In Depth The 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy brought the world to Dallas, etching a downtown plaza and a book depository building into the popular consciousness. With exposure like that, it's no wonder this modern metropolis is sometimes viewed as a hodgepodge of past events and larger-than-life people — many inspiring and some tragic.
Long before Lee Harvey Oswald became a household name, locals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow fascinated the American public with a crime spree that ultimately led to their Dallas burials. On the other end of the spectrum, nearly 100 million viewers watched the Dallas Cowboys suit up for their record-breaking eighth Super Bowl appearance, making the 1996 championship game the most-watched U.S. television sporting event of its time. TV audiences also saw the city depicted in the prime-time soap “Dallas,” which, in 1980, had everyone asking “Who shot J.R.?”
It actually was the discovery of oil just east of town that catapulted the already burgeoning business center toward high-rolling status during the Great Depression. As a result, the community garnered such commercial plums as the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, which attracted millions of visitors to Dallas' Fair Park. A showcase for Art Deco architecture, the cultural complex continues to draw crowds with various events, including the State Fair of Texas.
During World War II, other industries like aviation and engineering furthered the city's wealth. More than 600 companies set up shop here over the next few decades; today the area boasts one of the country's highest concentrations of corporate headquarters.
The $1 billion-plus AT&T Stadium opened in 2009 as the largest domed arena on the planet, with a 72-by-160-foot high-def video board, another world record-holder.
Minuscule in contrast to the behemoth stadium, a reconstruction of city founder John Neely Bryan's one-room abode sits in the heart of Dallas. Eclipsing the tiny cabin are a towering skyscraper and, figuratively at least, the John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial, funded by Dallas citizens in 1970.
While forever linked to one of the saddest episodes in U.S. history, Dallas also conjures notions of Texas ingenuity, individualism, affluence and sheer size, and offers a succinct glimpse at America's past, present and potential.
Dallas, TX
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Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre5410 LBJ Frwy. Dallas, TX 75240
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The Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton1914 Commerce St. Dallas, TX 75201
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Hilton Dallas/Rockwall Lakefront2055 Summer Lee Dr. Rockwall, TX 75032
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Sheraton Dallas Hotel by the Galleria4801 LBJ Frwy. Farmers Branch, TX 75244
Book NowCity Population
1,232,940
Elevation
420 ft.
Sales Tax
Municipalities may impose additional rates of up to 2 percent on the statewide 6.25 percent sales tax. Sales tax in the city of Dallas is 8.25 percent; rates vary in the suburbs. The hotel occupancy tax is 13 percent.
Emergency
911
Police (non-emergency)
(214) 744-4444
Time and Temperature
(817) 844-6611
Hospitals
Baylor University Medical Center, (214) 802-0111 or (800) 422-9567; Doctors Hospital at White Rock Lake, (214) 324-6100; Medical City Dallas Hospital, (972) 566-7000; Methodist Dallas Medical Center, (214) 947-8181; UT Southwestern University Hospital–St. Paul, (214) 645-5555.
Visitor Information
325 N. St. Paul St. Dallas, TX 75201. Phone:(214)571-1000 or (800)232-5527
Air Travel
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Rental Cars
Hertz, (972) 453-4600 or (800) 654-3131, at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, offers discounts to AAA members.
Rail Service
Amtrak's Union Station is at 400 S. Houston St. For train schedule and ticket information, phone (214) 653-1101 or (800) 872-7245.
Buses
The Greyhound Lines Inc. bus station, (214) 849-6831 or (800) 231-2222, is at 205 S. Lamar St.; five other bus lines depart from this address.
Taxis
Taxis are metered. The initial charge is $2.25 plus $1.80 for the first mile. Rates are then $1.80 for each additional mile, and $2 for each additional passenger. Taxis leaving from the airport charge an additional $5 departure fee. Yellow Cab, (214) 426-6262, is the main company serving the area.
Public Transportation
The Dallas Area Rapid Transit System (DART) provides light-rail and bus service in the area. Two-hour passes are $2.50 for local routes and $3.50 for system routes including all DART buses and trains. Day passes are $5 for local routes and $7 for system routes. A 7-day pass is available. Exact change is required. Phone (214) 979-1111.
As a AAA member, you'll save even more. Your AAA Travel Agent will check to see if AAA Vacations is combinable with other AAA member benefits, plus cruise and tour past passenger discounts and benefits.