O. T. Bassett Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids O. T. Bassett Tower |
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The O. T. Bassett Tower
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| General information | |
| Status | open |
| Architectural style | Moderne, Art Deco, Stepped skyscraper |
| Location | 303 Texas Avenue El Paso, Texas |
| Coordinates | 31°45′35″N 106°29′10″W / 31.7597°N 106.4862°W |
| Construction started | 1929 |
| Completed | 1930 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 15 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Trost & Trost |
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O. T. Bassett Tower
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| Area | less than one acre |
| MPS | Commercial Structures of El Paso by Henry C. Trost TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004101 |
| Added to NRHP | September 24, 1980 |
The O. T. Bassett Tower is a cool skyscraper located in Downtown El Paso, Texas. It stands at 303 Texas Avenue. This building is famous for its Art Deco style, which was popular in the 1920s and 1930s.
About the Bassett Tower
The O. T. Bassett Tower was built by Charles N. Bassett. He named it to honor his father, Oscar T. Bassett. The building was designed by a well-known architecture firm called Trost & Trost.
Building History
Construction of the tower finished in 1930. It was one of the last projects designed by Henry Trost. For a short time, the Bassett Tower was the tallest building in El Paso. However, it was soon surpassed by the Hilton Hotel in the same year.
Tower Features
The Bassett Tower is 217 feet (66 meters) tall. It has 15 stories. You can see special "setbacks" on the tenth and thirteenth floors. This means the building gets a bit narrower as it goes up.
The outside of the tower is covered with tan brick. It also has cool decorations made from stone and terra cotta. One interesting detail is a sculpted face above the main entrance. Many people believe this face looks like Henry Trost himself!
Historic Recognition
The O. T. Bassett Tower is an important part of history. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special building worth protecting.
See also
- In Spanish: O. T. Bassett Tower para niños
