Arlington Historical Society: Connecting Past, Present, & Future

The Arlington Historical Society, originally called the Cemetery Society, was founded August 27, 1887, to promote, develop, and support the process of collecting and preserving documents, pictures, and historical information pertaining to the founding and growth of Arlington, Texas.

Today the Society remains dedicated to the preservation of local history while serving as caretaker of the historic Fielder House where we are headquartered, the Fielder Museum, the city's historic cemeteries, and the Knapp Heritage Park.

The Fielder Museum is located at 1616 W. Abram Street, Arlington, TX 76013, and is open 11AM to 3PM Tuesday through Saturday and other times by appointment. Admission is $5.00 for ages 12 and over, free for children under 12... LEARN MORE

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AHS Bulletins

Parking Lot Sale

Parking Lot Sale at Fielder Museum | October 12-14, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Mark your calendars for our next fundraiser, which is a Parking Lot Sale at Fielder Museum—it will be something between an Estate Sale and Garage Sale. We’ll have some deaccessioned items from the Fielder Museum collection for sale, as well as other odds and ends. Items include dishes, plates, glassware, kitchen items, housewares, jewelry, tools, and other treasures. Many items are unique, antique, or collectible. We’ll also have some Arlington Historical Society items for sale, including books, T-shirts, coasters, and other items. Rumor has it that O.K. Carter will be selling bowls of his world famous chili, and there may be delicious baked goods as well.

We’re also accepting gently-used donations for the sale, including antiques, household goods, yard or gardening objects, and similar items. No clothing, chemicals, or anything too big or bulky, please. Any donations that don’t sell will be donated to a local charity at the sale’s conclusion. Please drop off your donations at Fielder Museum on Thursday, October 12, by 8:30 AM.

The sale runs October 12-14 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in the Fielder Museum parking lot. We prefer cash or checks, but should be set up to accept credit or debit cards as well.

Contact Fielder Museum for more info. All proceeds benefit the Arlington Historical Society.

Arlington Train Depot - 1963

Dedication of New Arlington Historical Marker & Recommitment Ceremony

Please join us for a very special dedication ceremony for Arlington's newest Texas Historical Marker on Wednesday, September 27, at 6:00 PM, at 100 S. Center Street (near the Downtown Library). The marker is for the Arlington Texas & Pacific Depot and Platform.

Friends and delegates from our Sister City, Bad Königshofen, will be there, as well as other special guests.

Market panorama - Bad Königshofen, Germany - Arlington's sister city
Bad Königshofen, Germany

New Exhibit at Fielder Museum Celebrates Arlington's Sister City

Arlington and Bad Königshofen, Germany, have a relationship that has lasted more than 70 years. What began as letters between pen pals turned into a post-World War II assistance program. From there, it became a friendship, with the two becoming Sister Cities.

Delegates from both cities continue to visit each other to keep the relationship going. After more than a two-year delay, a group from Bad Königshofen is visiting Arlington in September. They will be welcomed with a new exhibit at Fielder Museum celebrating the Sister Cities. The exhibit includes photos, maps, letters, keepsakes, and other items. Stop by to see the exhibit for yourself!

New Article: A Fond Farewell to Mike Nichols

New Article: A Fond Farewell to Mike Nichols

Mike Nichols' Fort Worth history blog Hometown by Handlebar also includes articles about little-known historical facets of surrounding cities; some very engrossing Arlington history can be found there. Mike's musings have added tremendously to DFW's body of historical knowledge. He will be missed.

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The Great Plains Book Cover

Texas Authors Book Club Returns!

We’re excited to announce that the Texas Authors Book Club returns this fall. Sessions will be held monthly on the third Thursdays at Fielder Museum, from September to June, with a break in December for the holidays. Each month features a different book by a notable Texas author such as J. Frank Dobie, Larry McMurtry, Cormac McCarthy, and others. With an exciting mix of books, and each month alternating between nonfiction and fiction, there’s something for everyone. The Texas Authors Book Club is a collaboration between the Arlington Historical Society and the Arlington Public Library.

Books are not provided to participants, but are available at the Arlington Public Library, used bookstores, or online. Feel free to attend one or all the sessions!

Below are the scheduled dates and featured books. Sessions start at 6:30 PM.

  • September 21: The Longhorns by J. Frank Dobie (nonfiction)
  • October 19: Horseman, Pass By by Larry McMurtry (fiction)
  • November 16: Goodbye to a River by John Graves (nonfiction)
  • December: No session
  • January 18: Empire of the Southern Moon by S.C. Gwynne (nonfiction)
  • February 15: No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (fiction)
  • March 21: The Great Plains by Walter Prescott Webb (nonfiction)
  • April 18: The Which Way Tree by Elizabeth Crook (fiction)
  • May 16: In a Narrow Grave by Larry McMurtry (nonfiction)
  • June 20: The Gay Place by Billy Lee Brammer (fiction)
Caddos, Cotton and Cowboys: Essays on Arlington, Texas Book Cover

New 4th Edition - Caddos, Cotton and Cowboys: Essays on Arlington, Texas

Caddos, Cotton and Cowboys: Essays on Arlington, Texas, takes readers on a journey through one of the most intriguing communities in the country. Located midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, Arlington is home to the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers baseball team, the original Six Flags Over Texas and the sprawling University of Texas at Arlington. The journey begins with a besieged fort on the muddy banks of the Trinity River and follows Arlington as it transitions from a pioneer village. That 180-year journey includes big time gambling (some legal and some not), gangsters and gunfights, opportunistic capitalism and a mix of shrewd and lucky politics that transform the city -- now with 400,000 people -- to a sports, entertainment and higher education Mecca.

Pick up your copy at the Fielder Museum or online at AMAZON.COM!

Focus on: Knapp Heritage Park



Knapp Heritage Park
201 Front St.
Arlington, TX 76011


Learning Arlington's History

Children from Saint Joseph's Catholic school are enjoying a day at Knapp Heritage Park. The children are learning what it was like to live in the pioneer days.


AHS Venues

Arlington Fielder House

Fielder Museum

The historic Fielder Museum is home to the Arlington Historical Society and features themed exhibits and collections relating to the history and heritage of Arlington.


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Arlington Knapp Heritage Park

Knapp Heritage Park

Knapp Heritage Park is home to three of Arlington's oldest structures and serves as a public cultural and heritage facility. The Park is available for school tours, rentals, and more.


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Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds

Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds

The Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds consists of three independently established cemeteries which serve as a monument to the history of Arlington and Tarrant County.


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Recent AHS History Articles

A Fond Farewell to Mike Nichols

Mike Nichols' blog, Hometown by Handlebar, has long been one of DFW armchair historians' best kept secrets. Based in Fort Worth, Mike's musings often found him venturing out to surrounding cities, and one can dig up some very engrossing Arlington history among the 2,000...

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In Memoriam: Myrtice Larson (1921 - 2022)

Innovative educator, author and long-time Arlington Historical Society supporter Myrtice Larson was only a few days from her 101st birthday when she died April 27, 2022. Her teaching career spanned four decades, in the process touching thousands...

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A History of Arlington Street Names (Part 1 of 2)

The presence of Arlington’s pioneers is lost to history — with several notable exceptions. If you’ve lived in The American Dream City awhile, you know names like Abram and Bowen, Cooper and Collins, Davis and Fielder...

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