DALLAS, TX -- More than 150 years ago, pioneers came to Dallas searching for the "myth of the American West" with few ideas of what lay ahead. From their hard work and dedication came what we now know as Dallas. Pulling themselves up from their bootstraps, these individuals worked together building shops, hotels and other necessities along the way. Today, many of these landmarks are restored to their original grandeur.

But the dusty trails are now highways. And the railroads and airports provide the vital links to the rest of the nation and world. The spirit of the original pioneers lives on in today's residents. Dallasites exemplify the "can-do" spirit and continue to work together for the betterment of the city.

Dallas has matured into a culturally diverse city with museums and theaters, gourmet restaurants, team sports and shopping districts. The Dallas Arts District, located in downtown, is the largest designated area of its kind in the United States and includes the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA). The DMA's Museum of the Americas features original pieces from Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, and Costa Rica to name just a few.

Fair Park is also home to several museums all within walking distance of one another. Located within this historical landmark is the African American Museum, the only museum in the Southwest devoted to the preservation and display of African American artistic, cultural and historical materials. For live entertainment, Dallas boasts of more than 110 live performances every night. Also located in the Arts District, The Meyerson Symphony Center is home of the renowned Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and the building itself has been hailed internationally for its architectural brilliance and its acoustical excellence. Famed architect I.M. Pei designed the building. The Dallas Opera is proud to showcase international touring companies and renowned productions.

Dallas also is the birthplace of the regional theater movement, and there are numerous professional and amateur theater groups that put on productions year-round. Each summer, visitors enjoy the Dallas Shakespeare Festival and the Dallas Summer Musicals.

From 1978 to 1990, Dallas was home to the television series Dallas, which has been shown in 96 countries. Southfork Ranch, featured in the "Dallas" series, is located north of Dallas and is open daily to the public and offers tours, private events, chuck wagon dinners and functions for all sizes. Today, this city is the third largest film production site in the United States.

With Dallas having more restaurants per capita than New York City, visitors can choose a different cuisine for each night of the week. Although Bar-B-Q, Tex-Mex and home cooking are local favorites, Dallas' growth as a cultural melting pot has brought dining choices from virtually all over the world including India, Italy, Brazil, Greece, Egypt, France and Germany, to name just a few.

For the sports enthusiast, Dallas is one of only a few cities to have teams from all seven professional leagues. Champions of five Super Bowls, the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League, the Texas Rangers baseball team of the American League, the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association, the 1999 Stanley Cup champion Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League and the Dallas Burn of Major League Soccer all entertain thousands of sports fans each year. Dallas is also home to the Dallas Sidekicks (indoor) soccer and the new AFL Arena Football team the Dallas Desperados.

The city hosts many professional golf tournaments each year including the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, the JCPenney/LPGA Skins, the Bank of America Colonial and the Seniors Reunion Open. The Mesquite Championship Rodeo features some of America' s "real" cowboys and cowgirls competing every spring and summer for cash prizes.

Those who would rather play than watch will find Dallas interwoven with 50,000 acres of parkland and more than 60 lakes within a 100-mile radius. Biking, jogging, golf and water skiing are all popular sports for locals and visitors alike.

The city is also rich with medical resources. Public and private colleges and universities and some of the most distinguished health care facilities in the country are found in Dallas. People come from around the world to study medicine at University of Texas Southwestern and Baylor College of Dentistry.

Dallas is also a mecca for shoppers, and no wonder as it boasts more shopping centers per capita than New York City. Not only is Dallas home to internationally recognized specialty store Neiman Marcus and department store JCPenney, but it is also the site of America' s oldest shopping center, Highland Park Village. Internationally recognized apparel designers Todd Oldham and Victor Costa also call Dallas home.

Dallas continues to attract both large and small corporations to the area and currently is home to 140,000 companies including more than 5,000 headquarters operations. Some of the Dallas-based corporations include clothing manufacturer Haggar Clothing Company; retail giant JCPenney; cosmetics company Mary Kay; and Texas Instruments, the inventor of the computer microchip.

With more than 65,000 hotel rooms in Dallas, from downtown to uptown, the city offers a variety of accommodations including five star hotels, bed and breakfasts and economy rooms. And Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport places the city within three and a half hours of most North American cities. Numerous domestic and international carriers connect DFW with most major international markets, while Dallas Love Field Airport provides convenient regional service into the heart of the city.

Dallas is proud of its heritage and its accomplishments. Today, the city is home to citizens from around the world. Their histories and cultures are intertwined with what was originally known as Texan.

The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau operates a full-time state-of-the-art high-tech Visitor Information Center located in the Old Red Courthouse at 100 South Houston Street. The Dallas CVB serves as the official tourism and meeting planning division for the city of Dallas. For more information on Dallas call the Dallas CVB at 214-571-1301 or visit us on the Web at http://www.visitdallas.com.