Hall of State facts for kids
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Hall of State
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Exterior of the Hall of State
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 Hall of State
Location in Texas
Hall of State
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3939 Grand Ave., Dallas, Texas |
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| Built | 1936 |
| Architect | Donald Barthelme, Adams & Adams, et al |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Part of | Texas Centennial Exposition Buildings (1936-1937) (ID86003488) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Designated CP | September 24, 1986 |
The Hall of State is a famous building in Dallas, Texas. It's located in Fair Park and was originally called the State of Texas Building. This building was created to celebrate the history of Texas. It's also known as one of the best examples of Art Deco style architecture in the state. The Hall of State was designed and built for the Texas Centennial Exposition, a big fair held in 1936.
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History of the Hall of State
The Hall of State was built in 1936. It cost about $1.2 million, which was a huge amount of money back then, especially during the Great Depression. This made it the most expensive building per area in Texas at the time.
The building was designed by architect Donald Barthelme. It was made to celebrate 100 years since Texas became a republic. The Hall of State is a great example of the Art Deco style, which was popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Many of the cool metal designs and light fixtures inside were made by John F. Livers.
The Hall of State is at the end of a long path called the Esplanade of State. This path is about 1,500 feet (457 meters) long and has six other buildings and a long reflecting pool. The Hall of State itself was built using Texas limestone. It has many tributes to important people from Texas history.
Design and Architecture
Outside the Building
The entrance of the Hall of State has a curved area with tall limestone pillars. These pillars are about 76 feet (23 meters) high. Behind them are blue tiles that look like the state flower, the bluebonnet.
Right above the entrance, there's a large bronze statue. It's about 11 feet (3.4 meters) tall and covered in gold leaf. This statue, made by Allie Tennant, shows a "Tejas Warrior." The warrior holds a bow without an arrow, which is a symbol of peace.
The outside walls of the Hall of State also have the names of 60 important people from Texas history carved into them. These carvings are called a frieze.
Outside the building, you can also see a statue of Robert L. Thornton. He was a big supporter of the State Fair of Texas and used to be the mayor of Dallas. His statue looks out over the Esplanade.
Inside the Building
The Hall of State is shaped like the letter T. Inside, it has four main rooms. Each room represents a different part of Texas: West, East, North, and South. Each room has artwork that shows what that region is like.
The main entrance area inside is called the Hall of Heroes. Here, you'll find six bronze statues of famous Texas heroes. These include James Fannin, Mirabeau B. Lamar, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Thomas Jefferson Rusk, and William B. Travis. There are also bronze plaques that remember important battles like the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto.
What's Happening Today
Since 1938, the Dallas Historical Society has been in charge of the Hall of State. They help take care of the building and its history. The Hall of State is recognized as an important historical place and is part of Fair Park on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1986, the building was fixed up and made new again. This restoration cost about $1.5 million. After that, the G.B. Dealey Library was opened inside.
The G.B. Dealey Library is located in the West Texas room of the Hall of State. It holds more than 10,000 books and three million historical documents. One very special item there is Sam Houston's own handwritten story of the Battle of San Jacinto.
The Dallas Historical Society also rents out the Hall of State for different events. They also give guided tours to school groups, so kids can learn about Texas history and the building's amazing architecture.
The Hall of State was officially named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981, recognizing its importance to the state's history.
See also
