Looking for something fun to do in Dallas, Texas? Check out Pioneer Plaza! This beautiful public square is near some of the city’s major attractions, including the Dallas Museum of Art and the Nasher Sculpture Center. It commemorates the history of Dallas and is a great place to take photos or enjoy a picnic lunch.
History of Pioneer Plaza In Dallas
Pioneer Plaza in Dallas has larger-than-life bronze sculptures of 40 steers and 3 cowboys in the midst of a cattle drive. As you can imagine, this site is visited by many tourists. The Pioneer Park Cemetery adjoins the plaza, and the Confederate War Memorial can be found there. It is the Dallas central business district’s largest publicly accessible open space.
The $9 million project began in 1992 and was completed in 1994. Private donations provided almost 1/2 of the money. The park is adjacent to the Dallas Convention Center. The plaza is the city’s second most popular attraction (The first place belongs to Dealey Plaza). In 1996 the Dallas Convention center took over maintaining the park.
Sculptures
These amazing Cattle Drive Sculptures were created by Robert Summers from Glen Rose, Texas at the corner of Young and Griffin street. He is an accomplished artist who has been creating sculptures for more than 40 years. You can tell by the details that these were created with the history of Dallas in mind. He accurately recorded the many markings used to identify cattle on the pathways, including a brand on the left hip.
There are 4 main sculptures to consider. The 3 cowboys; Trail Boss, Black Cutter Cowboy, Vaquero, and the Texas Longhorns. I will let you look up the significance of the cowboys and the steers if you are interested but suffice to say, they are very interesting.
In addition to the amazingly detailed sculptures, the plaza hosts man-made cliffs, native plant life, and historical details embronzed on the sculptures themselves.
Pioneer Plaza Conclusion
Pioneer Plaza in Dallas is a great place to visit when you are in Dallas, Texas! It is close to other attractions, has a rich history, and features beautiful sculptures. You will not be disappointed if you add Pioneer Plaza to your list of places to see.
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