Unvisited Dallas

Main Street Garden Celebration offers behind-the-scenes tours

Noah Jeppson — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:15:58 +0000

When the block-long Main Street Garden opened three years it brought new attention to the neighborhood at the east end of downtown Dallas. The public park’s expansive lawn has hosted numerous festivities and provides an excellent viewpoint for studying the architecture of the area. You don’t have to be an architect to appreciate the classic [...]

Winter Storms Cause Havoc in Downtown Dallas

Noah Jeppson — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:28:24 +0000

Winter storms are not new for Dallas, and they never fail to cause confusion and congestion on city streets. Downtown Dallas has seen its fair share of slippery weather, as seen in the two photos below.

The first photo, taken in 1958, looks west on Elm Street from Akard Street. Back when Elm Street carried [...]

2012 Year in Review: Historic Preservation in Dallas

Noah Jeppson — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 19:47:10 +0000

2012 was a busy year for historic preservation wins and losses in the City of Dallas. As downtown continues to draw new businesses, cultural institutions, parks and residents, it remains an area of constant change. Some long-time landmarks were inevitably demolished, while plans continue to breathe life back into others. New publicity to the neighborhood [...]

Dallas Skyline, 1931-1951

Noah Jeppson — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 03:01:56 +0000

One image was taken at the peak of an era. Another was shot at the start of an era. These two similar photos of the Dallas skyline — taken 20 years apart — reveal some interesting changes to the downtown landscape.

By 1931 — when the first photo was taken — the city of Dallas [...]

Monroe Shops & the Interurban

Noah Jeppson — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 14:00:16 +0000

Along Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Blue Line stands a dignified industrial building, one remnant of a rail network that connected communities across North Texas and helped Dallas become a regional leader for business. Nearly 100 years after its construction, the Monroe Shops serve a new purpose still related to the very infrastructure it once supported. [...]

A Flashback to Roosevelt’s 1936 Visit

Noah Jeppson — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 06:06:47 +0000

In 1936 President Roosevelt visited Dallas to deliver a special address at the Cotton Bowl — part of the Texas Centennial Exposition’s celebration at Fair Park. As the President’s motorcade drove east on Main Street towards Deep Ellum enthusiastic crowds watched and waved. Seventy-six years later, a photo from the same location at Main and [...]

A Humble Service Station in Oak Cliff

Noah Jeppson — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 08:02:25 +0000

At the corner of Zang and Beckley rests a small building once center stage to early zoning battles in the city of Dallas. Despite controversial beginnings the Humble Oil Service Station has remained a reminder of simpler times in Oak Cliff even as the neighborhood has changed. With its impending demolition, a small slice of [...]

Terminal Annex and its Murals

Noah Jeppson — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 18:06:00 +0000

Somewhat overlooked, an impressive Art Deco structure serves as the visual anchor to the southern edge of Dealey Plaza and the western edge of downtown Dallas. Generally off-limits to the public, the historic Terminal Annex Building once served as an important postal facility for the city. Today we explore its history and the notable Depression-era murals [...]

Behind the Screen at the Texas Theatre

Noah Jeppson — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 07:05:43 +0000

Nestled in the heart of Oak Cliff lies an entertainment venue engrained in the history of the community. After suffering years of decline and neglect, the structure is seeing new life through creative programing and sensitive restoration, ensuring it will remain a vital anchor of the neighborhood. Today we travel behind the scenes at one [...]

Rebirth of the U.S. Post Office & Courthouse

Noah Jeppson — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 18:03:41 +0000

Enter 400 North Ervay, and the scent of fresh paper and stamps fill the air. While the downtown U.S. Post Office (at the corner of Ervay and Bryan Streets) has operated from the same location for over 80 years, few people recall when the upper levels of this landmark structure were bustling with activity. Today [...]