The West End is a great place to start a tour of downtown Dallas because this exact area is where Dallas really began. Caddo Indians settled in the area now known as the historic West End in Dallas during the early 1800s. John Neely Bryan, a Tennessee lawyer, purchased their land and opened the first trading post along the Trinity River in the mid-1800s. The West End Historic District is bounded by Lamar, Griffin, Wood, Market and Commerce streets.
Let's begin our walking tour of this historic area at Dealey Plaza, located at 500 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75202. The plaza was named for George Bannerman Dealey (1859–1946), an early publisher of The Dallas Morning News and civic leader. This area is also the location of one of the saddest moments in the city's history -- the assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963.
Many believe the monuments outlining Dealey Plaza are to honor President Kennedy, but they actually honor previous prominent Dallas residents and predate Kennedy's visit by many years. The Dallas monument to honor Kennedy is located one block away.
