1 Forts Days Focusing on the frontier era

2 Forts Days Outline I. Experience 1. Forts Days 2. Rotating stationsII. Introduction 1. Fort Encampments 2. The Founding of Fort Worth 3. Sam Houston 4. Native Americans & Quanah Parker 5. Frontier Settlers and Pioneers 6. Vaqueros 7. African American Cowboys III. Enrichment 1. Cowboy Camp Facts 2. Military Camp Information 3. Entertainment at the fort 4. Pioneer Life 5. Chuck Wagons 6. Civil War Era 7. Buffalo Soldiers *All IFW programs are TEKS Aligned Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

3 Forts Days Experience: Forts DaysFort Worth ISD students will have the opportunity to experience a heritage event where the Stockyards National Historic District is transformed into an authentic representation of Texas frontier life.  There will be fort camps, artillery demonstrations, military parades, Native American exhibitions and much more!  Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

4 Forts Days Experience: Forts DaysStudents will be lead through stations around the stockyards representing life in the frontier days and the cultures that were represented in Texas at that time. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

5 Forts Days Introduction: Fort EncampmentsFrom , the US Army built and occupied 35 forts and numerous temporary camps within Texas. In the 1840’s there were 30,000 indigenous Indians in Texas. Brig. Gen. George Mercer Brooke began construction of a line of forts that separated Indian territory from the new settlements. The buildings were crude and constructed as temporary structures. The Indians had the upper hand, as they knew the terrain and did not follow the rules of European warfare. There were more Indian attacks during the Civil War as the Federal troops left to fight. West Point graduates saw a move to the frontier as an adventure. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

6 Forts Days Introduction: Fort Encampments What made a good fort site?Strategically located Easily supplied Higher geographical points for protection from raids, floods Protected groups of settlers from Indian attacks Areas that fulfilled treaty obligations with Mexico Water, timber, stone Arable land for farming Natural animal populations for hunting Grass for animal grazing Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

7 Forts Days Introduction: Fort EncampmentsSecuring a military garrison was “good business” for settlers moving to the western frontier. Settlers were even known to exaggerate the severity of Indian attacks on the frontier to bring in a military fort to their area. Forts provided: Protection, water wells, warnings from leasing land to the government, cash supplies through the paymaster’s duties in the fort, a place to gather for commerce and entertainment! Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

8 Forts Days Introduction: The Founding of Fort WorthFort Worth began as a tiny outpost for Fort Graham, located on the highest bluff above the clear fork of the Rio de la Santissima, (Trinity River). The area around the banks of the upper Trinity River was well known by the Native Americans for several natural cold springs and had long been a favorite hunting ground. It soon proved irresistible to settlers as well. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

9 Forts Days Introduction: The Founding of Fort WorthIn 1843, Sam Houston came to what was then called Bird's Fort (Birdville), awaiting chiefs from different tribes to discuss a peace parley. A treaty was made under which the Native Americans were to remain to the west of a line passing through the future site of Fort Worth. The line marked “Where the West Begins” -- giving Fort Worth its famous slogan. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

10 Forts Days Introduction: The Founding of Fort WorthIn an attempt to establish control over North Texas, a line of forts was established on the frontier. The U.S. Army adopted a "picket line" strategy of establishing forts every 100 miles or so. In the spring of 1849, General Worth sent Maj. Ripley Arnold (accompanied by several early settlers) into Indian territory, to find a spot for a new fort community. Arnold took a small party of Company F 2nd Dragoon troopers. They rode west to a spot where the Clear and West forks of the Trinity joined. There they planted Old Glory on the future site of Fort Worth. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

11 Forts Days Introduction: The Founding of Fort WorthA small civilian community grew up around the fort. On September 17, 1853, the fort was vacated. Troops were redeployed and settlers took over the fort’s buildings. The site of the original fort’s parade grounds is now occupied by our court house. More than 150 years of history have shaped Fort Worth. Fort Worth has endured and adapted to many economic changes, and managed to retain its Western heritage. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

12 Forts Days Introduction: The Founding of Fort WorthThe Dragoons were a powerful group of fighters. They were mounted men, consisting of formally trained officers and independently minded volunteers. Dragoons were a heavily armed wild bunch, known for their mustached faces, long hair, gold earrings and mismatched clothing. They looked and sometimes acted more like outlaws than orderly armed forces. Dragoons despised rules, regulations and most of all drills. They understood that they needed to fight with guerilla tactics to overcome the Indians. Only a strong and smart leader (such as Major Ripley Arnold) could manage the 2nd Dragoons. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

13 More about General Worth:Forts Days Introduction: The Founding of Fort Worth If Major Ripley Arnold founded the fort, why was it named Fort Worth after General Worth, and not Fort Arnold? Answer: General Worth was a hero of the Mexican war, who died of cholera shortly before reaching Fort Worth. Major Arnold was a younger military officer, still proving himself as a soldier and a leader. More about General Worth: Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

14 More about Sam Houston:Forts Days Introduction: Sam Houston Born in 1793 in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, Sam Houston had already served in the U.S. House of Representatives and as governor of Tennessee when he moved to Texas in 1832. In 1835, he was chosen commander in chief of the Texas army. On April 21, 1836, Houston's army won a quick battle against the Mexican forces at San Jacinto and gained independence for Texas. Soon after, Houston was elected president of the Republic of Texas. More about Sam Houston: Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

15 Forts Days Introduction: Sam HoustonSam Houston was an enlightened leader who pressed for peace between the Indians and the white man, which resulted in a series of treaties pledging friendship and cooperation from both sides. Sam Houston continued to serve as senator and governor after Texas became part of the U.S. in He died in 1863 in Huntsville, Texas, where a 67-foot-tall memorial statue of him now stands. After a lifetime of service to his country, the event for which he is most well known is his role in the independence of Texas. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

16 Forts Days Introduction: Native AmericansNative Americans lived in small extended families. Some tribes were nomadic while others were more settled. Tribes were very spiritual and land was communal. They did not have the tradition of owning parcels of land the way the European setters did when they moved west to claim the land. The most significant blow to tribal life on the plains was the destruction of the buffalo. The 1860s was a period of reservation life for many of the tribes of the Southern Plains. They had been defeated by the US Army and were now trapped on reservations controlled by the army and government agents. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

17 More about the outcomes of the Dawes Act:Forts Days Introduction: Native Americans The reservations were usually in the worst areas of land and they found it impossible to support themselves. The agents appointed by the government had the responsibility of ensuring that the Indians were ‘looked after’ & fed. The Dawes Act of 1887 attempted to assimilate natives. The Act called for the break up of reservations and the introduction of natives into American life. Most native children were sent to boarding schools and encouraged to forget their tribal traditions. By 1932, 2/3rds of the land committed to Native Americans had been taken from them. More about the outcomes of the Dawes Act: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45HATCWo2PQ Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

18 Forts Days Introduction: Quanah ParkerQuanah Parker was the last Chief of the Comanches and never lost a battle to the white man. He was never captured, but decided to surrender and lead his tribe to adapt successfully to the white man's culture. Quanah, meaning "fragrant," was born about 1850, son of Comanche Chief Peta Nocona and Cynthia Ann Parker, a white girl taken captive during the 1836 raid on Parker's Fort, Texas. She had spent 24 years among the Comanche, and never readjusted to living with the whites again. Ironically, Cynthia Ann's son would adjust remarkably well to living among the white men, but first he would lead a bloody war against them. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

19 Forts Days Introduction: Quanah ParkerOver time Quanah's allies, the Quahada, were weary and starving. Quanah was asked again to surrender. He rode to a mesa where he saw a wolf come toward him, howl and trot away to the northeast. Overhead, an eagle "glided lazily and then whipped his wings in the direction of Fort Sill". This was a sign, Quanah thought, and on June 2, 1875, he and his band surrendered at Fort Sill (Oklahoma). For his courage, integrity and tremendous insight, Quanah Parker’s life tells the story of a great American leader and a true Texas Hero. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

20 To learn more about the life of pioneers visit:Forts Days Introduction: Frontier Settlers & Pioneers The frontier settlers faced extreme hardships – droughts, floods, fires, blizzards, locust plagues, and bandits. Despite hardships, the number of people living west of the Mississippi grew from 1% of the nation’s population in 1850 to almost 30% in Most settlers built their homes from the land itself. Pioneers often dug their homes out of the sides of ravines or hills (Dugouts). Those in the flat plains made freestanding homes made of turf (Soddies). Those lucky enough to have plentiful timber built log cabins. Soddie Dugout Log Cabin To learn more about the life of pioneers visit: Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

21 Commonly used words that are borrowed from the vaqueros:Forts Days Introduction: Vaqueros Commonly used words that are borrowed from the vaqueros: vanilla, bronco, mustang, chaps, mosquito, stampede, tornado, chili, shack, savvy, siesta, wrangler, lasso, lariat, ranch, corral, burro, canyon, bandit, fiesta, hurricane, plaza, rodeo, vigilante, desperado, buckaroo. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

22 Forts Days Introduction: African American CowboysAfrican-Americans came to cattle country most often as slaves. By the start of the Civil War in 1861, Texas had over 180,000 black inhabitants and close to 4million head of cattle. Although black cowboys seldom became trail chiefs or owned their own stock- although some did- they encountered less discrimination along the cattle trail than in most other occupations. Black, Hispanic and white cowboys depended upon each other, living, sleeping, eating and working together. African American cowboys were considered hard working, kind and loyal cowhands. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

23 Forts Days Enrichment: Cowboy CampWhat gear did a cowboy need to do his job? Bandana – guards the face against dust storms or rain. Chaps –the outer covering of a pair of pants. Cowboy Hat- acted as a barrier against the elements. Horses- Cowboys did not own their own horses. The horses were the property of the trail boss or ranch owner. Lariat - A stiff ropes with a sliding loop at one end used for catching horses or cows. Saddle- the cowboy’s most prized possession. If a cowboy was down on his luck, he would sell everything else he had before he would lose his saddle, as without it he could not do his job. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

24 Forts Days Enrichment: Parade Marching GroundsTypical Schedule for the Day: 5:00 AM, Reveille (trumpet) Roll call 6:30 AM call for breakfast 7:00 AM Fatigue Call 7:30 AM Routine duties 8:30 AM Select Officers for Duties 11:30 AM Lunch Call 1:00 PM Return to duties/drills for 2 hrs. 3:00 PM Water break 3:30 PM-Sunset Fatigue Duties 5:30 PM Dinner (beef, bread, coffee) Sunset Evening Dress Parade 9:00 PM Taps 2 Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

25 Forts Days Enrichment: Military Clothing of the EraTypical military gear was designed for foot soldiers in cooler climates. Men in Texas were often mounted for long distances in rough terrain with extreme weather conditions. Because of slow supply shipments and a general lack of supplies, Texas soldiers were often in rag-tag, makeshift gear adapted to suit their needs. The army issued the McClellan, its finest military saddle. However, it too was not suitable for conditions in Texas because the saddle bag was too small and the straps didn’t hold the bags tight to the horses backs. Mules and camels were often preferred to horses as they were suited to long distances, tough climates, and rough terrain. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

26 Forts Days Enrichment: Artillery PresentationA hodge-podge of weapons were found on the frontier during the Forts Era.  Soldiers had to gather weapons, artillery and ammunition as they could. Many of the weapons were heavy and inaccurate in the battle conditions the soldiers in Texas would come up against. Heavy sabers were a burden on long rides. Troops carried simple knives instead. Heavy rifles (7lb) made it difficult to mount a horse, so men generally favored pistols over the army issue rifles. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

27 Forts Days Enrichment: Entertainment at the FortsThe forts held events featuring music, dancing and exhibits as often as possible. Officers’ wives welcomed new comers with a “Proper Hop,” which was an evening of dancing. Party Food included: turkey, venison, smoked buffalo tongue, bear meat, ham, quail, salmon, salad, preserves, jellies, rolls, coffee and ”real mince pies” Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

28 Forts Days Enrichment: Music on the FrontierFrontier music was influenced by all of the settlers that flooded into the west. Take a look at this list of musical instruments and where they originated. Immigrant Country Instrument Ireland Fiddle Germany Accordion Mexico, Spain Guitar Europe Mandolin, Piano and Harmonica Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid and Abe Lincoln played the harmonica Listen to some of the music from Forts Days: Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

29 Forts Days Enrichment: Music on the FrontierCowboys developed poetry, story songs and stories shared beside the campfire and on long trail rides. Instruments that were light and portable were usually preferred. However, pioneers were willing to haul their pianos westward in an attempt to preserve the culture and comforts of entertainment in the new land. Military Music included buglers in battle, trumpeters and drummers. Military music was not only for entertainment but was also essential in battle. Each sound made by the trumpet and drums was a signal of battle commands. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

30 Forts Days Enrichment: Do you believe what you read in the news?Major Ripley Arnold read false reports of Indian raids on settlements and forts under his jurisdiction. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

31 Forts Days Enrichment: Do you believe what you read in the news?He responded with his account, assuring everyone of their safety and encouraging them to settle in the area. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

32 Forts Days Enrichment: Pioneer Life with Log Cabin VillageThe American pioneers were a group of brave and strong individuals who carved out homes and settlements in the western frontier. Without modern conveniences like electricity and indoor plumbing, daily living was difficult, and each family member had important jobs to do to ensure the survival of the family. The pioneers, through their strength and rugged determination, settled in many different areas in the frontier, faced many difficulties in their daily life and helped to shape the United States. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

33 Forts Days Enrichment: Prairie FactsTallgrass prairies once covered 142 million acres. Prairies once covered about 40% of the US About 1% of the North American prairies still exists. 100+ plant species can occur in a prairie of less than 5 acres. Some prairie plant roots extend 12 feet below the prairie surface. 60 million bison grazed on the prairies of North America when European explorers arrived -fewer than 600 existed by 1885. Prairie fires are an important part of the renewal of the prairie. Fire does not destroy prairie grasses because they grow from the stem up rather than from the tips of the blade. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

34 Forts Days Enrichment: Chuck Wagon CookingCertain foods like sugar and butter were precious during this time. To preserve butter without refrigeration, it was rendered into a clarified butter also called Ghee. Ghee is still widely used throughout the world today. Pioneers and traveling cowboys needed to bring fruit with them on the trail. These had to be sealed in air tight containers to preserve them. They also brought meat, usually dried like jerky or still alive and slaughtered along the trail. Nothing went to waste-- every part of an animal was used. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

35 Forts Days Enrichment: Chuck Wagon CookingThe need to feed and care for cowboys on the trail resulted in the development of the chuck wagon. To the cowhand, the chuck wagon was much more than just a mobile kitchen. The chuck wagon and cook supplied meals, repairs to clothing and equipment, entertainment, medical help and moral support. The chuck wagon is a symbol of the rugged individualism and can-do spirit of the American frontier. Most people know that the bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas, but how many know that the official vehicle is the chuck wagon! Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

36 Forts Days Enrichment: Chuck Wagon EtiquetteOn the old time cattle drives and roundups, the cook was sometimes an aging cowboy hired for his ability to drive a wagon more than his cooking skills. He was in charge of the wagon and everything related to it.  The cook was paid more than the other hands because the success of the camp and the drive depended greatly on him and the cook's job was arguably the hardest.  A cowhand earned about a dollar a day and the cook made twice that.   Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

37 Forts Days Enrichment: Chuck Wagon EtiquetteCowboys were forbidden to eat at the chuck wagon table-that was where the cook prepared the food.  A cowboy never rode their horse through the "kitchen."  The cowboys always rode downwind of the wagon, so the dust they stirred up wouldn't blow into the food. At mealtime, cowboys got their own plate, fork, knife, and cup.  The cook would pour the coffee and the cowboys helped themselves to staples like hot biscuits, beef steak, and beans.  When they were done, they stacked their dishes for the cook to wash. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

38 Forts Days Enrichment: Cowboy Camp Trivia1) Most cowboys had small or medium frames. Truth- Large men were too heavy to ride the mustangs. 3) The cowboy would ride his favorite horse all day. Myth- They rode a string of horses depending on the task. Many cowboys were Mexican or African American. Truth- About 12% were Mexican and 25% African American. Most cowboys were older experienced wranglers. Myth- Most were young men who learned on the job. Women could not be cowboys. Myth- Several women owned cattle ranches and ran their own cattle drives. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

39 Forts Days Enrichment: Texas During the Civil WarDuring the civil war the forts in Texas were abandoned by the soldiers headed off to fight, leaving the settlements vulnerable to Indian raids. Texans were highly praised as dedicated and fierce fighters during the civil war. Approximately 90,000 Texans were in the Confederate army. Two-thirds of these were in the cavalry, the branch of service preferred by Texans. One general who visited Texas during the war observed this fondness for cavalry service: "it was found very difficult to raise infantry in Texas," he said, "as no Texan walks a yard if he can help it." Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

40 Forts Days Enrichment: Texas During the Civil WarThe war brought changes to Texas. Some adjustments were made in agriculture as farmers planted more corn to meet food needs and requests of the government to reduce cotton production. The absence of men away at the war front placed greater responsibilities and burdens upon women and children, who assumed increased duties. To learn more about the civil war and to get lesson plan ideas visit: Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

41 Forts Days Enrichment: Medicine in the Civil WarDuring the civil war era, medical practitioners had no knowledge of germ theory or antiseptic practices. Both discoveries were still years away. All new recruits were supposed to receive a physical exam.  Occasionally the exam was very superficial, allowing recruits to enter the army with chronic diseases. New recruits were sent to large camps. The first enemy they faced was disease. Healthy recruits became victims of illnesses that were easily spread due to the unsanitary conditions, and the poor diet of the soldiers. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

42 Forts Days Enrichment: Medicine in the Civil WarOf the nearly 620,000 soldiers who died during the Civil War, two-thirds died not of bullets and bayonets, but of disease. At a field hospital, usually located in a barn or tent to the rear of the fighting, wounded soldiers were triaged into three categories: mortally wounded, slightly wounded, and surgical cases. Most surgeries were amputations and took place on site. Surgeons, male nurses, female nurses, matrons, laundresses, and volunteers from civilian associations all contributed to the care of the sick and wounded. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

43 Forts Days Enrichment: Medicine in the Civil WarApproximately 2,000 women, North & South, served as volunteer nurses in military hospitals during the Civil War, seeking direct involvement in the struggle rather than the domestic support roles. Before the civil war nursing and medicine were almost jobs exclusively for men. These women experienced first hand the grim constants of war -- amputated limbs, mutilated bodies, disease and death -- and provided invaluable aid to soldiers. Historically they remained largely anonymous, except for the appearance of their names on hospital muster rolls. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

44 Forts Days Enrichment: Medicine in the Civil WarClara Barton was a well known volunteer nurse during the Civil War. She felt it was her patriotic duty to help the soldiers in her area. Over time, she went on to found the American Red Cross. Watch a video about her at: Visit the link below for a fun activity linked to Clara Barton: Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

45 Forts Days Enrichment: Buffalo SoldiersAs a sign of respect, the Plains Indians named the black soldiers stationed on the Great Plains after the Civil War "Buffalo Soldiers.” Following the Civil War, in 1866 Congress authorized regiments of the regular U.S. Army to be staffed by black men. During the latter nineteenth century, these regiments represented 10% of the army's effective strength, and in many western commands black soldiers made up more than 1/2 the available military force. There was even one female Buffalo Soldier. Her name was CATHAY WILLIAMS. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

46 For more on Buffalo Soldiers visit:Forts Days Enrichment: Buffalo Soldiers Buffalo Soldiers had a number of responsibilities: Kept out unwanted intruders from the Indian lands Watched over the Indians on the reservations Maintained general law and order throughout the territory Built and maintained roads, telegraph lines, and forts Assisted local authorities and federal marshals Escorted civilians, stagecoaches, and freighters Guarded railroad workers and mail carriers Warned off land cheaters (Boomers), chased robbers, horse thieves, and cattle rustlers. For more on Buffalo Soldiers visit: Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

47 Forts Days Enrichment: The Fort Worth Herd Cattle DriveDuring the Civil War, ranchers were cut off from their markets in the North and East. In Texas, the impact of the Civil War led to a massive increase in the number of cattle. By 1866, there were an estimated 5,000,000 cattle in Texas. In 1866, a steer worth $4 in Texas sold for $40 in the East. Cattle herds needed to be driven to a railroad town hundreds of miles away. The major trails included Chisholm, Goodnight Loving and Western. Cattle Drive Facts: A drive lasted 3 months,. It traveled miles per day. 2/3 of cowboys were teenagers between the ages of A crew consisted of one trail chief, eight cowboys, a wrangler to take care of the horses, and a cook. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

48 Forts Days Project: Which time period is better?Which time period is better — pioneer days or modern days? Have students choose the time period they would prefer to live in and write an opinion-based essay on their choice. Or you can draw a picture highlighting the best of each time period. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

49 Forts Days Project: Different Way of LifeStudents often have a hard time thinking about life without a TV or a telephone. Encourage students to imagine spending one night at home without modern conveniences such as electricity, running water and plumbing. Have them make a list of things they would have to do without, or would have to do differently to live like the pioneers did. Discuss how difficult it would be to live this way. Does anyone still live like this? Is there anywhere in America that people still live a homestead life today? Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

50 Forts Days Project: Trading Post Set up a trading post in yourclassroom. Have students draw pictures of items and supplies during pioneer times — like cloth, ammunition and sugar. Have students practice their bartering skills to acquire the supplies needed for their pioneer family. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

51 Forts Days Project: Lesson Plan Resources Experience IntroductionTexas Beyond History       Log Cabin Village Journaling Project Sam Houston & Texas History Meet typical characters from a Texas Fort: Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

52 About Us: Imagination Fort WorthImagination Fort Worth sparks the imaginations of Texas kids through transformational experiences. Over the past 25 years, more than five million students have participated in our programs—programs that combine the creative thrill of the arts with the critical educational goals outlined by local and state guidelines. Through art, dance, music, and theater, students engage with history, science, math, and language in ways that enhance learning and awaken creativity. Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

53 About Us: Imagination Fort WorthImagination Fort Worth is an independent non-profit organization. We partner with  local schools to create field trips and in-school programs that target specific educational needs, as well as with local arts and cultural institutions to introduce students to a diversity of mind-opening experiences. Visit us at: Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

54 Imagination Fort Worth would like to thankthe all of our donors, partners, and volunteers for their continued support. Check out the link below for a comprehensive list of donors and partners! Experience Introduction Enrichment Projects About Us IFW Donors

55 Forts Days Focusing on the frontier era