West End Historic District, Dallas, Texas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| West End Historic District | |
 |
|
 |
|
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Texas |
| Counties | Dallas |
| City | Dallas |
| Area | Downtown |
| Elevation | 423 ft (129 m) |
| ZIP code | 75202 |
| Area code(s) | 214, 469, 972 |
| Website: http://www.dallaswestend.org/ | |
The West End Historic District is an area in northwest downtown Dallas, Texas (USA), generally north of Commerce, east of I-35E, west of Lamar and south of Woodall Rodgers Freeway. It is south of Victory Park, west of the Arts, City Center, and Main Street districts, and north of the Government and Reunion districts.
Contents |
[edit] History
The area that would become the West End was originally consisted simply of a trading post, established by John Neely Bryan. In July 1872, the Houston & Texas Central Railroad arrived in downtown, attracting manufacturing companies whose warehouses would come to define the architecture of the West End.
The district reached nationwide prominence in the 1960s, however, when President John F. Kennedy was shot in its Dealey Plaza. While the assassination brought the district attention, the district's economy was struggling, with many businesses leaving the city center for suburban locations.
As Downtown Dallas's skyline was changing and the history was being demolished, the West End Historic District was set-up to preserve the history of an important area in June of 1976.[1] Old warehouses and other brick buildings were converted to restaurants and shops. The West End is one of the better urban areas in Dallas thanks to the set-up of the historic district.
Today, over seven million people visit the West End annually, making it one of the city's leading tourist attractions. In recent years the area has suffered a decline. The West End Marketplace, a massive mall/entertainment complex, closed its doors on 30 June 2006. However the development in Victory Park to the north may spur a re-birth.
The area bounded by Lamar, Griffin, Wood, Market, and Commerce streets is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
[edit] Attractions
- The American Museum of the Miniature Arts
- The Conspiracy Museum
- John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial
- Old Red Museum
- The Sixth Floor Museum, located in the Texas School Book Depository, the building from which Lee Harvey Oswald shot President John F. Kennedy according to the conclusions of four government investigations.
- West End Marketplace
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Light rail
[edit] Education
The district is zoned to schools in the Dallas Independent School District.
Residents of the district south of Pacific are zoned to City Park Elementary School, Billy Earl Dade Middle School, and James Madison High School. Residents north of Pacific are zoned to Hope Medrano Elementary School, Thomas J. Rusk Middle School, and North Dallas High School.[2][3]
[edit] References
- ^ Dallas Historical Society - Belo to demolish West End building. (Information on the district in article.) Retrieved 18 December 2006.
- ^ Dallas ISD - 2006 School Feeder Patterns - James Madison High School. (Maps: ES: City Park; MS: Dade; HS: Madison.) Retrieved 31 December 2006.
- ^ Dallas ISD - 2006 School Feeder Patterns - North Dallas High School. (Maps: ES: Medrano; MS: Rusk; HS: North Dallas.) Retrieved 31 December 2006.
[edit] External links
| Districts of downtown Dallas |
|---|
|
|||||||||||
