed & Fri-Sun 11a–5p
ADDRESS: 1717 North Harwood
PHONE: 214-922-1200
WEBSITE: http://www.dallasmuseumofart.org

Nasher Sculpture Center
DESCRIPTION: An outdoor “roof-less” museum collection of 20th-century sculpture, whose mission is to be an international focal point and catalyst for the study, installation, conservation and appreciation of modern and contemporary sculpture

ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS:
ADDRESS: 2001 Flora Street
PHONE: 214-242-5100
WEBSITE: http://www.nashersculpturecenter.org

Crow Collection of Asian Art
DESCRIPTION: Exhibit art works from Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia are dated from 3500 BC to early 20th century, and therefore they represent deities from Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism and Jainism; highlights include precious jade ornaments from China, delicate Japanese scrolls and a rarely seen 28-foot by 12-foot sandstone facade of an 18th century Indian residence
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a-5p, Thu 10a-9p
ADDRESS: 2010 Flora Street
PHONE: 214-979-6430
WEBSITE: http://www.crowcollection.org

Fort Worth, TX

American Airlines C. R. Smith Museum
DESCRIPTION: Opened 1993; one of the few major aviation museums in the world; dedicated to past and present American Airlines employees and American Airlines President and aviation pioneer C.R. Smith; a sight-and-sound, hands-on, window-seat look at the world of flight

ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS:
ADDRESS: 4601 Highway 360 at FAA Road
PHONE: 817-967-1560
WEBSITE: http://www.crsmithmuseum.org