FORT WORTH, Texas — More than 3,000 people watched Monday's solar eclipse at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
The garden opened its vista to onlookers, who sprawled out on blankets for hours. The crowd erupted in cheers when the moon passed in front of the sun, turning the sky dark as night at 1:40 p.m.
Some popped champagne. Another couple got engaged in the darkness.
"I understand why people travel," Lorena Garcia told WFAA after the event. "I understand why people plan trips and vacations to see this."
Some attendees hailed from Boston, Seattle, Alaska and the United Kingdom, they told WFAA.
Fort Worth had not witnessed a total solar eclipse since 1878. Totality lasted 2 minutes and 24 seconds Monday.
"It makes you believe in a higher power," said Paula Porter, looking up at the partial eclipse she likened to a "fingernail moon."
"It's indescribable," she added.
Food trucks lined the vista. Some visitors played eclipse-themed games as they waited for the main event.
The garden also hosted researchers Monday. Scientists studied plants' and butterflies' reaction to the midday darkness.
NASA selected the Fort Worth Botanic Garden for a special project of its own. The space agency placed a small microphone in a remote part of the park, hoping to catch nature's audible reaction to the celestial event.
After initial cheers, the human attendees fell mostly silent. Some stood in awe.
"I reached out and said, 'Oh my gosh, I'm so glad you guys are here,'" Garcia said, gripping her children by the arm. "It's visceral."