Arlington Historical Society

WELCOME TO ARLINGTON

Birthplace of the DFW Metroplex

Following the Battle of Village Creek in the spring of 1841, General Edward H. Tarrant assigned Major Jonathan Bird to build and garrison what became, in effect, the "fort before Fort Worth". Built on the north shore of a small, curvaceous oxbow lake the new settlers christened Lake Sophia, Fort Bird (Bird's Fort) became the first Anglo settlement on the North Texas frontier.

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A GATHERING PLACE

Big Dreams in a Small Town

In 1876, the Texas and Pacific Railway established a stop midway between Dallas and Fort Worth, luring residents from the nearby village of Johnson Station. As the city grew, a mineral well drilled in the exact center of downtown became part of the city's brand, serving as a meeting point for everything from prohibition to the right of women to vote.

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CONNECTING TEXAS

Becoming a Vital Geographical Hub

During his 26 years as Arlington Mayor (1951-1977), Tom Vandergriff ushered in the General Motors assembly plant and Texas Rangers baseball, saw Arlington State College become The University of Texas at Arlington, helped create the D/FW International Airport and the Dallas-Fort Worth Turnpike, and watched Arlington's growth explode from 7,500 people to over 120,000.

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AMERICA'S PLAYSCAPE

The Entertainment Capital of Texas

From the inauspicious beginnings of the Top O' Hill Terrace gambling casino and Arlington Downs racetrack... through failed ventures such as Seven Seas Marine Life Park... to becoming home to the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, and a blockbuster selection of world-class stadiums and amusement parks... Arlington has truly earned the title of Entertainment Capital of Texas.

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POPULATION 400,000+

The Largest "Mid-City" in America

Arlington has managed to grow into a major metropolis while retaining not only touches of its former small-town charm, but even patches of that untamed wilderness General Edward H. Tarrant and Major Jonathan Bird discovered here almost two centuries ago. Our history is rich and alluring. The past is present... if you know where to look. Can we tell you a story?

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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 10AM to 2PM Tuesday through Saturday and other times by appointment. Admission is $3.00 for ages 12 and over, free for children under 12... LEARN MORE

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AHS Bulletins

Apr292022

New Facebook Group: Friends of Bird's Fort

The settlers christened the oxbow "Lake Sophia". They used the curvature of her eastern bank to establish their settlement in a position of natural defense against the Indian tribes that inhabited the area. The year was 1841, a significant one for the birth of what would become the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. This initial fledgling settlement became known as Bird's Fort.

In 2022, the oxbow lake and it's immediate surroundings are one of the last vestiges of North Texas wilderness to remain relatively unchanged. It lies all but hidden in the heart of Arlington's bustling Viridian development. This place is, in every respect, the birthplace of DFW. It is one of the most historically significant sites in North Texas, and yet it is in grave danger of losing its historical identity, of disappearing altogether.

Our mission is to preserve the site as well as its history. Won't you join us?

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AHS Venues

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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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

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 Feature Articles

General Edward H. Tarrant and the Men Who Rode to Village Creek

The seventy men rode in the semblance of a military column through the north Texas prairie, the grass tall and still green from the spring rains. However, the men's clothing displayed no semblance of military uniform. They wore coats, vests, shirts, and breeches of homespun cotton or wool...

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