Dallas Municipal Building
Encyclopedia
The Dallas Municipal Building is a Dallas Landmark located along S. Harwood Street between Main and Commerce Street in the Main Street District of downtown
Dallas
, Texas
that served as the city's fourth City Hall. The structure is also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
and a contributing property
in the Harwood Historic District
, located across the street from Main Street Garden Park
.
In 1956 the Municipal Building Annex was completed at 2014 Main St. and attached as a connected building to 106 S. Harwood and became the home to the Dallas Police Department
.
After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
, Lee Harvey Oswald
was arrested and jailed in the Municipal Building on November 22, 1963. Two days later he was fatally shot by Jack Ruby
while being led out by police in the basement garage.
Dallas City Hall
vacated the structure in 1978 when it moved to its current location at 1500 Marilla St. In 2003 the Dallas Police Department moved its offices to the new Jack Evans Police Headquarters at 1400 S. Lamar St, leaving only municipal courts in the building. The building suffered partial abandonment and neglect as the city tried to find a new use for the historic structure.
On June 19, 2009, Texas Governor Rick Perry
signed SB 956 into law, establishing the first public law school in North Texas. University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law plans to begin taking applications in the Fall of 2010 for classes which will begin in 2011. Initially, courses will be held at the nearby Universities Center at Dallas
while extensive renovations of the Municipal Building are made. The building will then serve as the law school's permanent home and the municipal courts will move into a renovated Municipal Building Annex.
Downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District in Dallas, Texas USA, located in the geographic center of the city. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally been defined as bounded by the downtown freeway loop: bounded on the east by I-345 Downtown Dallas is the Central Business District...
Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
that served as the city's fourth City Hall. The structure is also a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the state of Texas....
and a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
in the Harwood Historic District
Harwood Historic District
The Harwood Historic District is a historic commercial district and Dallas Landmark District on the east end of downtown Dallas, Texas lying in parts of the City Center District, Main Street District and Farmers Market District...
, located across the street from Main Street Garden Park
Main Street Garden Park
Main Street Garden Park is a public park located in downtown Dallas, Texas, USA The $17.4 million park was primarily funded through the City of Dallas’ 2003 and 2006 bond programs and is the first of several planned downtown core parks, including Pacific Plaza Park and Belo Garden Park...
.
History
The City purchased land for the fourth City Hall in 1911-1912 from Eliza Trice, Otto H. Lang and the Sweeney Family. Designed by C. D. Hill in the Beaux-Arts style, plans were drawn up in 1913 and the Spring Fred A. Jones Building Company began construction. The building company filed for bankruptcy later that year, and the Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to accept the sale and transfer of materials to C. C. Street, Jr., who completed the building. The Municipal Building opened October 17, 1914.In 1956 the Municipal Building Annex was completed at 2014 Main St. and attached as a connected building to 106 S. Harwood and became the home to the Dallas Police Department
Dallas Police Department
The Dallas Police Department, established in 1881, is the principal law enforcement agency serving the city of Dallas, Texas.-Organization:The department is headed by a chief of police who is appointed by the city manager who, in turn, is hired by the Dallas City Council...
.
After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald
Lee Harvey Oswald was, according to four government investigations,These were investigations by: the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the Warren Commission , the House Select Committee on Assassinations , and the Dallas Police Department. the sniper who assassinated John F...
was arrested and jailed in the Municipal Building on November 22, 1963. Two days later he was fatally shot by Jack Ruby
Jack Ruby
Jacob Leon Rubenstein , who legally changed his name to Jack Leon Ruby in 1947, was convicted of the November 24, 1963 murder of Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin of President John F. Kennedy. Ruby, who was originally from Chicago, Illinois, was then a nightclub operator in Dallas, Texas...
while being led out by police in the basement garage.
Dallas City Hall
Dallas City Hall
Dallas City Hall is the seat of Dallas municipal government, located at 1500 Marilla in the Government District of downtown Dallas, Texas...
vacated the structure in 1978 when it moved to its current location at 1500 Marilla St. In 2003 the Dallas Police Department moved its offices to the new Jack Evans Police Headquarters at 1400 S. Lamar St, leaving only municipal courts in the building. The building suffered partial abandonment and neglect as the city tried to find a new use for the historic structure.
On June 19, 2009, Texas Governor Rick Perry
Rick Perry
James Richard "Rick" Perry is the 47th and current Governor of Texas. A Republican, Perry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Texas in 1998 and assumed the governorship in December 2000 when then-governor George W. Bush resigned to become President of the United States. Perry was elected to full...
signed SB 956 into law, establishing the first public law school in North Texas. University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law plans to begin taking applications in the Fall of 2010 for classes which will begin in 2011. Initially, courses will be held at the nearby Universities Center at Dallas
Universities Center at Dallas
The Universities Center at Dallas is a partnership between the Dallas County Community College District and four Texas universities. It is located in the historic Titche-Goettinger Building in the Main Street District area of downtown Dallas, Texas, and was the first partnership of its kind in...
while extensive renovations of the Municipal Building are made. The building will then serve as the law school's permanent home and the municipal courts will move into a renovated Municipal Building Annex.