Overview
Fair Park is a large exhibition and recreation park in Dallas, home of the annual State Fair of Texas. Its collection of 1930s Art Deco exhibition buildings is one of the largest in the United States, and the park is a National Historic Landmark.
History
The State Fair of Texas has been held on the site since 1886. In 1936, Fair Park hosted the Texas Centennial Exposition, which marked 100 years of Texas independence. Most of the park's Art Deco buildings, murals and sculptures date from that exposition. The Cotton Bowl stadium opened in 1930.
Today
The State Fair, presided over by the giant cowboy figure Big Tex, runs for several weeks each fall and draws very large crowds. The Cotton Bowl hosts the annual Texas–Oklahoma football game during the fair, and the park's museums and halls hold events all year.
Compiled October 2026. History is summarized for general interest; check primary sources for research. This landmark is local context, not an employer or job listing.