Dallas Texas Dallas Dallas, TX Settled in 1841, Dallas has become a metropolitan city that's cosmopolitan with an old west charm. Dallas County is considered the #1 visitor and leisure destination in Texas with more than 160 museuems, galleries, and artistic attractions...and more than 1110 live performances per night. Dallas area events include: Scarborough Faire Renaissance Festival, Cinco de Mayo Celebration, Taste of Dallas, Oktoberfest, State Fair of Texas, and the Turkey Trot. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, PA It wasn't always known primarily for its steel mills and air pollution. The city of Pittsburg is the County seat of Allegheny County and is located where the Alleheny and Monongahela Rivers form the Ohio River. It gained city status in 1816. Its recent redevelopment, sports teams, strategic locatioon, and attractive destinations and attractions has given a new importance to the community. The area now enjoys several high-tech and financial regions and some thriving neighborhoods. San Jose California San Jose San Jose, CA With a population of nearly 875,000, San Jose is larger than San Francisco, Boston, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Miami, Denver, and New Orleans. The city is the largest in Northern California. Situated between the Diablo and Santa Cruz mountain ranges, San Jose encompasses 170 square miles at the southern tip of San Francisco Bay. Founded in 1777, San Jose served as the first capital before California was officially a state. San Jose events include: San Jose Greek Festival, San Jose America Festival, San Jose Jazz Festival, and San Jose Holiday Parade & Christmas in the Park. Wichita Falls Texas Railroad Museum Wichita Falls, TX It was in 1882 when the Fort Worth & Denver Railroad brought the first train to the area and the town was established as an agricultural and trade center. Names for Wichita Indians, Wichita Falls has an oil boom in the early 1900s. The city is the seat of government for Wichita County. Cultural attractions include a symphony orchestra, community theater, ballet, and museums. Midwestern State University makes its home in Wichita Falls. Wichita Falls events include: Texas Ranch Roundup and the Hotter 'n Hell One Hundred held in August. Montgomery Alabama Montgomery, AL Montgomery, AL Montgomery is the capital of Alabama and was named for a Revolutionary War hero, General Richard Montgomery and was founded in 1819. During the Civil War Alabama seceded from the Union and Jefferson Davis became the president of the new Confederate States of America. And the orders to attack Fort Sumter and signal the begiining of the Civil War was sent from Montgomery. For a short time, Montgomery was the headquarters for the Confederacy. After the war, Montgomery had the countrys, first electric streetcar and the first school for flights and Aviation Heros Orville and Wilbur Wright conducted the first night flights here in 1910. The site of the aviation history is now Maxwell Air Force Base. Dr. Martin Luther King began his career here and assumed the leading role in the Civil Rights movement. The area is rich in Civil War history and contains the first "White House of the Confederacy" and contains many items that belonged to Jefferson Davis and many Civil War artifacts and also the Civil Rights Memorial with many things relateing to Martin Luther King. Before the Civil War Montgomery was a cotton market and a transportation center. Today, it is one of the largest livestock markets and dairy centers in the southeast. The development of hydroelectric power has speeded up manufacturing growth in the city. One of the main product amnufactired here is Victorian Style furniture. Main attractions also include the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the Alabam Judicial Building, the Alabama Science Center, Alabama War Memorial, Jasmine Hill Gardens & Outdoor Museum, the Montgomery Zoo and many other attractions relating to Cival War Era and Martin Luther King and the Civil Rights Movement. There are also a number of art galleries and museums and many festivals are held here each year. The Alabama Shakespeare Festival season runs mid November to late August with evening performances held Tuesday through Thursday and weekend matinees are also held. There are also many fine malls and restaraunts and lodging available. Among annual activities include the AUMfest welcomes students bac to campus in the fall with a day of picnicing, and the world-famous Mardi Gras includes the "Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler," complete with fireworks, food, music and children's amusements. The Theatre AUM is a season of productions to include drama to musical comedy. The Hank Williams Memorial is the final resting place of the famous singer Hank Williams complete with a life-size statue. The Montgomery Motor Speedway is a place where local, state and regional drivers compete in NASCAR stockcar racing; The Montgomery Motorsports Park offers year-round drag racing for racing fans; Music lovers can enjoy the Montgomery Symphony Orgestra that presents a classical, holiday and pop concerts as well as children's programs and outdoor pop concerts. For ballet lovers, the Mongomery Ballet is central Alabama's combination of professional ballet company and youth instruction, with annual performances that include the famous "Performance on the Green", and the famous" Nutcracker." A fall concert is also held called "Ballet and Beasts" at the Montgomery Zoo. There are also some 80 city parks to enjoy. The famous Montgomery Musuem of Fine Arts include artists such as John Singer Sargent and Robert Henry, James McNeill Whistler and Thomas Hart Benton as well as European artists from the 15th to 18th centuries. The Montgomery Zoo includes over 600 birds, mammels and reptile from all over the world, including endangered species. There is a little something for everyone's taste in this city, rich in Civil War and Civil Rights Movements artifacts and history.