Attendees of the 2001 Congress will fall in love with the Texas hospitality found in Dallas

AORN Journal, Jan, 2001 by Nikki Parker

Sunday, March 11, to Thursday, March 15, 2001

The 48th annual AORN Congress in Dallas promises to be an exciting event for attendees, who can expect to be greeted with true Texas hospitality. Take time to enjoy the sights, experience some Tex-Mex cooking, and explore the culture and heritage of the city. Visiting Dallas will be a truly unique experience.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Dallas was settled in 1841 by John Neely Bryan, a Tennessee lawyer and entrepreneur, and his friend, Mr Dallas. The city began as a humble trading post located along the Trinity Riven By the end of the nineteenth century, Dallas was a leading center of agriculture, railroads, and trade.

In the twentieth century, Dallas began to change and rapidly flourish. In 1914, a Federal Reserve Bank opened in Dallas, making the city a center of finance. With the 1930s, Dallas saw a boom in oil field management and resources, and in the 1940s, the city grew as a renowned center of aviation and military manufacturing.

In 1963, Dallas' image was tarnished with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It took the building of Dallas/Ft Worth International Airport, the success of the television series "Dallas," and the popularity of the Dallas Cowboys professional football team to restore the city's confidence.

Currently, Dallas is the leading business and financial center in the Southwest. It is one of the top convention cities in the United States, the number one visitor destination in Texas, and the third largest fashion center and film production area in the nation.

GEOGRAPHY

Numerous native pecan, cottonwood, and oak trees can be found in Dallas, which encompasses 384 sq miles. The city boasts 45 sq miles of lakes, 406 parks, and 500 miles of bicycle routes. Dallas' elevation ranges from 450 to 750 ft above sea level. Skyscrapers adorn the city, many of which are landmarks. At night, city visitors will recognize the 72-story Nations Bank building located downtown, as it is delineated by more than two miles of green argon tubing.

ATTRACTIONS

A wide variety of entertainment awaits Dallas visitors. The West End Historic District, an area of restored red-brick warehouses, is located downtown. The West End boasts 80 stores, 50 restaurants, various nightclubs and bars, and an indoor marketplace containing an amusement arcade, gift shops, and a 10-screen cinema.

The Dallas Arboretum Botanical Society, a 66-acre floral preserve, lies on White Rock Lake. More than 150,000 tulips and other flowers can be seen, along with two historical estates located on the arboretum's grounds.

More than 1,800 species of animals in 20 habitats can be found at the Dallas Zoo. One of the zoo's major attractions is the Wilds of Africa, which is best viewed by monorail. Other highlights include a rattlesnake collection, an aviary, and a walk-through rain forest.

For a look back into history, visit Medieval Times, where a four-course banquet is served as visitors watch an authentic jousting match. Movie fans can visit the Movie Studios at Las Colinas, where visitors can experience the Addams Family Special Effects Theater.

Six Flags Over Texas, a 205-acre amusement park, boasts more than 100 rides, shows, and other entertainment. Rides include a world-class collection of roller coasters, such as the Texas Giant and the Shock Wave, as well as Batman the Ride and Escape from Dino Island 3D Turboride. Six Flags also features a wide variety of shops, such as Looney Tunes USA, where visitors can purchase Looney Tunes logoline items from T-shirts to caps.

For those interested in nightlife, be sure to visit Deep Ellum, an offbeat part of the city packed with an eclectic mixture of nightclubs. Club Clearview is home to 10 bars, including a dance club, a room with virtual reality games, and well-known touring acts.

Dallas also is home to professional sports teams, including the Dallas Cowboys football team and the Dallas Stars hockey team. The Cowboys, currently owned by Jerry Jones and led by quarterback Troy Aikman, have been to eight Superbowls, winning five. The Stars have become a team to be reckoned with in the Pacific Division of the National Hockey League, winning the Stanley Cup in 1999.

CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS

Visitors to Dallas can find a wide variety of cultural attractions as well. The Dallas Museum of Art features many French impressionists, including Monet, Van Gogh, Rodin, and Renoir. More than 280,000 exhibits of animal species can be viewed at the Dallas Museum of Natural History, including Texas' first mounted dinosaur. At The Sixth Floor Museum: JFK and the Memory of a Nation, visitors can see where President John F. Kennedy was shot by Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963.

The Dallas Opera presents such operas as Madame Butterfly, the story of a Japanese girl awaiting her American husband's return, only to find he has a new American wife. At the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, attendees can hear the works of the greats, such as Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Haydn, and Schubert. Listen to seventeenth and eighteenth century music European style in an intimate concert setting at the Dallas Chamber Orchestra.