Pioneer Plaza

Pioneer Plaza is a really nice place to visit in downtown Dallas. The bronze cattle sculptures are impressive and make for great photos. The area is open, clean, and easy to walk around. It is a good spot for a short stop, especially if you enjoy history, art, or photography. Definitely worth checking out while exploring downtown Dallas.

Located at the corner of Griffin and Young Streets, this 4.2-acre park is a standout blend of Western heritage and urban green space. The highlight is the dramatic bronze sculpture of 49 longhorn steers and three cowboys created by Robert Summers — a stunning visual that honors Texas’s cattle-drive history. What I loved: The sheer scale and detail of the bronze herd are impressive — each steer over six feet tall! Gorgeous landscaping featuring a stream, waterfall, and native Texas plants give the plaza a peaceful, reflective feel. Excellent location: right next to the convention center, easy to reach while visiting downtown. Things to know: It’s outdoors and open year-round, so weather (sun or rain) can affect the experience. Parking is nearby but can fill up when there are big events downtown. Overall, Pioneer Plaza is a memorable stop whether you’re a local or visiting — perfect for a walk, photos, or simply taking in a bit of Dallas history.

Incredible detail and larger than life snapshot in history that contrasts two cowboys and a cattle drive through the downtown core of the city. It shows the impossible situation and interacts with the Earth, rock and water that will keep many observers spellbound as they walk amongst the trampling cattle. Do yourself a favor and check it out at sunset and you will feel transported back in time.

Historical place. Very close to downtown. One hour parking on site. Next to historic cemetery. Worth visiting.

You need to stop here, it's beautiful and very calming. It's near a busy 2-lane road, but you can't even tell. I did have to Google what it was for since the sign is not readable anymore.

49 bronze life-sized longhorn cattle driven by drovers during the 1860’s. There are 3 life-sized sculptures of the cowboys featuring an Anglo trail boss, Hispanic Vaquero and an African-American cowboy representing the diverse group of people who worked the trails and important to Dallas, TX, history.

We came upon this park as we were driving into town. My friend and I both like to take photos, and this place definitely had some great photo options with the cowboy statues, cattle, sculpted landscaping with water, and the Dallas skyline.

We enjoyed our visit to this open green area in town. The statues and headstones are interesting to walk around and see. This is a relaxing spot to walk around and get some fresh air and see a bit of the past history of the area.

PROS: The bulls were more impressive than I ever thought they would be. Made out of metal and great quality, the park is clean, and it's spacious. It's as if it's a work of art CONS: The park is in a bad area and has very minimal parking OVERALL: I would watch your back if you do choose to come here. But if you stick it out, than I'm confident you'll love it!

Strolling into Pioneer Plaza in Dallas, I was greeted by a whole herd of bronze cows--and let me tell you, they looked way less impressed than I was. These cattle aren't moo-ving anywhere, but they sure bring the Wild West vibes with some serious swagger. I half expected a cowboy to jump out and start rounding them up, but nope--just me, pretending I was in an old spaghetti western. The bulls look fierce, like they're ready to charge, while the cowboys seem to be holding on for dear life. It's like a frozen stampede, and honestly, it made me chuckle imagining those cows gossiping about how they got stuck in bronze. If you want a quick dose of Texas charm with a side of "what did I just walk into?" Pioneer Plaza is your spot. Just don't try to join the cattle drive -- these statues don't mess around!

The cows in Dallas -- bronze sculptures at Pioneer Plaza -- are worth seeing as part of your Dallas tour. They are giant, realistic bronze statues, not real cows. I recommend visiting!

June 1, 2021 in Dallas, TX we visited Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive. I took many pictures, and I already posted them back in 2021. Here is my short belated review to go along with it. The Cattle Drive is one (or is it more than one) beautiful sculpture/sculptures at Pioneer Plaza in downtown Dallas, Texas. The whole art piece is made up of 3 cowboys and 40 longhorn steers. It really is quite impressive to see them in person and stand right next to them. Very nice sight to behold! Make sure to drop by Pioneer Plaza when you are in downtown Dallas. This Cattle Drive is worth stopping by for a quick pit stop.

This is a nice little park next to a... graveyard... and overlooks Downtown Dallas. Nothing extremely unusual or special, but the cow sculptures are cute and you sometimes see ducks in the stream that runs through the park.

If you're heading to Dallas, you might realize there's not a lot to do in downtown! We saw the Pioneer Plaza on Apple Maps and stopped here to fill some of our time. We were able to capture some really cool pictures. Nice sight to see while in downtown Dallas!

This was a really cool and interesting outdoor sculpture! It was even better being able to explore the sculptures up close . There is a pond with turtles and a small walking trail that wraps around it. This was a highlight of my trip!

A large and well designed set of structures to celebrate the trails that bought settlers to Texas. There are plenty of picture taking opportunities from all angles and the surrounding plaza is enormous. Definitely worth a visit if you're downtown.

Pioneer plaza is a gorgeous public park located in a busy Dallas Downtown. Since street parking seemed to be on a shy side, I recommend to visit this park on a weekend. It is the second most visited landmark in Dallas, so be ready for some company. To commemorate the history of the area, what used to be large parking lot, was converted into a public park with lively recreation of a cattle drive in bronze with longhorn steers being driven by three cowboys on horses. The art was created by Texas born artist Robert Summers. It is position in such a natural setting, that at any given moment we felt like part of the action. It is one of the most memorable public art pieces I have ever visited.

This is a remarkable art installation smack dab in the middle of downtown Dallas. It's also FREE! If you are looking for something to do or want to show outside visitors the town, definitely take 5 minutes to walk through this little park. There is an entire herd of longhorns walking along a dirt path that starts at the top of a hill and winds its way down across a small creek and onto a grassy field. At the top of the hill is a cowboy on horseback overlooking his cattle drive. Off to the side at the bottom of the hill is another cowboy on horseback wrangling a longhorn straying from the herd. Each statue is made of bronze. The longhorns are all over 6 feet tall. The cowboys and horses seem 2x that height. The texture and intricate details of each animal is quite exquisite. Some are scrawny with their outline of ribs slightly obvious, others are beefier and you can see the layered affect of their tussled coat. If you get a chance, walk with the herd on the dusty path and get a feel for what was once a common occurrence in this area.

The Plaza commemorates Dallas' beginnings by celebrating the trails that brought settlers to Dallas. Other features of Pioneer Plaza include a waterfall, man-made cliffs, native plant life and the small historic details on the sculptures. Mom thoroughly enjoyed it Pros: -------- Free Attraction in Downtown Dallas Good for photoshoots Street Paid Parking (2hr max) Free parking after 6pm on weekdays/weekend

Before I left for Dallas, I did a bit of research on some touristy places that I'd like to visit. The cattle statues was one of them on my list. The other night at the hotel, my boyfriend and I were watching Serving Sara on Showtime. There was a scene where everyone travelled to Dallas and a couple of characters ran through the cattle scuptures. Coincidence? I don't think so. I visited the scuptures on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was fairly quiet. You can either find a parking lot and pay $10 or park on the street if you're there for a quick visit. The cattle structures are beautiful. They are in a park with man-made waterfalls and a creek. I had fun taking photos. I even saw a goose hanging out in the water on a 2°C day. It's free to visit the park and longhorn cattle. I had fun! The park turns into a cemetery. I wandered over there by accident! (35)

Cool spot to stop and grab some history and a few photos. The statues are a bit bigger than I thought after looking at pictures. I learned that after trying to hop up on one for a quick pic =) Definitely worth a visit if in the area!

Found the plaza accidentally on my walking tour of Dallas. One of the many sculptures you will find throughout the city.

I loved it here. I was on my way to the 6th-floor museum. I stopped by here. I saw very Texas statues! Everything was free! I took a lot of pictures!

Very cool, real sized cattle drive statues worth a visit. Free parking on 2 sides of park. Peaceful and scenic. Don't go on or after rainy days as it does get muddy. I knocked 1 star because path is not a solid stepping surface and you can't avoid the mud.

I liked it! One of the top ten things to do in Dallas and I was pleased we came. I was surprised as to how many bulls they had and both their size and replica to a real one. They are huge! I'm 5'2 and they were easily another foot taller. It's free! Walk around for as long as you like, just don't step in the water...that's a bit dirty. Bulls get super hot as the day goes on so be careful what part of the bull you touch! There are side walks along the side of the sculpture for those who have wheelchair needs but not throughout the bulls or on top of the hill. Either way you will still be able to enjoy their splendor and if you're lucky the baby ducks will be out to play with. Free parking, limited to less than 15 spaces, 30 minute max but it won't take you that long to view the bulls. It really was fantastic! A unique work of art that's interactive and fun to walk through. Add it to your list of things to do in Dallas!

We found this place accidentally. But glad we did it! This architectural composition is fitted into the park so naturally and organically! Sometimes I felt like they will start moving right now, like they froze just for a moment. These Longhorns are so live! Amazing

Came here for my birthday weekend to see something new and different. This was pretty cool, my family enjoyed it. Best thing is it was free. There is not a lot of parking and I would visit on a dry day. There is lots of dirt and a pond area, so coming a day after it was raining is not idea. Hope you have fubd

This is easily my favorite public art installation. They're about 50 life-size bronze sculptures of longhorn being 'driven' by a group of cowboys, placed in a naturalistic setting. The photo ops are numerous, you can wander in through the herd and see how each of the longhorns are individuals, from facial expression down to their hooves. (I thought it extra-cool that they're all 'branded' on their 'D' on their flanks, probably for 'Dallas'!) BTW while some people may want to climb on one of the herd for photos, beware! I don't think it's against the rules but a) these guys are TALL, and b) they have a ridge on their backs made out of bronze. Those of us with family jewels might end up singing soprano for a bit after climbing on and off. Pro Tip: There is a small, but free parking area (about 8 spaces) on the right as you head north on Griffin Street, just past Ceremonial Drive.

Very nice art work i am still trying to find out the back story to it because you cant really read the stones with the information on it but i have an idea of what its about but want to know more about it..

A unique series of sculptures in the Downtown Dallas city center, that represents it's history of longhorn steer cattle driving. The cowboy statue on the top of the hill looks like John Wayne and appears to be chasing the herd of steer down a Rocky ridge and a shallow river crossing. This is a great representation of Texas history. I feel it's definitely a site to see while visiting Downtown Dallas. Enjoy!

This bronze cattle drive was so impressive in real life! No photo can do this justice. It was truly a sight to see! I was impressed with the size of the statues, as well as the number of statues in this cattle drive. Truly impressive and definitely worth a stop by to see it. An original, detailed piece of art!

Was a cool little spot to check out. The place is free so keep that in mind lol!!! Plenty of places for pictures. Many longhorns to take pictures by.

Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive is a must tourist destination when visiting the Big D! Located Downtown Dallas in a park like area lays this fabulous site! The area is very Instagamable and a must to get out and take those fabulous pictures! Each cattle is uniquely different in size and in detail. These cattle are huge and perfectly designed to be life size. There's a ton of cattle walking down the hill over the water and it just doesnt get any better than this! There is a cowboy at the top of the hill watching his stampede cross the riverbank and at the front there is also a cowboy on his horse. If your tall enough you can get on top on the cattle and get very nice pictures. Come on out to Dallas which is one of the finest city's in the states and see for your self and experience the rich Cowboy culture the city has to offer!

The Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive is a cool (free) place to check out if you are in downtown Dallas. If you want to walk among the Longhorns, then you should come here to check out these sculpture herded cows. Here at Pioneer Plaza, a tribute to Dallas' cowboy history that acknowledges the trails that the original pioneers arrived and settled in Dallas. This tribute is created in a recreation of a cattle drive structure of cattle being driven by cowboys riding horses (yee haw). It is amazing to see how attention to detail these masterpieces hold, created by Robert Summers of Glen Rose, Texas. The sculptures are believed to be the largest bronze sculptures of their type in the world. The structure of these cattle start at the top of the hill and then are led through a flowing stream and on their way to their final settling place, somewhere in Dallas. Just another thing to mention, the Pioneer Cemetery, which is connects to Pioneer Plaza is interesting to walk through. There is a large Civil War Memorial in Pioneer Cemetery featuring Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis. Also there is a small parking lot (free) available when you drive over here to check out this amazing structure.

A fun landmark to check out in Dallas. In Downtown close to the site that JFK was assassinated. A fun scene of ton of cattle that are fun to take pictures with.

It doesn't have anything to do with the history of Dallas. That was the refrain when this sculptural extravaganza was planned in the early 1990s. The controversy was deep. Folks in Fort Worth said this rightly belongs in their city because Dallas' history was as a mercantile center. What did Dallas know about cattle? Perhaps, it does belong in Fort Worth but here it is, more bronze on display in one place than you're likely to see anywhere else. Dallas wanted big -- when doesn't Dallas want big -- and what could have been a sculptural train wreck is actually an incredible rendition of longhorn cattle passing through town. Robert Summers' sensitive attention to detail makes these beasts almost come alive. Aiding Mr. Summers' skill is the landscape which makes the entire scene seem very natural. The viewer benefits because it's possible to walk among the herd. It's an immersive experience that is rare. As I walked in between and around the green-tinted metal animals, it almost felt like a real experience. The majesty and uniqueness of each animal contrasts with the three cowboys that circle the scene like intruders. Long-brimmed hats hide their facial features in shadows as if they are villains. They appear like coiled rattlesnakes overreacting to the cattle moving languorously on the dusty plain and through the brackish water. Mr. Trammel Crow, the local real estate developer, said at the time that in '... 10 years from now, this is absolutely going to be considered one of the greatest monuments in the entire world.' Well, no. It was a bigly sentiment and he probably meant it but only time determines such things. Tune out the controversy, the bold statements and the local zealousness to do everything bigger than anyone else and this sculpture can be appreciated for Mr. Summers' talents. Stare at these animals and face their dignity. That makes the experience a humble but no less monumental one.

Little did I know this is the second best tourist attraction here in Dallas. Or at least that's what's stated in a wiki or tripadvisor page. Why? ~ Likely because it's in a public park and it's FREE! ~ I mean, who doesn't like a herd of bronze sculptures with cattle and cowboys? Larger than life, and so many of them. It's historic American culture! It's TEXAS! ~ Each steer stands tall at about six feet high, and they feel strong enough to withstand the elements. Luckily, I came here during 60-69 degree weather. I can only imagine how hot they feel during the heat waves. ~ One of the park services staff was monitoring the area, and told some kids to be careful as they can still move out of place even though they're really heavy. They're not securely fastened to the ground apparently. ~ There seems to be a couple of parking areas all around, but we parked in the small lot temporarily where the Zipcars park. We didn't stay very long. ~ If you want something that's "iconic" of the old western days, then this is it! I say, if you've got some time to squeeze in a 15 minute visit, then come check it out. To me, it's just worth it to appreciate the detail of this vast free standing artwork. Kudos to the creator and city of Dallas for displaying this!

One of the most amazing sites in Dallas. I hadn't been to Dallas since 1999, but I remembered the cattle drive. I stopped by on my last day in Dallas to take pictures. In 1995, the Texas Trees Foundation dedicated Pioneer Plaza to the City of Dallas providing a focal point with historical significance for downtown Dallas. The Plaza commemorates Dallas' beginnings by celebrating the trails that brought settlers to Dallas. The site features native plants and trees and a flowing stream in a natural setting and a re-creation of a cattle drive in bronze with longhorn steers being driven by three cowboys on horses. Each piece of bronze art was created by artist Robert Summers of Glen Rose, Texas. It is located adjacent to the Dallas Convention Center at Young and Griffin between the historical Pioneer Cemetery and the Dallas Convention Center. Pioneer Plaza represents the largest public open space in the central business district. Other features of Pioneer Plaza include a waterfall, man-made cliffs, native plant life and the small historic details on the sculptures.

I visited this park while on a sightseeing tour. I enjoyed the history behind the cattle and got some cool pictures. However the day we went was extremely cold and started to rain so we didn't get to take in the whole display. Definitely a great spot to visit

If you have kids, they will enjoy seeing all of the cattle sculptures. It's a pretty cool for even grown ups too. Bring your camera for some good shots.

I enjoyed visiting this impressive landmark. Those bronze Longhorns and cowboy sculptures were so detailed and interesting. The area is well lit and well maintained which help make our night tour of downtown Dallas a blast! We were on foot, but the Cattle Drive is a stop on the Segway tours as well. For the most part, people treated the statues with respect. Even the folks dressed like Cowboys refrained from climbing on; instead they just took a photo standing by a longhorn. I wish parents would stop teens from climbing on them. Officials believe this is the largest bronze sculpture garden (of this type) in the world.

Yeeehaw! Mooo! moooooo! Mooo! This is an absolutely fantastic Texas-sized sculpture right in the middle of downtown Dallas! This work of art is on a huge scale- life-sized cattle being driven through a creek bed by an intrepid cowboy. Each cow is different, looking HUGE! It's a moment snapped in time, cast in bronze- you can look straight into the eyes of dozens of giant beasts as they're led across a shallow creek by the cowboy. The horseback cowboy almost looks like a Remington statue on its own. It's incredible to get the sense of size of this work of art. I agree with some of the other Yelpers that this does seem a bit out of place in downtown Dallas, as this was a mercantile town that wasn't so much into the cattle drives. That's Cow Town, Fort Worth a few miles over. But, this is still a really cool place to wander through and pose with some Texas longhorns. Parking is easy, with metered parking along the street, but you can take in most of it as you drive by if you're in a rush. One thing I take away from this sculpture is that I am going to think twice before I decide to try and bust a bull at the local rodeo. When you get eye to eye with them, they're pretty big.

The Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive is a beautiful public park dedicated to the city by the Convention Center with life-sized bronze sculptures of longhorn cattle and cowboys. After looking up on this place, I discovered that the Texas Tree Foundation awarded this gift to the city of Dallas in 1995. The purpose of this cattle drive representation was to commemorate the trails that welcomed settlers to Dallas back in the day. We enjoyed taking plenty of photos in the area, as well as looking at the ducks gently swimming along in the body of water at the park. There were some other streams of water underneath the cattle sculptures that created a realistic look of them jumping in and out of the water. Such a beautiful site!

What a sight to see!! I came during covid time and had plenty of space to take pictures!

Cool historical place! Didn't know all these cool things existed here :) hopefully you get there at a time where the tour buses aren't unloading a bunch of people for pictures sake.

Having moved to Dallas not too long ago, it was challenging when we had our out of town guest. We still don't even know the area ourselves! YELP to the rescue! We plugged in local flavor and Pioneer Plaza Cattle Drive was one of the destination that popped up. We had already planned to walk around the Reunion Tower and Downtown Dallas, so we parked at the Reunion Tower and walked over. It took about 20-minutes. Not a big deal if it's not too hot, but for sunny, hot Texan summer, I might actually drive there instead. I'm not sure of significance of the attraction, but it's pretty awesome. The cattles are surprisingly detailed and if you allow yourself, it almost feels like you're standing in the midst of the cattle drive thanks to the fluidity and the arrangement of the cattles. expect to spend 10-30 minutes here depending on how many pictures you want to take

When in Dallas why not pop over and visit one of the world's largest brass monuments??! Was walking the long walk from the Kennedy Memorial to the Farmer's Market and made a point to pass through this 4 acre space. Might SOUND pretty cool......but when you're wandering in and out of stampeding oxen and hollerin' cowboys - it's a totally different experience. Not handicap accessible. Parents, please discourage their children from climbing on this artwork. Prepare for selfies galore. I LOVE IT!

We were on a bus tour and had some extra time, so we were able to get out and explore the statues. They are amazing and worth taking the time to see!

Holy cattle statues! Street parking. Such a cool site. Awesome how they displayed everything throughout the park. I think they are life size statues of cattle and cowboys.

Beautiful square in the hear of Dallas financial district. Is is well worth a visit as it also hosts the Confederate War Memorial and the Pioneer Park Cemetery on the opposite side and it makes for an great opportunity to learn more about past American history. The cattle monument, one of the largest in the world, commemorates nineteenth century cattle drives and is a fitting testimony of Texan culture.

A really nice, original, and local monument! After you've snapped your pics with the bronzed cattle, be sure to take in the stone footpath, field flowers, and running water.

We were traveling with our children and wanted to stop by. Nice experience and the boys loved it. It is also next door to a cemetery, neat experience.

Oh my gosh this is so cool to see. We saw it after sun down so it was dark and kind of creepy to see all these larger than life cowboy and cattle statues. There are water falls and creeks with little crossing parts which make it really cute. Definitely worth a stop!

I was only in Dallas for a few days for a conference and only had a few hours every evening to "see the sights". I was so happy to find this park to include on a whirlwind run around downtown. I love public art installations like this and enjoyed checking out all of the steer and snapping up a bunch of pics! Definitely worth the detour if you're in the area!

This is a neat place. I recommend that visitors to Dallas stop here for a few minutes and soak in the atmosphere.

Good historical site located in downtown Dallas. Free parking was available visit a museum if temperatures are above 80 degrees!

Cool green space in downtown Dallas just a couple blocks from the museums and Dealey Plaza. Loads of cattle sculptures to look at and take pictures with. It's fun to wander around and enjoy from different angles. Fun during the day and at night!