The Hall of State debuted in 1936 as part of the Texas Centennial Exhibition.
Its original name was the State of Texas Building.
Eventually designed by Donald Barthelme, the building is a premier example of Cret’s Modernism. That is a reference to noted designer Paul Cret, who was the design consultant for the project. The design blends classicism and Art Deco – with a few Texas motifs (cacti, oil wells) tossed in for good measure.
Crafted from Texas limestone, The Hall of State was, at a cost of $1.2 million, the most expensive building per square foot built in Texas at the time.
The signature element of the building’s exterior is the 11-foot-tall statue of a Tejas Indian poised above the main entrance. Artist Allie Tennant made the statue of bronze and covered it with gold leaf. Meanwhile, the bronze doors feature designs that represent Texas industries and activities – a cowboy’s lariat, cotton bolls and wheat sheaves, among others. 59 Texans are honored in the frieze around the top of the building.
Fair Park, Texas
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