List of Dallas Landmarks facts for kids

Dallas Landmark is a special title given by the City of Dallas to important old buildings and areas in Dallas, Texas, United States. When a place becomes a Dallas Landmark, it means it's super important because of its history, how it looks, its art, or its cultural value. Once a building or area gets this title, it's protected by special rules. This means that if anyone wants to change it, or even tear it down, they have to get permission from the Landmark Commission first. This helps make sure these cool places stay around for a long time!

Why a Place Becomes a Landmark

Buildings can become a Dallas Landmark if they have any of these special qualities:

• They have a unique character.
• A really important historical event happened there.
• A famous or historically important person was connected to the place.
• It's part of Dallas's cultural, economic, social, or historical story.
• It shows a special way of building or a unique architectural style.
• A famous architect or builder designed it.
• It shows new and clever ideas in building design.
• It has old artifacts buried there (archaeological importance), or it's a place that makes the community proud.

Dallas Landmark districts are larger areas that have many buildings that share a similar building style or are linked by important historical events.

Many Dallas Landmark buildings are also recognized on other important lists, like the National Register of Historic Places or the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark list. These are national and state lists that also protect historic places.

Who Decides: The Landmark Commission

The mayor of Dallas and the city council choose 18 people to be on the Landmark Commission. These people usually know a lot about history, art, architecture, or how to protect old buildings. They work for two years without pay.

The Landmark Commission and another group called the City Plan Commission suggest which places should become Dallas Landmarks. Their ideas then go to the Dallas City Council, who makes the final decision.

There's also a smaller group called the Designation Committee. This committee includes some Landmark Commissioners and other citizens. They are historians, architects, and experts in preserving old places. Their job is to look at new applications for landmarks and historic districts and then send their suggestions to the main Landmark Commission.

Cool Landmark Buildings

Dallas has many amazing buildings that have been named landmarks. Here are a few examples:

The Adolphus Hotel is a grand old hotel in downtown Dallas.

The Majestic Theatre is the only old theater left from what was once "Theater Row."

The Magnolia Building used to have a flying red horse sign on top!

Union Station is a historic train station.

Fair Park has the biggest collection of art deco buildings from an exhibition.

Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts is a special school for talented students.

The former Texas School Book Depository building is in the West End Historic District.

The Knights of Pythias Temple is a historic building in Deep Ellum.

The Scottish Rite Cathedral is a beautiful and historic building.

Cool Landmark Districts

These are larger areas in Dallas that have been recognized for their special history or architecture.

The Harwood Street Historic District is a protected area.

The South Boulevard-Park Row Historic District has many historic homes.

This is a porch column from the Tenth Street Historic District.

Market Street in the West End Historic District is a popular spot.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallas County, Texas
• History of Dallas