LIVE LIKE A LOCAL
OLD Greets NEW DALLAS TOOK ROOT IN THE WEST END HISTORIC DISTRICT, WHICH IS BURGEONING WITH OPPORTUNITY
D
By David Muscari renched in folklore, Dallas’s West End Historic District bears unique prominence as the place where everything started. While it bears little resemblance to that past, the region is alive and growing with new businesses, restaurants, and a welcome new park.
Enterprising Beginnings Dallas was first settled in this neighborhood in 1841 by Arkansan John Neely Bryan, who served as postmaster, ran his own store and trading post, and operated a ferry that crossed the Trinity River. Other settlers joined him and a town site emerged in 1844, though it wouldn’t officially be a city until 1871. Bryan was instrumental in establishing Dallas County in 1846, even using his home as a place to conduct municipal business. He also generously donated part of his land to build the first courthouse and county seat. Though Bryan’s original log cabin
12 4
D A L L A S H OT E L M A G A Z I N E
West End Square Park
Instruments co-founder Erik Jonsson, who is long gone, a replica stands today served as mayor from 1964 to 1971, and retail in Founders Plaza near the arched maverick Stanley Marcus of Neiman Marcus brick entrance to the West End. helped the development come to life. The area is globally known as the site of The West End Historic District has President John F. Kennedy’s assassination since moved through a boom and bust in 1963 and for the outstanding Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Sixth Floor Museum that chronicles his life. at Dealey Plaza But the district didn’t get its name until the 1970s, when Dallas was rebounding from Kennedy’s shocking death and working to carve a new identity. Local leadership by Texas
A replica of John Neely Bryan’s cabin The Texas Schoolbook Depository building circa 1963
