Meet Molly, the mascot who puts the ‘Cow’ in ‘Cowtown’

Meet Molly, the mascot who puts the 'Cow' in 'Cowtown'

Published on October 11, 2024

She's a divine bovine who's been repping the City of Fort Worth for nearly 25 years.

When your nickname is "Cowtown," it's only fitting that your official mascot is a longhorn steer whose iconic profile is seen all over Fort Worth.

Molly's famous face can be found on shirts, buildings, printed materials, mugs and more. She's so well-known, she's the emblem on the lapel pin every new City of Fort Worth employee receives their first day on the job.

And if you've attended a City-sponsored event in recent years, you've likely spotted Molly "mooo-ving" about the venue in her life-sized costume. This vibrant incarnation of the legendary steerhead brings a fun-loving spirit to VIP appearances.

But what's Molly's story? When did Fort Worth's favorite four-legged lady make her debut, and why?

To find out, we need to steer back to the early 1900s, when Fort Worth was still a fledgling town finding its footing as a major stop for travelers on the Chisholm Trail.

Molly is loosely based on a longhorn head sculpture that adorns the Livestock Exchange Building in the Stockyards. Built in 1902 as a major hub for cattle traders, the building became a symbol of Fort Worth's deep ties to the cattle industry.

Installed in 1909 as a tribute to the young city's cattle-driven past, the sculpture was reportedly named Molly because it's said the first longhorn in a herd is called by that name.

On July 18, 2000, the City Council officially adopted Molly as the City's mascot.

Today, you'll find Molly proudly displayed on the City's logo, appearing on all City-branded materials and at City-sponsored events. She even holds a special place as public artwork in the City Council Chamber at 200 Texas St.

Photo:A bona fide bovine: Molly the mascot is all hat and all cattle.

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• Arts & Culture