Thanks-Giving Square facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Thanks-Giving Square |
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Thanks-Giving Square Mosaic
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| Type | Private Park and Public Facility |
| Location | Dallas, Texas, US |
| Created | 1976 |
| Operated by | The Thanks-Giving Foundation |
| Open | All year |
Thanks-Giving Square is a special park and public place in downtown Dallas, Texas, USA. It opened in 1976. This unique spot has a beautiful garden, a chapel for everyone, and even parts of an underground walkway system. It was the first project in Dallas where private groups and the city worked together.
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What is Thanks-Giving Square?
In 1964, four business leaders wanted Dallas to be known for its kind heart, not just its money. They found that giving thanks is a very old idea, found in many cultures and religions. So, The Thanks-Giving Foundation was started. Their goal was to create a public space in Dallas dedicated to being thankful.
Working with the City of Dallas, construction began in 1973. The Square opened in November 1976. It was one of Dallas's three projects to celebrate the 200th birthday of the United States. Later, President Gerald Ford called Thanks-Giving Square an important national site. People of all backgrounds and beliefs are welcome here. It's a peaceful place to think about values and spirituality.
The City of Dallas built roads and tunnels under the garden. The city owns these underground parts. The Thanks-Giving Foundation leases the land above.
The Garden, Chapel, and Grounds
Thanks-Giving Square usually refers to the garden and buildings you see above ground. These are run by the non-profit Thanks-Giving Foundation. Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Philip Johnson designed the Square. The park is set 15 feet below street level. A four-foot wall blocks the view of cars. This makes it a calm, green island. Water features like fountains help to block city noise.
The Square does not have obvious religious symbols. But granite markers include words from the Bible. Psalm 100 is often seen in quotes and messages. These ideas come from Hindu, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions. Beautiful mosaics, stained glass, and art decorate the walls and windows.
Court of All Nations
At the west side of the park is the Court of All Nations. This is the main entrance. It has the Wall of Praise, with words from Psalms 100. You can also see Norman Rockwell's "Golden Rule" mosaic here. The Ring of Thanks is a large aluminum ring, 14 feet across. It is covered in 23-carat gold leaf. Visitors can walk through this ring. Then, they pass under a 50-foot Bell Tower. This tower has three bronze bells. They look like the Liberty Bell.
Center Court of Praise
In the middle of the garden is the Center Court of Praise. This area is inspired by public gathering places around the world. Special events with speeches, songs, and dances happen here. The aluminum and gold ring and nearby text refer to Psalm 100. This area often hosts special events, memorial services, and city-wide prayer gatherings.
The Grove Garden
The Grove is a garden area for quiet thought and meditation. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush dedicated the Wall of Presidents. This special display shares words of prayer and thanksgiving from American presidents.
Hall of Thanksgiving
Below the chapel is the Hall of Thanksgiving. This hall tells the story of the American Thanksgiving tradition. It is a center for exhibits, meetings, and learning at Thanks-Giving Square. Important guests visit this hall. It is also used for lectures, meetings between different faiths, and educational programs. You can see items like the Book of Prayers and Presidential Proclamations here.
Chapel of Thanksgiving
The Chapel of Thanksgiving is the spiritual heart of Thanks-Giving Square. It is open to people of all faiths. The chapel spirals upwards 90 feet (27.5 m) above the street. This shape shows the human spirit reaching high. The chapel's design is inspired by the Great Mosque in Samarra, Iraq. It also uses the idea of the ancient spiral of life.
To enter the chapel, you walk across a 125-foot (38 m) bridge. This bridge goes over a waterfall. The chapel ceiling has the "Glory Window." This stained glass window is one of the largest flat stained-glass pieces in the world. Gabriel Loire of Chartres, France designed its 73 panels. The colors get warmer and brighter as the spiral reaches its center. The window appeared in the 2011 film The Tree of Life. Above the entrance door is "The Spirit of Thanksgiving" window. This etched glass was designed by John Hutton. Art by Bjørn Wiinblad is also on display. Visitors are invited to write down something they are thankful for when they enter.
Gallery of Thanks-Giving Square Art and Architecture
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Center Court of Praise
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Thanks-Giving Square fountains
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Bell Tower and Ring of Thanks
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Exterior of the Chapel of Thanksgiving
Underground Walkways
One level below the garden is a part of the Dallas Pedestrian Network. This connects several nearby buildings. The corridors have restaurants and shops. Because it was built at the same time as the garden, there are skylights and wide walkways. Colorful atriums make it feel less like you are underground. The City of Dallas runs this section of the walkways. You can get to this network from the Center Court of Praise during business hours. Escalators bring you to street level at Bullington Street. This street is a pedestrian area and connects to the Bullington-Akard Skywalk. Some access points have been closed since 2016.
Bullington Truck Terminal
Thanks-Giving Square was meant to be the first of several places to help with traffic in downtown Dallas. The Bullington Truck Terminal was built to move delivery trucks off the busy streets. This was important because Dallas grew quickly in the 1960s. By putting truck traffic underground, it was thought that 350 trucks would be removed from street level each day. The city spent $6.5 million on this project. Construction finished in 1977.
This city-owned truck terminal is 50 feet underground. It has 43 spaces for trucks. Trucks enter from Patterson Street. Nearby buildings like the Republic Center, Energy Plaza, Thanksgiving Tower, and Fidelity Union Tower built their own connections to the terminal. They use it as their main loading dock. Even though more such facilities were planned, the Bullington Truck Terminal was the only one built.
