A Brief History of Dallas

From a quiet bend in the Trinity River to one of the most dynamic cities in America, A Brief History of Dallas traces the extraordinary rise of a place built on ambition, resilience, and reinvention.

Across ten vivid, cinematic chapters, Derek Monaghan brings Dallas’s story to life—beginning long before the city existed, when ancient landscapes shaped the lives of Indigenous peoples who called the region home. From John Neely Bryan’s frontier settlement to the explosive arrival of the railroads, Dallas emerges as a crossroads of opportunity, industry, and culture.

The narrative follows the city through its defining eras: the cotton boom, waves of immigration, the Great Depression and New Deal transformation, the postwar suburban surge, and the tragedy of 1963 that placed Dallas at the center of world history. As the decades unfold, the city reinvents itself again and again—rising from oil shocks, embracing technology, nurturing creativity, and becoming a global hub of innovation and diversity.

Richly detailed and deeply human, A Brief History of Dallas explores the people, forces, and moments that shaped the city’s identity. It is a story of pioneers and visionaries, artists and activists, triumphs and challenges—all woven into the vibrant tapestry of a modern metropolis.

Whether you’re a lifelong Dallas resident, a student of American history, or a curious traveler, this book offers a powerful, accessible journey through the past, present, and future of the city that continues to rise.