About the Dallas Historical Society
Dallas's Oldest Preservation Organization
Founded in 1922 by George Bannerman Dealey, founder and longtime publisher of the Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Historical Society is the oldest organization in Dallas County committed to preserving the region's history. Dealey noticed that many of Dallas's founders were beginning to pass away, leaving few public records of their lives. He gathered around 100 of the city's most prominent residents for a dinner, and the Dallas Historical Society was born. For over a century, the organization has collected, preserved, and shared the rich history of Dallas and North Texas.
The Hall of State at Fair Park
Since 1938, the Dallas Historical Society has been headquartered in the magnificent Hall of State at Fair Park. Built in 1936 for the Texas Centennial Exposition at a cost of $1.2 million—the most expensive building per square foot constructed in Texas at the time—the Art Deco masterpiece was designed by architect Donald Barthelme and eleven Texas architects. The building features Eugene Savage's grand Byzantine-style murals spanning the north and south walls, depicting Texas history from the 1500s through 1936, along with bronze statues of six Texas heroes by sculptor Pompeo Coppini: Austin, Houston, Lamar, Fannin, Rusk, and Travis. Following a $14.4 million renovation in 2020, the Hall of State stands as one of the most complete collections of Art Deco exposition architecture in the world.
Collections and Archives
The Dallas Historical Society maintains a collection of over 3 million artifacts and archival materials documenting Dallas and Texas history. The George B. Dealey Library houses 2.5 million archival documents, 3,000 photographs, 14,000 books, and 3,000 periodicals, including rare books and manuscripts on the Republic of Texas and Dallas's development. Notable artifacts include General Order Number 3—the Juneteenth document announcing emancipation in Texas—the personal collection of football legend Tom Landry, the papers of businesswoman Sarah Cockrell, and the uniform, hat, and flag of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz donated after Dallas hosted a celebration for the WWII Pacific Fleet commander.
Plan Your Visit
The Dallas Historical Society is located in the Hall of State at 3939 Grand Avenue in Fair Park, Dallas. The Hall of State is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. The George B. Dealey Library is open to the public by appointment for research. An online collections database at dallashistory.catalogaccess.com provides access to digitized materials. For information about exhibitions, educational programs, and special events, visit www.dallashistory.org or call 214-421-4500.
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