Magnolia Hotel (Dallas, Texas) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Magnolia Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property

Magnolia Building in 2009
Magnolia Building Location in Texas Show map of Texas Magnolia Building Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	108 S. Akard St., Dallas, Texas
Area	0.4 acres (0.16 ha)
Built	1921 (1921)
Architect	Alfred C. Bossom, Lang & Witchell
Architectural style	Beaux-Arts, Renaissance, Skyscraper
Part of	Dallas Downtown Historic District (ID04000894)
NRHP reference No.	78002915
Added to NRHP	January 30, 1978
Designated CP	August 11, 2006

The Magnolia Hotel is a famous building in downtown Dallas, Texas. It is 29 stories tall and built in the beautiful Beaux-Arts style. For many years, it was the tallest building in Texas! Today, it is an upscale hotel.

This building is also known as the Magnolia Building. It was originally called the Magnolia Petroleum Building. It is a special Dallas Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical place.

History of the Magnolia Building
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History of the Magnolia Building

The Magnolia Building first opened its doors in August 1922. It cost about US $4 million to build. It was originally the main office for the Magnolia Petroleum Company. It stood right next to the Adolphus Hotel.

The Famous Pegasus Sign

In 1934, something very special was added to the building. The Magnolia Petroleum Company put their famous neon Pegasus sign on the roof. This was to celebrate a big meeting for the American Petroleum Institute happening in Dallas.

The Pegasus is a rotating winged horse. It quickly became a symbol of Dallas. People loved seeing the bright red horse spinning high above the city. Even when taller skyscrapers were built, the Pegasus remained a beloved landmark. You can still see it in the downtown skyline, especially when you approach from the south.

Changes Over Time

By 1974, the Pegasus sign stopped rotating because of mechanical problems. In 1977, the city of Dallas bought the building. The next year, in 1978, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1997, developers from Denver, Colorado bought the building. They turned it into the luxurious Magnolia Hotel. It now has 330 rooms for guests.

Restoring the Pegasus

In 1999, Dallas was getting ready for the Millennium Celebration (the year 2000). The old Pegasus sign was taken down to be fixed. But it was too old and damaged to be repaired. So, a brand new sign was made!

At midnight on January 1, 2000, the new Pegasus lit up for the first time. It even started rotating again! A copy of the original Pegasus sign, which used to be on a Mobil Oil gas station, is now on display at the Old Red Museum.