Dallas Municipal Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dallas Municipal Building |
|
|---|---|
Dallas Municipal Building.
|
|
| General information | |
| Status | in use |
| Type | Municipal Government |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Address | 106 S. Harwood St. |
| Town or city | Dallas, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 32°46′53″N 96°47′37″W / 32.78139°N 96.793731°W |
| Construction started | 1913 |
| Opening | October 17, 1914 |
| Owner | City of Dallas |
| Grounds | 22,000 square feet (2,000 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | C. D. Hill & Company; Mauran, Russell & Crowell |
|
Dallas City Hall and Municipal Building
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
| Part of | Dallas Downtown Historic District (ID04000894) |
| Significant dates | |
| Designated CP | August 11, 2006 |
The Dallas Municipal Building is a very important building in Dallas, Texas. It is located in the downtown area. This building was once the fourth City Hall for Dallas. It is also recognized as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. You can find it near Main Street Garden Park.
Contents
History of the Dallas Municipal Building
Building a New City Hall
The City of Dallas decided to build a new City Hall between 1911 and 1912. They bought the land from several families. The building was designed by C. D. Hill & Company. They chose a style called Beaux-Arts. This style is known for being grand and classical.
Plans for the building were ready in 1913. Construction began with the Fred A. Jones Building Company. However, that company faced problems and went out of business. Another company, led by C. C. Street, Jr., then took over. He finished building the Municipal Building. It officially opened its doors on October 17, 1914.
A Home for the Police Department
In 1956, another building was added next to the Municipal Building. This new part was called the Municipal Building Annex. It became the main home for the Dallas Police Department. Police officers worked there for many years.
In 1963, the building became part of a very important moment in American history. After a sad event, Lee Harvey Oswald was held here by the Dallas Police Department. This made the building famous around the world.
Changes Over Time
The Dallas City Hall moved out of the Municipal Building in 1978. They moved to a new, modern building. The Dallas Police Department also moved to a new headquarters in 2003. This left only the municipal courts in the old building. For a while, parts of the building were empty and not used.
New Life as a Law School
In 2009, a new plan was made for the historic building. Texas Governor Rick Perry signed a law to create a new public law school. This school was the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law.
The Municipal Building was chosen to be the permanent home for this new law school. Before the school could move in, the building needed a lot of repairs and updates. The municipal courts that were still there moved to the renovated Municipal Building Annex. The building now serves as a place for students to learn about law.
