Panther City Fountain, Fort Worth, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Panther City Fountain stands at the corner of 9th and Throckmorton in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. It takes its name from the city's nickname, Panther City, and it sits in a part of downtown where that nickname shows up in the architecture. It makes an easy stop on a walk through the area.

The story behind it

Fort Worth has long been called Panther City, and the name is the best way into this corner of downtown. The clearest example is close by. The Flatiron Building, at Houston and West Ninth Streets, was completed in 1907 for a local physician, Dr. Bacon Saunders. Marshall R. Sanguinet and Carl G. Staats, one of Fort Worth's leading architectural firms, designed it as a narrow, wedge-shaped tower to fit a triangular lot.

Look above the second story of the Flatiron and you will see carved panther heads, a nod to the city's nickname that has watched this corner for over a century. The building became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1970 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

What to look for

• The Flatiron Building's wedge shape, which follows the triangular lot where the streets meet at an angle.
• The carved stone panther heads above the second story of the Flatiron, which tie the architecture to the Panther City nickname.
• The fountain itself at 9th and Throckmorton, and how the corner sits in the street scene around it.

Tips for your visit

• Plan on 15 to 20 minutes here if you want to take in the fountain and look up at the Flatiron's facade.
• Go in daylight so the carved panther heads and other details are easy to pick out.
• The stop is outdoors on a downtown street corner, so you can see it from the pavement. Check current access and opening hours if you want to go inside any nearby building.
• Combine it with a longer walk through the surrounding downtown blocks rather than making a special trip for the fountain alone.

See it on a quest

Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in Fort Worth is a good fit if you like a mystery with your sightseeing. You reach the fountain on foot as one stop of a longer route through downtown, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Ghost Hunt in Fort Worth suits anyone who prefers their history with a spooky edge. You walk from place to place at your own pace, hear about each stop as you get there, and work out a puzzle in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in Fort Worth is made for families with young detectives. The route brings you here on foot, the app explains each place as you reach it, and the children solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.