The Great Depression brought many more obstacles for the emerging city. More than 18,000 people became unemployed, and the city began a work-for-food program. Due to the discovery of oil, Dallas did not experience the severity of the Depression in the way that many of the nation’s cities did. Many businesses continued on as usual, regardless of the fact that banks were closing. C.M. “Dad” Joiner struck oil just 100 miles east of Dallas in 1930, and with that find came the development of the East Texas Oil Field, the largest petroleum deposit in the world during this time. With Dallas already beginning to thrive, the city became the center of business for the nearby oil fields. Many local citizens became millionaires, and the city reaped the benefits of this newly acquired affluence.

Bryan’s “can do” spirit continued to spread like wildfire, and it infused the hearts and minds of other pioneers who were instrumental in bringing Dallas the Federal Reserve Bank. Soon after, the State of Texas chose Dallas as the site for the Texas Centennial Exposition, as well as the State Fair of Texas. 50 buildings were built in Fair Park, and 10 million visitors participated in the $25 million event. With the addition of the DFW International  Airport in 1974, the city grew to exceed Bryan’s expectations.

Stepping back in history for a moment, November 22, 1963 brought a turning point in terms of both Dallas’ and the nation’s history. As thousands watched, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated during a motorcade through downtown Dallas. Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested for the murder, only to be killed two days later by Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby. Dallas grieved and eventually moved on, but it never forgot that day. The Kennedy Memorial was created in 1970, and in 1989, the Sixth Floor  Museum at Dealy  Plaza opened in honor of the fallen president.

Meanwhile, Dallas continued to gain state and national attention, and by 1960, Dallas was home to two professional football teams. The Dallas Cowboys earned the name “America’s Team,” experiencing great success and popularity. From then, the ball continued to roll: The Texas Rangers brought baseball to Dallas in 1972, the Dallas Mavericks brought basketball in 1980, the Sidekicks brought indoor soccer in 1984 and the Dallas Stars brought professional hockey in 1993.

Today, Dallas is known as the banking center of the Southwest and is the third-largest city in Texas. It is home to international corporations and is a well-known commercial center and is a major convention city. Amidst the city’s changes, John Neely Bryan’s one-room cabin now stands in the shadow of towering buildings in the heart of downtown Dallas, and it continues to be a beacon calling entrepreneurs and adventurous spirits home.