Fort Worth Date Night: Taking Flight on Date Night

by Michael Bloomberg
September 22, 2010

When you think of Fort Worth and art, there are a few names that might immediately come to mind. Sid Richardson and Amon Carter are sure to be in the top tier. What about Cyrus Rowlett Smith? C.R. Smith? Not ringing a bell?

American Airlines, with so much history, has a great flight museum. The name of the museum? The American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum. This is definitely an experiential locale that will reach out to all of your senses. But, it's the name that dons the museum that is so interesting.

According to the museum's website, "On May 13, 1934, Cyrus Rowlett Smith was elected president of American and, except for a period during World War II when he served asDeputy Commander of the Air Transport Command, continued as chief executive officer until 1968 when he was named Secretary of Commerce by President Johnson." Smith was also an avid art collector like his contemporaries, Sid Richardson and Amon Carter.

This collection has been housed at the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin. The AA Museum has borrowed 15 selected works from this collection of western art and will be open to the public from October 2 through November 13. It's being called "The American West: A Collection of Western Art from a Man who Loved to Fly."

In honor of this exhibit, The AA C.R. Smith Museum is hosting a very special preview on Friday evening, October 1 at 7pm. Not only is the art motivation enough to attend, the museum has brought in wines from 10 different wineries from around the world. Selected hors d'oeuvres and live music will definitely go beautifully with the vino.

If you are a member of the museum, tickets are $25 each or $40 per couples. Non-member tickets are $30 each or $50 per couple. The C.R. Smith Collection of Western Art, as we say in Texas, is "rarely in our neck of the woods." This special event will be a great way to see the exhibit before everyone else. While you are there, you can learn everything you've ever wanted to know about American Airlines and it's history. Throw in food, wine and music, and this Date Night is sure to take your relationship to new heights.

For complete information on this event and the American Airlines C.R. Smith Museum, please visit: www.crsmithmuseum.org