I’m a huge fan of documentaries. YouTube has some great videos about Arlington that serve as a fantastic introduction to our city’s vibrant history.
Although I didn’t create any of these videos, I wanted to have a place where I (and others) could find them in one location. Someday, I’d love to create my own documentaries about Arlington, but until then, there are plenty of other videos for us to enjoy.
Arlington History – four-part series
The City of Arlington’s YouTube channel has several videos about Arlington’s history, including this four-part series.
Arlington in the forties, fifties, and sixties
Several years ago, the Arlington Historical Society compiled a couple of slideshows with photos of Arlington. The first video covers the 1940s, while the second covers the 1940s through 1960s.
Downtown Arlington Roots – Podcast
A few years ago, the Downtown Arlington organization produced a six-part podcast. Episode 2, “Putting Down Roots,” featured Geraldine Mills and O.K. Carter talking about Arlington’s early days.
Black History in Arlington
A significant part of Arlington’s Black history involves The Hill – a historic, five-block area located northwest of the town’s original boundaries. “Echoes From The Hill” is a planned five-part documentary exploring life for Arlington’s residents of The Hill. A few months before the premiere, an extended trailer was released.
Also of note in Arlington’s Black history is the Arlington Heritage Memorial Grounds, the collective name of an area encompassing three separate historic cemeteries—the Middleton Tate Johnson Family Cemetery (est. 1850), the Mill Branch Cemetery (est. 1850), and the Colored Cemetery (est. 1900). While “colored” may seem inappropriate, that’s what they called themselves, and cemetery supporters, many of whom are Black, have been emphatic about maintaining the legacy and heritage.
O.K. Carter’s Arlington Time Capsules
Few people have covered Arlington quite like O.K. Carter. A former long-time journalist, he is also a writer, local historian, and documentary filmmaker, among many other things. His Arlington Time Capsules series covers many significant parts of Arlington’s history. Be sure to also check out his book, “Caddos, Cotton and Cowboys: Essays on Arlington,” which is a tremendous resource for Arlington’s history. I was fortunate enough to be the editor of the fourth edition, which came out in June 2023.
Texas Rangers – “Journey to Baseball Town” documentary
In 2022, to celebrate the Texas Rangers’ 50th season, the City of Arlington, MyArlingtonTV, and the Texas Rangers partnered on a five-part, 50-minute documentary about how the team arrived in Arlington, and especially how Tom Vandergriff’s vision helped make it happen.
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas opened in 1961. Since then, Arlington’s Entertainment District has grown into one of the top tourist destinations in North Texas, and Six Flags remains a significant draw for locals and visitors alike.
Caelum Moor
Some of the most unique public art in Arlington is Caelum Moor, which is the collective name of five large stone sculptures in the Entertainment District.
Jason S. Sullivan 