Hall of State facts for kids

Hall of State
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
Exterior of the Hall of State
Hall of State Location in Texas Show map of Texas Hall of State Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	3939 Grand Ave., Dallas, Texas
Built	1936 (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
Designated CP	September 24, 1986

The Hall of State is a famous building in Dallas, Texas. It was first called the State of Texas Building. This amazing building helps us remember the history of Texas. It's also known for its beautiful Art Deco style. The Hall of State was built for a big event called the Texas Centennial Exposition.

A Look Back: The Hall of State's History

The Hall of State was built in 1936. It cost about $1.2 million, which was a huge amount of money, especially during the Great Depression. This made it the most expensive building per area in Texas at that time.

The building was designed by architect Donald Barthelme. It was created to celebrate 100 years since the Republic of Texas was formed. Its style is a mix of Beaux-Arts and Art Deco. Many people think it's one of the best examples of Art Deco in Texas.

A company called Livers Lighting and Bronze Company made most of the cool metal decorations inside. This included the light fixtures. The Hall of State is at the end of a long path called the Esplanade of State. This path is about 1,500-foot (460 m) long and has a big reflecting pool. The building itself is made from Texas limestone. It has special tributes to many Texas heroes.

The Hall of State Today

Since 1938, the Dallas Historical Society has taken care of the Hall of State. The building is part of Fair Park and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site.

In 1986, the Hall of State was fixed up. This restoration cost about $1.5 million. After this, the G.B. Dealey Library opened inside.

The G.B. Dealey Library

The G.B. Dealey Library is located in the East Texas room of the Hall of State. It holds more than 10,000 books. It also has three million historical papers. One very special item is Sam Houston's own handwritten story of the battle of San Jacinto.

The Dallas Historical Society also lets people rent the Hall of State for events. They offer guided tours for school groups too. This helps students learn about Texas history.

In 1981, the Hall of State was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. This is another way it's recognized as an important historical place. The The American Museum of the Miniature Arts is also currently located at the Hall of State.

Amazing Architecture and Art

The curved entrance of the Hall of State.

The beautiful Interior Great Hall.

The exterior frieze shows 59 Texas historical figures.

The entrance to the Hall of State has a curved shape called an exedra. It features tall limestone pillars, about 76-foot (23 m) high. Behind these pillars are blue tiles. These tiles are designed to look like the Texas state flower, the bluebonnet.

Right in the middle, above the entrance, is a large bronze statue. It's about 11-foot (3.4 m) tall and covered in gold leaf. This statue, made by Allie Tennant, is called the "Tejas Warrior." The warrior holds a bow without an arrow, which is a symbol of peace.

Hall of Heroes

Inside the Hall of State, you'll find the Hall of Heroes. This area has six bronze statues of important Texas figures. They are James Fannin, Mirabeau B. Lamar, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Thomas Jefferson Rusk, and William B. Travis. There are also bronze plaques that remember the famous Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto.

Outside the building, there's a statue of Robert L. Thornton. He was a big supporter of the State Fair of Texas and a former Mayor of Dallas. His statue looks out over the long esplanade.

Honoring Texas Figures

The outside of the Hall of State has a special design called a frieze. This frieze honors 60 important people from Texas history. Here are some of them:

See Also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallas County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Dallas County
• List of Dallas Landmarks