Arlington 150

The City of Arlington, Texas celebrates a historic milestone in 2026 – its 150th anniversary! Founded in 1876, Arlington has grown from a small rural farming community into the nation’s 50th largest city, home to more than 400,000 residents in the heart of the Metroplex. This sesquicentennial celebration will honor Arlington’s rich heritage, cultural diversity, and enduring spirit of innovation.
Arlington, Texas celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2026. Founded in 1876, it has grown from a small farming town into the nation’s 50th largest city, with nearly 400,000 residents.

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Upcoming Events

The City’s sesquicentennial celebration will offer something for everyone, including family-friendly festivals, historical exhibits, community projects and other special events!

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May
30
11:00 am-01:00 pm
Discover Summer Kickoff – Arlington’s 150th Edition
Kickoff another exciting summer with the Arlington Public Library! Join for a fun-filled event in honor of Arlington's sesquicentennial. We have invited so many of the...
Learn more ➟
Free
Books on shelves at Woodland West Branch.
Jun
10
10:30 am-11:30 am
Family Storytime
Storytime is both a thoughtful and fun way to encourage children’s love of books. It will also set them into motion as future budding readers! Join...
Learn more ➟
Free
View More Events

Our Supporters

Arlington’s 150th anniversary celebration is made possible through the generous support of the organizations and partners below.
Arlington Chamber of Commerce logo
Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau logo
Arlington Historical Society logo
Arlington ISD logo
Arlington Museum of Art logo
Arlington Parks, Recreation, and Culture Logo
Arlington Public Library logo
Arlington Tomorrow Foundation logo
Downtown Arlington logo
General Motors logo
Levitt Pavilion Arlington logo
Medical City Arlington logo
North Texas Community Foundation logo in indigo and navy colors.
The Parks Mall at Arlington logo
Theatre Arlington logo
UNT Special Collections logo
UTA Libraries logo

Stay Social

Arlington’s 150th anniversary is a moment worth sharing — and we want to see it through your eyes. From community events and neighborhood memories to everyday moments that show what makes Arlington special, tag your photos and posts with #Arlington150 on social media. Your posts may be featured right here as part of our live 150th anniversary social feed.
@cityofarlington
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City of Arlington, TX

Arlington is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US! Home to UTA, Texas Rangers, AT&T Stadium, Six Flags Over Texas. #americandreamcity

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For Arlington's 150th, the City and Arlington ISD invited sixth-graders to showcase their creativity and community pride through a special Arlington150 Bookmark Contest. Students designed bookmarks inspired by Arlington’s history, future, landmarks, neighborhoods and community spirit. Last night, the winners were recognized at the City Council meeting: Ximena Aldana – Berry Elementary Lauren Maqueda – Johns Elementary Emilia Navarro – Remynse Elementary Garrett Hosier – Little Elementary Atziry Marinez – Berry Elementary Cecilia Tran – JB Little Elementary Airiana Woods – Sherrod Elementary One unique bookmark will be available at each of Arlington’s seven public library locations, giving residents the opportunity to visit every branch and collect the full commemorative series. #Arlington150
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For Arlington's 150th, the City and Arlington ISD invited sixth-graders to showcase their creativity and...

Cheers to 150 years!! 🍻 Division Brewing, 506 E. Main St., has unveiled a limited edition commemorative craft beer, in honor of Arlington’s sesquicentennial. Arlington 150, a Belgian Wit style (think “Blue Moon”), has a light floral nose with faint underpinnings of citrus. Opened in 2015, Division Brewing grew from a friendship between two home brewers and Arlington residents, Wade Wadlington and Sean Cooley. Wadlington explained that they wanted their brewery to be somewhere that friends and neighbors could visit without traveling to Dallas or Fort Worth. Thank you for helping us celebrate 150 years! #Arlington150
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Cheers to 150 years!! 🍻
Division Brewing, 506 E. Main St., has unveiled a limited...

Raise a glass to 150 years!! 🍻 This Saturday, May 23, Division Brewing is unveiling, a limited edition commemorative, Belgian wit craft beer, in honor of Arlington’s sesquicentennial. The celebration is open to the public. Enjoy the first public tapping, live entertainment, food and anniversary themed activities. #Arlington150
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Raise a glass to 150 years!! 🍻
This Saturday, May 23, Division Brewing is unveiling,...

Such a great time celebrating Arlington's 150th anniversary with the @rangers at Arlington Appreciation Night at Globe Life Field last month. So glad you call Arlington home. #Arlington150
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Such a great time celebrating Arlington's 150th anniversary with the @rangers at Arlington Appreciation Night...

Celebrate Arlington’s 150th Anniversary with us! 🎉 Start your collection of six exclusive stickers by picking up your first one—for FREE—at City Hall, your local library, or a recreation center. Curious which design you’ll get? Visit and find out! Don’t forget, there’s a new sticker every month, so stop by different locations and discover all that Arlington has to offer. #Arlington150
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Celebrate Arlington’s 150th Anniversary with us! 🎉
Start your collection of six exclusive stickers by...

Pop quiz! We took a dive into the @UNTSpecColl and its NBC5/KXAS Television News Collection archives and found this city pool opening from July 12, 1959. Can you tell us which pool this is? #Arlington150
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Pop quiz! We took a dive into the @UNTSpecColl and its NBC5/KXAS Television News Collection...

Grab a sign and share the pride! We’ve seen 150th Anniversary yard signs going up all around Arlington, have you picked up yours yet? Arlington residents, businesses and organizers are invited to pick up Arlington 150th Anniversary yard signs for free as part of the city’s yearlong sesquicentennial celebration. Find your free yard sign at City Hall or a public library or recreation center near you! And don’t forget to share a picture with us once you have your sign up. Learn more at the link in our bio. #arlington150
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Grab a sign and share the pride!
We’ve seen 150th Anniversary yard signs going up...

The Texas Rangers first game in Arlington vs. 2026. Different stadium, and a different view, but the one thing that stays the same is the excitement when it's baseball time in Texas! #Arlington150
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The Texas Rangers first game in Arlington vs. 2026. Different stadium, and a different view,...

Calling all coffee lovers, this is for you! ☕ Arlington Coffee Roasters has introduced a new blend in honor of Arlington’s 150th anniversary. Try out the new medium roast made right here in Arlington #Arlington150
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Calling all coffee lovers, this is for you! ☕
Arlington Coffee Roasters has introduced a...

150 looks good on you Arlington ❤️💙 #arlington150
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150 looks good on you Arlington ❤️💙
#arlington150

Gambling, secret tunnels, and federal raids! In this Arlington Archives, learn about the Vegas before Vegas that was right here in Arlington, Top O’ Hill Terrace. Learn about the property’s evolution from a bustling gambling destination before becoming the campus of Arlington Baptist University in this episode of our 150th anniversary podcast. Find the link in our bio. #Arlington150
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Gambling, secret tunnels, and federal raids! In this Arlington Archives, learn about the Vegas before...

Happy Incorporation Day Arlington! On this day in 1884, the City of Arlington was officially incorporated by Tarrant County. Documents were adopted and approved on April 15 and 16. It took Tarrant County a few days to officially approve them on April 21, 1884. While Arlington was incorporated in 1884, the City was founded in July 1876. Learn more about Arlington’s 150th anniversary at arlington150.com #arlington150
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Happy Incorporation Day Arlington! On this day in 1884, the City of Arlington was officially...

Show off your hometown pride! Arlington residents, businesses and organizers are invited to pick up Arlington 150th Anniversary yard signs for free as part of the city’s yearlong sesquicentennial celebration. Find your free yard sign at City Hall or a public library or recreation center near you! 🔗Learn more at the link in our bio #arlington150
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Show off your hometown pride! Arlington residents, businesses and organizers are invited to pick up...

What a fun morning at Knapp Heritage Parks Pioneer Day! Butter making, cornhusk dolls and hands on history made for an unforgettable day thanks to UTA Museum Studies and History students, the Arlington Historical Society and Fielder Museum. Want more sesquicentennial fun? Head to Arlington150.com. The heritage site in Downtown Arlington serves as a rustic throwback to the city’s roots. The park contains three of Arlington’s oldest structures: the P. A. Watson Log House (1855), originally built by early settler and community leader Patrick Alfred Watson for his family; the Jopling-Melear Cabin (1863), a one-room frontier home constructed by farmer and cattleman George Washington Jopling; and the North Side School (1909), a temporary schoolhouse built after a fire destroyed the original campus. #arlington150
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What a fun morning at Knapp Heritage Parks Pioneer Day! Butter making, cornhusk dolls and...

Downtown and Arlington City Hall are looking festive!!! #Arlington150
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Downtown and Arlington City Hall are looking festive!!!
#Arlington150

Arlington racing: born in the dirt, thriving in the streets. From Troy Ruttman powering through a turn in the “Blue Crown Special” at Arlington Downs in 1949 to Pato O’Ward carving through the course at the inaugural Java House Grand Prix of Arlington, open wheel racing has deep roots here in The American Dream City. Two eras. Same adrenaline. Same Arlington spirit. #Arlington150
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Arlington racing: born in the dirt, thriving in the streets. From Troy Ruttman powering through...

NO AUDIO. Excited for the upcoming @Arlington_GP? We are! Did you know Arlington has a history of auto racing? American Automobile Association (AAA) races were held at Arlington Downs on its dirt oval in the late 1940s and early 1950s. There were even events featuring stock car racing and more. This video is from @UNT_Libraries and its NBC5/KXAS Television News Collection. #Arlington150
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NO AUDIO. Excited for the upcoming @Arlington_GP? We are! Did you know Arlington has a...

This year, it’s a joy looking back and saving 150 years of Arlington memories. This Saturday, discover new technology at the APL Tech Fair. The event is free and open to the public. Visit the Downtown Library at 11 a.m. on Saturday March 14 to learn about a variety of technological resources available, including 3-D printers and vinyl cutters, as well as digitization equipment that allows you to preserve old photos and videos. Learn more about the event at thelink in our bio. #Arlington150
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This year, it’s a joy looking back and saving 150 years of Arlington memories.

This...

As Arlington celebrates its sesquicentennial throughout 2026, we are sharing stories about the people, places and moments that made The American Dream City what it is today. This Women's History Month, we are excited to share the stories of some of the women who have influenced Arlington's history. Carrie Rogers celebrated her fifteenth birthday when the first Texas and Pacific train pulled into Arlington on July 19 in 1876. The Civil War had destroyed her family economically. By the time she showed up in Arlington to live with her grandfather, both her mother and father had died. Rogers married, then divorced, a wealthy Arlington merchant, but then became an entrepreneur in her own right, building a hotel and numerous houses, sometimes as many as a dozen a year. She wrote newspaper articles and ramrodded the newly created Improvement Society advocating for everything from sidewalks to a new opera house. When city officials decided that a more motherly approach might be more efficient in dealing with rowdy young men, Rogers was named city marshal – the first woman in Texas to hold such a position and for decades the only such woman in the state to be a police chief. Always colorful and adventurous, she had the city’s first swimming pool constructed and also built a giant treehouse spreading across several tree, using it to host civic events. By the time she died in the late 1940s she was the stuff of which local legends are made. Read more stories about women in Arlington's history at the link in our bio. #Arlington150
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As Arlington celebrates its sesquicentennial throughout 2026, we are sharing stories about the people, places...

In February 1952, a railroad boxcar filled with items for Königshofen was ready for shipment from Arlington. A send-off ceremony was held at the Texas & Pacific railroad depot, where it was shipped by Lykes Steamship Co. to Germany. This video is from @UNT_Libraries and its NBC5/KXAS Television News Collection. #Arlington150
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In February 1952, a railroad boxcar filled with items for Königshofen was ready for shipment...

As Arlington celebrates its sesquicentennial throughout 2026, we are sharing stories about the people, places and moments that made The American Dream City what it is today. This month, we are celebrating another pioneer in Arlington's rich history: Officer Fletcher Ray, the city’s first full-time Black police officer. Officer Ray joined the force in 1969, when Arlington was a close-knit community of about 89,000 residents and the police department had fewer than 100 officers. He served the Arlington community until 1971. #Arlington150
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As Arlington celebrates its sesquicentennial throughout 2026, we are sharing stories about the people, places...

Stay Social

Arlington’s 150th anniversary is a moment worth sharing — and we want to see it through your eyes. From community events and neighborhood memories to everyday moments that show what makes Arlington special, tag your photos and posts with #Arlington150 on social media. Your posts may be featured right here as part of our live 150th anniversary social feed.