Sundance Square in Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Hell's Half Acre
Photographed By Craig Baker, April 7, 2024
1. Hell's Half Acre Marker
This area was the edge of cowtown's notorious Hell's Half Acre where a district of saloons, dance halls, gambling parlors, and bordellos thrived in the late 1800s. Lawmen, gamblers, cowboys, trainmen, buffalo hunters, teamsters, madams and prostitutes frequented the Acre's dance halls, gambling parlors and brothels.
On November 29, 1878, the Fort Worth Democrat described the range of patrons at the dance halls as “…lewd women of all ages 16 to 40… the most respectable of citizens, the experienced thief, the ordinary murderer, the average cowboy and the ordinary young man of the town.”
The scandalous activities of Hell's Half Acre and the businesses that supported them continued to ebb and flow throughout the early 1900s. Fort Worth's Hell's Half Acre finally ceased to exist when the area was cleared to build the Tarrant County Convention Center in the 1960s.
Erected 2006 by Heritage Trails.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is November 29, 1878.
Location. 32° 44.919′ N, 97° 19.59′ W. Marker is in Fort Worth, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is in Sundance Square. Marker is on Commerce Street
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. A different marker also named Hell's Half Acre (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Saint Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Ignatius Academy Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Patrick's Cathedral (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Peter Smith (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort Worth Main Post Office Building (approx. ¼ mile away); Site of Majestic Theatre (approx. ¼ mile away); Ephraim Merrill Daggett (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Worth.
2. Main Street - 1881
Photographed By Craig Baker, April 7, 2024
3. Hell's Half Acre Marker
Photographed By Craig Baker, April 7, 2024
4. Fort Worth Water Gardens
Located near the marker. Featured in the classic sci-fi movie Logan’s Run.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 14, 2024. It was originally submitted on April 9, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 58 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 9, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on April 14, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
