In the heart of Fort Worth, there exists one of only two places in the nation where United States currency comes to life. The Bureau of Engraving & Printing’s Western Currency Facility at 9000 Blue Mound Road is a vital cog in America’s financial machine, churning out billions of dollars annually, as it operates in tandem with the bureau’s original location in Washington, D.C. Fort Worth’s production plant, bustling since 1990, has become as much a part of the Texas landscape as cattle ranches and oil rigs.
An interesting tidbit for those unfamiliar: When you pull out a bill and spot the letters “FW,” that’s Fort Worth’s handiwork, while those lacking “FW” hail from the nation’s capital, according to Fort Worth’s recent report. The choice of Fort Worth as a critical hub for printing money was no accident. Local support and the strategic donation of land made the city the federal government’s top pick to better serve the western region, and, since then, the local facility has evolved to be more than just a money maker; it’s a point of city pride.
If the intricacies of money manufacturing spark your interest, you’re in luck. Fort Worth’s Western Currency Facility opens its doors for free public tours from Tuesday to Friday each week, offering a peek into the complex process of currency creation—a journey from engraving to inspection to slicing and dicing, ready for the Federal Reserve’s use. The tours run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m, excluding federal holidays, and they provide a unique opportunity to witness the birth of millions of bills—an experience truly worth its weight in, well, paper…