This 277-acre national historic landmark holds the largest collection of cultural facilities in Dallas. It's open year-round and is home to eight mu-seums and a Vietnam Memorial. Fair Park is Dallas' largest cultural center, and a historical treasure of national importance. Established in 1880, Fair Park is owned and operated by the City of Dallas and has nearly 300 acres of museums, exhibit facilities, and park areas. The State Fair of Texas is held here every year in late Sept. - mid Oct. 1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd. 214/670-8400. www.fairparkdallas.com.
Attractions in Fair Park:
Age of Steam Railroad Museum: Relive the golden age of the passenger train at this excellent outdoor exhibit. Features the world's largest diesel electric locomotive. Closed Mon. and Tues. Open Wed. -Sun. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 214/428-0101. www.dallasrailwaymuseum.com.
African American Museum: Founded in 1974 as part of the Bishop College Library, the museum houses one of the largest collections of African-American folk art in the nation. Open: Tues. - Fri. 12 p.m. - 5 p.m, Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun. 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Mon. 3536 Grand Ave in Fair Park. 214/565-9026.
www.aamdallas.org.
Cotton Bowl Stadium: Stadium seats more than 68,000 for several major collegiate football, including the Texas-OU game during the State Fair, The SBC Cotton Bowl Classic held on New Year's Day, international soccer tournaments, concerts, and rallies. 3750 Midway Plaza.
Dallas Aquarium: Electric eels, moon jellyfish, endangered green sea turtles and a giant alligator snapping turtle are just a few of the 5,000 aquatic animals featured from around the world. The Amazon Flooded Forest exhibit showcases fish of the Amazon River. At 1462 First Ave. & Martin Luther King Blvd. Open daily 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 214/670-8443. www.dallas-zoo.org.
Dallas Museum of Natural History: Rare finds abound at this museum with a reconstructed giant 90-million-year-old protostega sea turtle and the "Texas Tenontosaur." With on-staff archeologists and paleontologists, the research-driven, collections are constantly evolving. The museum's collection of more than 280,000 specimens includes the world's largest exhibition of Texas wildlife habitats, rare and extinct animals, and fossils. Open Mon. - Sat. 10 am - 5 p.m., Sun. 12 p.m - 5 p.m. At 3535 Grand Ave. 214/421-3466. www.dallasdino.org.
The Dallas Opera: A 48-year tradition of artistic excellence and community service has made Dallas Opera a major factor on city's cultural and economic impact of the arts in area. 214/443-1043 www.dallasopera.org.
Hall of State: A national landmark celebrating the history of Texas. Dallas Historical Society exhibits are located in this art deco monument. Open Tues - Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m, Sun 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. 214/421-0281. www.hallofstate.com.
Music Hall at Fair Park: Made its grand debut in 1925, designed in Spanish Baroque style with Moorish architectural influences. Today, hosts performances by Dallas Opera, Dallas Summer Musicals and Texas Ballet theatre. 909 First Ave. 214/565-0071. www.liveatthemusicahall.com
Science Place & TI Founders IMAX Theater: The Science Place strives to make science accessible and understandable to adults and children through its many hands- on exhibits and displays about medicine, physics, nature, and discoveries and inventions. The Science Place Planetarium and the IMAX Theater's giant domed screen make discovery and exploration a unique adventure. Open Tues. - Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. At 1318 2nd Ave. 214/428-5555. www.scienceplace.org.
Smirnoff Music Centre: This outdoor performing arts theatre features a covered performance pavilion and 7,533 reserved seats. An additional 12,578 seats are available on the lawn. Concerts run April - Oct. At 1818 First Ave. 214/421-1111. www.hob.com/venues/concerts/smirnoff.
State Fair of Texas: 1936 marked the Texas Centennial Exposition, which was held on the Fair Park grounds and has been held annually ever since. The fair is the largest exposition in North America and hosts more than three million visitors a year. It runs three weeks beginning the last week of September and the first 2 weeks of October. Exhibit buildings open daily 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. At 3921 Martin Luther King Blvd. 214-565- 9931. www.bigtex.com.
Texas Discovery Gardens: Featuring the Benny J. Simpson Texas Native Plant Collection, the center also includes a two-story tropical conservatory, waterfall, and a scented garden for the blind. Open Mon. - Fri. 10 a.m - 5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sun noon- 5 p.m. At 3601 Martin Luther King Blvd. 214/428-7476. www.texasdiscoverygardens.org.
The Women's Museum: An Institute for the Future: A national center for the celebration and study of the immeasurable contributions women have made to society. Exhibits commemorate the women's movement, as well as women in the arts, sports, and science. Inductees include Eleanor Roosevelt, Barbara Jordan, Georgia O'Keeffe, Margaret Mead and others. Open Tues - Sun 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Closed Mondays. At 3800 Parry Ave. 214-915-0860. www.thewomensmuseum.org.