Venture Deep Into The Heart of Texas with Attingham and Explore
DALLAS – FORT WORTH
April 30 – May 3, 2026
Registration Now Open
Dallas took root in 1841 as a small trading post, with Fort Worth following in 1849 as a U.S. Army outpost. The twin cities grew over the next century with the arrival of railroads and discovery of oil, propelling the region into a dynamic hub of industry and culture. This trip to North Texas promises a rich array of modern and contemporary art, private collections of fine and decorative arts, world-class museums, and architectural landmarks. Join us!
Thursday’s tour highlights Dallas’s layered history and cultural identity, beginning at Fair Park, whose roots trace back to the Texas State Fair of 1886 and whose defining character emerged during the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, when iconic Art Deco buildings—including the Hall of State designed by Donald Barthelme—were constructed to celebrate Texas history, progress, and identity; today, the park remains a National Historic Landmark District and a lasting civic symbol. The tour continues to the Swiss Avenue Historic District, one of Dallas’s oldest and most architecturally distinguished neighborhoods, developed in the early 20th century as an elegant residential enclave for prominent citizens and featuring well-preserved Prairie, Tudor, Mediterranean, and Colonial Revival homes along a grand, landscaped boulevard, now protected through successful preservation efforts and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The day concludes in the Dallas Arts District, one of the nation’s largest urban arts districts, and home to major institutions such as the Dallas Museum of Art, the Nasher Sculpture Center, and Crow Museum of Asian Art, a vibrant center for arts, architecture, and community life. That evening, we will visit a private art collection in a historical home built by Charles Dilbeck, a well-known Dallas architect of the early 20th century known for his early Texas Modern architectural style.
On Friday, we will travel to Fort Worth, known for its world-class art museums and its deep Western heritage. Originally a U.S. Army fort along the Trinity River, it earned the nickname “Cowtown” as a major stop along the Chisholm Trail during the cattle-driving era. Our day will be centered around the rich history of art collecting in Fort Worth with visits to the Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Museum of Fort Worth, and the Amon Carter Museum, each reflecting the identity, vision and philanthropy of its supporters. A visit to Fort Worth isn’t complete without exploring the Fort Worth Stockyards, highlighting historic roots and its distinct identity that sets it apart from neighboring Dallas.
On Saturday, we will begin at the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, the internationally-recognized collection of Spanish art donated by Algur H. Meadows who sought to create a “Prado on the Prairie” – a place where the public and scholars could engage with Spanish art. After a casual lunch, we will take an in-depth look at the growth of contemporary art and architecture in Dallas, with a visit to The Warehouse, the non-profit art foundation by art collectors Howard Rachofsky and Thomas Hartland-Mackie. Afternoon visits to private art collections and residences will highlight examples of contemporary classical architecture, Modernism, and Colonial Revival architectural styles. A special cocktail reception followed by a sumptuous dinner will mark the culmination of our trip to the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Our final morning will include a farewell breakfast and surprise trip finale that morning you won’t want to miss.
The New York Times just listed Dallas as Number 6 on its list of “52 Places to Go.”
We hope to see you there!
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A very special thank you to Jennifer Klos ’14, founder and principal of Collector House, an art advisory firm celebrating a decade of service to the Dallas art world, for hosting the 2026 Study Trip.
REGISTRATION AND TRAVEL INFORMATION
TRIP DATES The study trip program begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. the morning of Thursday, April 30, when our group will depart from the hotel. Our itinerary concludes mid-day on Sunday, May 3, when all guests will be returned to the hotel.
Please note there is an optional, pre-trip, cocktail hour on Wednesday, April 29, at the hotel. Dinner will be at your leisure Wednesday, as you get your bearings in the city. Guests traveling from further afield are encouraged to arrive in Dallas at their convenience Wednesday. All participants should plan to join our group Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m.
Registration and check-in by AFA will take place the evening of Wednesday, April 29, and the following morning, from 8:30 – 9:00 a.m., on Thursday, April 30.
COST The cost of the Study Trip is $1,800 per person, inclusive of a $300 donation to AFA, tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. This trip fee includes all tours fees and entrances, three meals a day from Thursday to Saturday, drinks, a welcome bag, and transportation during the trip.
REGISTRATION To register, please complete this Google Form (click here). Alternatively, you may download and complete page 1 of “American Friends of Attingham Study Trip 2026 Registration Form” (click here) and submit this as a PDF via email to . Your place on the tip will be confirmed once your deposit and registration form have been received (see below).
Registration is limited to 25 people and we fully expect this trip to sell out. If you’re not able to register, we will gladly add your name to a wait-list should a place become available. Please complete this short Google Form to add your name to our Interested and Wait List (click here).
The deadline to register is Monday, March 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Do you wish you could attend, but unfortunately cannot? Consider making a contribution to our scholarship appeal instead! Doing so will put you in touch with a young scholar who will share their course report and images with you. You can make a contribution via our website (click here) or you can mail a check to our office at 205 Lexington Avenue, Suite 901, New York, NY 10016. Please contact AFA Administrator, Erin Kuykendall, if you have any questions. Thank you for your support!
SCHOLARSHIPS The American Friend of Attingham is pleased to offer one full scholarship for this domestic study trip. To apply for a scholarship, please complete your AFA Study Trip Scholarship Application after completing the Google Form to register for the 2026 Study Trip.
The deadline to apply for a scholarship is March 2, 2026.
PAYMENT A minimum deposit of $400 per person is required upon registration. Payments can be made online by debit or credit card – click here – or by mailing a check to the American Friends of Attingham, 205 Lexington Avenue, Suite 901, New York, NY 10016. Your place on the trip will be confirmed once your deposit is received. The final balance is due by Monday March 30, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern. All participants must have paid in full to participate in the complete itinerary. Please be aware that late payments are subject to additional service and late fees.
WAIVER Once your deposit is confirmed, please complete the “American Friends of Attingham Study Trip 2026 Waiver of Liability” (click here) if you did not use the Google Form. Please submit a PDF of your signed waiver via email to or send by mail to the American Friends of Attingham, 205 Lexington Avenue, Suite 901, New York, 10016. All participants must have signed the waiver to participate in the itinerary. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
CANCELLATION POLICY In the event that you must cancel your place with us, the amount of your refund depends on the date of cancellation and on whether a replacement attendee is found. Please note that your preliminary deposit is non-refundable and will be considered a tax-deductible and charitable contribution to our scholarship fund should you cancel at any time. Cancellation within 15 days of the trip without a replacement attendee will result in a forfeiture of 100% of the fees. Cancellation of the trip within 30 days without a replacement will result in a forfeiture of 50% of the full fee. If we are able to find a replacement attendee for your place on the trip, then you may receive a full refund of the trip fees.
FITNESS & MOBILITY Your place on the course is accepted on the understanding that you appreciate possible risks inherent in a study programme and that you join the course on that basis. Just like Attingham Trust courses in England and abroad, domestic Study Trip schedules are intensive and include visits or activities which require a reasonable and sustained level of mobility and fitness. Our study trips typically require stair climbing in addition to walking and standing for long periods; not all properties will have elevators, for example. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee ADA-accessibility for all sites.
If you have an accessibility considerations or concern, please let us know when you register. Ultimately, we rely on your assessment of your own ability to participate as fully as possible.
HOTEL Kindly note that participants are responsible for making their own hotel reservations. There is a room block reserved at the HALL Arts Hotel, located at 1717 Leonard Street, for a nightly rate starting at $299 + tax. To book a room, please call the hotel directly at (214) 953-1717 to be transferred to Reservations. Please mention American Friends of Attingham to receive this discounted rate. The group rates expire on March 29, 2026, and the rate can be used from Wednesday, April 29, 2026 – Sunday, May 3, 2026. Note that your credit card will not be charged at the time of your reservation; you may cancel your reservation at any time prior to three days before arrival.
Participants may wish to consider alternate accommodations, from the boutique Joule Hotel (1530 Main Street), built in the 1920s and revitalized as a Forbes four-star hotel in the heart of downtown, to the more budget-friendly Fairmont Dallas (1717 N. Akard Street) in the arts district.
Please note that all activities will depart by bus from Hall Arts Hotel.
GETTING THERE The Dallas – Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the city’s major airport, located 19.7-miles west, or about 30-minutes by car. Guests choosing to fly via Southwest Airlines may also consider arriving at the smaller Dallas Love Field (DAL) Airport, located at 8008 Herb Kelleher Way and only 6-miles, or 15-minutes, north of the hotel. Guest arriving at DFW airport may use Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Orange or Silver line to make their way downtown. Ride share services such as Uber and Lyft are readily available at both airports.
Guests traveling to Dallas by Amtrak should consider a spectacular trip aboard the Texas Eagle Line, terminating at the Eddie Bernice Johnson Union Station, located at 400 South Houston Street. Services on the Texas Eagle includes Superliner First Class private rooms and a Dining Car. The ride also features Amtrak’s renowned Sightseer Lounge carriages with floor-to-ceiling windows free to all passengers. Upon arrival, the station offers easy transfers to Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART).
Hall Arts Hotel offers over-night, valet parking for $45/day those guests wishing to drive. Daytime valet parking from $20-25 is also available. Self-parking and street parking is not permitted. For information about hotel parking restrictions and guidelines, please call the hotel at (214) 953-1717.
Participants will be responsible for their own travel transfers to and from their accommodations. The hotel does not offer a free shuttle service for guests arriving from/departing to any local airport, so please plan accordingly. AFA will not provide group transportation to or from DFW airport, but encourages participants to connect privately and share costs as needed.
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For any questions, please contact: or call (212) 682-6840.
Itinerary and information subject to change.
Above: The Dallas skyline in 2015 with the Trinity River; image by Andy Luten, of LutenCreative.com.