Historic Southside History Tour & Prayer Drive

Fortress is proud to offer tours of the Historic Southside community to individuals and groups who wish to learn more about the past and present impact of racial segregation in Fort Worth. Tours are led by an experienced member of our staff who will guide your group on a driving tour of our neighborhood and surrounding areas, including stops at the former I.M. Terrell High School, Evans Plaza, and Hillside Park. On the tour, you’ll discover up close the Historic Southside’s rich history and culture, which is deeply entwined with Fort Worth’s eras of Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and present-day movements for racial reconciliation.

Faith-Based Option

As a faith-based nonprofit, our tour was originally designed from a Christian perspective. During the tour, groups are invited to pray at various stops for God’s healing and presence in our community and for the Body of Christ to disrupt cycles of injustice that are still being experienced today.

Corporate and non-religious groups can opt out of the faith-based element of this tour while still benefitting from the research-centered history that is shared.

Opportunity Town

Groups with at least 8 participants can also select to add-on our Opportunity Town experience. Developed from a college training course and lauded for its nuance and accessibility, this abstract, on-site simulation will challenge your group’s paradigms, providing an opportunity to consider the ways that their privileges and disadvantages affect their perceptions of the world around them. Led by an experienced moderator, your group will discuss issues of race, socioeconomics, disabilities, gender, and other factors that can pose challenges to individuals and communities.

Cost to Participate

Corporations and other groups will be charged a $50 fee per group of 14 to cover staff expenses. We offer our Tour & Prayer Drive free of charge to community, nonprofit, and church groups, but groups are encouraged to make a contribution as they are able. The Opportunity Town add-on is an additional $10/person charge.

Other Opportunities

While you’re in the Historic Southside, we strongly recommend you visit some of our friends and partners to support our local business and further explore the history of our neighborhood!

• Hustle Blendz: Local- and Black-owned coffee shop. Located at the corner of Rosedale St. and Evans Ave.

• Smoke-a-Holics BBQ: Local- and Black-owned BBQ joint, ranked as one of the 50 best BBQ restaurants by Texas Monthly. Located just south of the Historic Southside neighborhood on Evans Ave.

• The Lenora Rolla Heritage Center Museum: Small museum featuring Black art and history from around Tarrant County. Located across the street from Fortress at the corner of E Humbolt St. and Illinois Ave.

• Atatiana Jefferson Memorial Painting: Mural memorializing Atatiana Jefferson, local resident who was killed in her home by a Fort Worth Police Officer in 2019. Located at the corner of Evans Ave. and E. Allen Ave.

• Ella Mae Shamblee Library: Fort Worth public library featuring a photo mosaic of important local figures, showcasing a rotation of local artists, and attached to the original site of Fort Worth’s first private school for Black children. Located in the Historic Southside neighborhood on Evans Ave.

• COMING SOON! National Juneteenth Museum: State-of-the-art museum celebrating the triumph of Black Texans’ liberation from slavery.

Booking

Tours can be booked by contacting our Community Relations & Volunteer Coordinator through the form below. Tours can be scheduled for week days, week nights, and weekends, depending on staff availability. Tours typically last between 1 1/2 - 2 hours, but can be customized to meet the needs of your groups.