When I stand in downtown Fort Worth and look around, I love the contrast in architecture, the mix of green with brick, the variety of ethnicity in the food establishments, the lights and the sounds. We are a community of diversity and have many landmarks that already celebrate this achievement. I think to highlight the old; the new and this diversity of cultures would best represent us as a community. Whether that be a building, a park, a plaque the new markers or sites themselves should be as bright and colorful as our community. Where possible interactivity should be incorporated.

In presenting our rich and diverse history by creating new plaques, statues, it is a good idea to link these sites together with existing sites by creating self-tour guides or brochures. These brochures or guides could be dual purpose. With one side for walking, biking or skating and the other as a driving guide. We could also create a version that points out highlights from the city buses. In addition, as the project develops create bus tours.

Wherever possible it is important to create a shaded area with a bench so people can pause to absorb the history, take a break, and reflect before they move onto the next item on the guide. In that, way we can attract all ages to these landmarks. (Visualize the simple “stretch and exercise” areas in some park’s walking areas.)

As well, it is very important to make these landmarks, plaques, etc. easily accessible wherever possible or people will not take the time to seek out and find a way to access these points of history.

As a starting point the great architecture of Fort Worth past and present is just one aspect of Old Fort Worth melding with New Fort Worth. The following is an architectural walking tour of Fort Worth and beneath is a map of downtown at that time. At the site there is also a link to buildings demolished since this map was created. Courtesy of John Roberts
http://www.fortwortharchitecture.com/walktour.