The Flickr Deepintheheartoftexas Image Generatr

The Texas Centennial Exposition was not only a celebration of Texas independence, but also of Texas and Western culture. The 1936-37 Exposition was also a festival of architecture, which embraced the then-new International style of architecture. Traditionally, worlds fairs are the testing grounds for new ideas in building design; Dallas and its Exposition architects chose to reflect the style of the Exposition Des Arts Decoratifs in Paris in 1925. They were also influenced by the recently completed "Century of Progress" in Chicago (1933-34), where the International style of architecture was prominently displayed.

The significance of Fair Park also extends beyond the architectural theme of the remaining buildings. Fair Park is one of the largest intact grouping of Exposition buildings remaining in the United States. Most World's Fairs or Exposition grounds in the United States have been demolished, except for one or two exceptional buildings. However, many of the original 1936 buildings and open spaces remain today from the Texas Centennial Exposition, even though several were constructed as "temporary" structures.

Fair Park is also significant in terms of urban design, open space design, and artwork and sculpture. The Exposition architecture expressed monumentality in design, but this was reinforced by the open spaces and landscaping that the buildings were sited around. The grounds were planned on two landscape design themes: a Beaux Arts theme that involved grand plazas and vistas that intersected or were terminated by major buildings, and a pastoral theme that used winding paths, random landscaping, and building siting to create a very informal atmosphere. The majority of these open spaces, both formal and informal, exist today in one of America's most well-planned parks. Four major open space areas (and their buildings) still remain: Esplanade of State (Grand Plaza—Esplanade of State—Texas Court of Honor); Agrarian Parkway and The Chute; Federal Concourse (Federal Concourse—Constitution Place—Stadium Plaza); and the Lagoon and Centennial Drive. These spaces combine to create a series of monumental spaces, formal vistas, landscaping, and pastoral images unparalleled in a planned park in Texas and the Southwest.

The sculptures, murals, and other artwork remaining from the Exposition are also significant. Often intended to be "temporary" artwork, they reinforced the monumentality of the buildings and the open space design in Fair Park. Many of the artists studied in Paris; their work remains in exterior spaces as sculpture and murals, and inside many of the buildings in the Park.

This structure, now known as the Hall of State, at the head of the Esplanade and seen in the photograph above, was constructed in 1936 and is regarded as an excellent example of Art Deco architecture and was the showpiece of the Centennial Exposition. It features a large curved central mass with lower rectangular wings. The Centennial Corporation Architects (George Dahl and staff, including Donald Nelson) prepared the design and construction documents for this building, only to have the board of Control (a State agency established to oversee the entire Centennial effort) select another group of architects to begin again. This group of architects was called the Centennial Architects Associated, and included H.B. Thomason, Dewitt and Washburn, Fooshee and Cheek, Walter P. Sharp, Ralph Bryan, Anton Korn, Mark Lemmon, Flint and Brass, T.J. Galbraith, Arthur Thomas, Donald Barthelme of Houston, and Adams and Adams of San Antonio. Donald Barthelme was the principal designer for the project, and Adams and Adams were the interior designers. Unfortunately, the building was only partially completed in time for the Centennial Exposition opening. It houses many pieces of art, including statues, friezes, murals, medallions, and stenciled ceilings. The building is dedicated to the State of Texas and her heroes. Above the entrance is a carved sculpture by Harry Lee Bigson. In relief, a female figure, which represents Texas, kneels behind the Texas flag. Below, the owl of wisdom holds the key to progress and prosperity. In the background are branches from the State tree, the pecan. Focusing attention on the entrance is an heroic bronze and gold-leaf statue of an Indian, which stands on a dais 20' high. This "Tejas Warrior" by Dallas sculptor Allie V. Tennant is 11' tall. The figure acts as a terminus for the bronze floors at the entrance. The inner wall of the niche is faced with ceramic tiles of deep blue and orange. Inside the size and drama of the art is overwhelming. In the Hall of Heroes, on marble pedestals, are six heroic-sized bronze statues of great figures of the Texas Revolution. These statues by Pompeo Coppini are considered to be the finest examples of his work. Above and along the walls is a frieze that records the battles of the Texas Revolution. The Hall of Heroes opens onto the Great Hall, which is 94' long, 68' wide, and 46' high. Murals span the north and south walls. They depict Texas history beginning in 1519 and ending with figures representing the arts and the development of the cotton, grain, oil, lumber, and agricultural industries. The murals, by Eugene Savage of New York, with the assistance by Reveau Bassett and James Buchanan Winn, Jr., both of Texas, were the largest murals in the world at the time they were painted. And, finally, a magnificent medallion representing the six nations that have ruled Texas is mounted on the far wall of the hall. Designed by Joseph E. Renier, the medallion, 25' in diameter, is a bas-relief in three tones of gold.

The Texas Centennial Exposition Buildings (or more commonly referred to as Fair Park or Site of Texas State Fairs) was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on September 24, 1986 for its long standing history described above and includes The Women's Museum above. Most all of the information above was found on the original documents submitted for listing consideration and can be viewed here:
npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail/c6f55c0d-ef32-44ca-950...

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

The Vandergriff Building is the oldest standing commercial structure in the original town site of Arlington, Texas. The building, a two-part commercial block type, was designed in 1928 by Fort Worth-based architect Harve Withers for J.C. Thannisch, a local automobile dealer. While Thannisch was an early pioneer in automobile sales in Arlington, the industry greatly expanded in the city due to the involvement of W.T. "Hooker" Vandergriff, who purchased this building in 1938 for his own Chevrolet dealership; Vandergriff and his son Tom, the city's mayor at the time, brought a General Motors assembly plant to town in 1952. After its purchase and for the next 28 years, the Vandergriff family's Chevrolet business continued to operate in this building until 1966, when it relocated a few miles to the east. Today the Vandergriff family owns three automobile dealerships in the area, and the General Motors plant remains in operation; this building stands as the earliest physical remnant of the American automobile industry's impact on the city of Arlington.

The Vandergriff Building was therefore nominated to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion A in the area of Commerce/Trade at the local level of significance as a property strongly associated with the growth of the automotive industry and greater commercial development of Arlington. After this nomination, this historical building was added to the list on July 26, 2010. All of the information (and much, much more) was found on the original documents submitted for listing consideration that can be viewed here:
catalog.archives.gov/id/40973494

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

Wichita Falls, TX

Here's to the NFL Draft and the hope that Jerry Jones won't screw up as he's done for many, many years at some point throughout the course of a football season which starts with the draft...

And, for those who don't understand, being a Dallas Cowboys fan is a hard life! All the promise and expectation of being America's Team are only outweighed by all the disappointments that are just inevitable...Go Cowboys!!

-- Technical Information (or Nerdy Stuff) --
‧ Camera - Nikon D7200 (handheld)
‧ Lens – Nikkor 18-300mm Zoom
‧ ISO – 400
‧ Aperture – f/9
‧ Exposure – 1/640 second
‧ Focal Length – 135mm

The original RAW file was processed with Adobe Camera Raw and final adjustments were made with Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

"Deep in the Heart of Texas", performed by Desiree Barrett-Walsh, Courtney Bouldin, Olivia Damasco, Eva Critz, Kirby Heflin, Ginger Higgs, Hien Le, Rachel Mountjoy, Kay Teachout, Kayla Richard, Louise Willard, and Jenny Wingfield at the Spring Follies, April 2003

The winner of the Cotton Bowl Classic is awarded the Field Scovell Trophy (seen in the photograph above). Field Scovell was the consummate public relations man and patriarch of the Dallas sporting community. A goodwill ambassador whose famous "Howdy, Podner" greeting, his spontaneous one-liners, and the crunch of his handshake opened countless doors for the City of Dallas. For nearly four decades, Field served as the Cotton Bowl's Chairman of Team Selection. Some attributed his success to a dish of his famous homemade ice cream served up by his wife Mary. Regardless of what his secret may have been, people around the world knew him simply as Mr. Cotton Bowl. So, in his honor, the Classic's championship award is named the Field Scovell Trophy.

-- Technical Information (or Nerdy Stuff) --
‧ Camera - Nikon D7200 (handheld)
‧ Lens – Nikkor 18-300mm Zoom
‧ ISO – 1250
‧ Aperture – f/9
‧ Exposure – 1/40 second
‧ Focal Length – 120mm

The original RAW file was processed with Adobe Camera Raw and final adjustments were made with Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

Baylor University is a private Baptist research university in Waco, Texas. It was chartered in 1845 by the last Congress of the Republic of Texas. Baylor is the oldest continuously operating university in Texas and one of the first educational institutions west of the Mississippi River in the United States. Located on the banks of the Brazos River, the university's 1,000-acre campus is the largest Baptist university in the world and is affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

As of Fall 2023, Baylor had a total enrollment of 20,824 students (15,155 undergraduate and 5,669 graduate). It is one of 146 U.S. universities classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity". The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. Baylor University's athletic teams, known as the Bears and Lady Bears, participate in 19 intercollegiate sports. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference in NCAA Division I.

The mural above is painted on one of the buildings in Downtown Waco and features Baylor along with an NCAA Championship trophy (for basketball) which was won in 2021 by the men's basketball program. Also included on the mural is a silhouette of the historic ALICO building, the Waco logo & area code, and silhouettes of the county courthouse clock tower, the historic Waco Suspension Bridge, and the Magnolia Silos.

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

"Deep in the Heart of Texas", performed by Lena Berger, Sherrie Bowers, Ginger Higgs, Sara Hunt, Trista Lamanque, Lynne Miller, Dena Morgan, Teresa Rawlings, Eddie Richard, Kay Teachout, Nancy Rudolph, Gretchen Teachout, Dean Thomas, Stacey Trentham, Chris Wertz, and Lizz Yentzer at the Spring Follies, May 1992

The historic Dallas County Courthouse remains as one of the largest Romanesque Revival buildings to be erected in the state of Texas, and also one of the most handsome. Good proportions and interesting massing with cylindrical forms juxtaposed against rectangular forms all contribute to the strength of the architectural statement. The use of arched openings of various proportions is successfully unified on the two narrow facades by two-story arcades comprising dominant central features on each elevation. Noteworthy details further contributing to the visual impact of the design include archivolts (an ornamental moulding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch) in strong relief, slender engaged columns flanking the openings of the upper stories, and decorative tympanums (semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, door or window, which is bounded by a lintel and an arch) in the two-story range of arches. While the use of stone from state quarries provides local association, the stylistic details are consistent with Romanesque buildings found in other sections of the United States.

The street block on which the 1891-92 courthouse is located has been the site of the nucleus of county government in Dallas County since the founding of Dallas. The first settler of Dallas County was John Neely Bryant, who established himself near the present courthouse square in 1841. The area was incorporated as Dallas County by an act of the Texas Legislature on March 30, 1846. For a time Bryant's log cabin housed the county court under the jurisdiction of Judge John H. Reapan. The first permanent courthouse, and second overall, was a log cabin described as being sixteen feet by sixteen feet with a puncheon floor (a type of flooring made from heavy, roughly dressed timber slabs, often used in rustic or traditional settings) and split log seats. It was located on the northeast corner of the current square.

The third courthouse was a two-story building of brick, fifty feet by fifty feet. Its construction was authorized in October of 1855 and plans were prepared by John J. Good, J.M. Patterson, and W.W. Peak. It occupied a central position in the courthouse square and was received by the press as "most handsome". This structure was almost destroyed in 1860 by a fire which ravaged nearly the entire city. The structure was rebuilt and served the county until 1871, at which time it was sold at "public auction".

The cornerstone for a fourth courthouse was laid in October, 1871. The building, to be constructed of "hard granite" from a quarry six miles east of the city, was two stories in height, and 66 feet by 110 feet with a cost $75,000. In 1880, a fire partially destroyed the building. The walls were, however, left intact and remodeling was accomplished with the addition of a Mansard roof and central tower at a cost of $80,000. The building burned once again on February 15, 1890.

Architect M.A. Orlopp of Little Rock, Arkansas was employed to prepare drawings for the construction of a fifth new courthouse. The project was let to contractor R.L. James on July 23, 1890, for an estimated cost of $276,967.50. The cornerstone block of blue-grey granite, was laid on November 16, 1890. Construction was subsequently halted by a labor dispute in which unskilled laborers struck for a wage of $1.25 an hour for a ten-hour work day. On July 20, 1891, James was relieved of his duties by the commissioners' court which ordered his name chiseled off of the cornerstone. The Fort Worth Daily Gazette, for that date, reported that "the labor element is delighted, as James paid no attention to their demands, and hired union and non-union labor as best suited him." A further source of controversy was a high board fence surrounding the construction site. Having been denounced repeatedly by the Federation of Labor and Farmer's Alliance, it was removed after James' dismissal. Architect Orlopp was retained as architect and job superintendent at a salary of $2,000 after a $10,000 performance bond was posted. The building was occupied in the winter of 1892. Its finished cost was $59,140.00 more than the original estimate. Although a new structure has been built, the Romanesque Revival temple continues to serve the functions of county government to this day. Also known as the Old Red Courthouse, it became the Old Red Museum, a local history museum, in 2007. But in 2021, it was announced that the Old Red Museum would be moving out and the building was being returned into a hall of justice as the Texas Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals took over use of the grand structure and continues this use to present day.

On December 12, 1976, the Old Red Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) for its architecture and the continued use of the same site for county government since 1846. All of the information above was found on the original documents submitted for listing consideration and can be viewed here:
catalog.archives.gov/id/40971649

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

The Washington Avenue Bridge (1902), a pin-connected, steel Pennsylvania through-truss, spans the Brazos River north of Downtown Waco, Texas. The bridge is located 200 yards west of the Waco Suspension Bridge (1870; NRHP 1970). Built for two-way access, both traffic lanes on the bridge now run in one direction (southwesterly), carrying vehicular traffic from Elm Avenue to Washington Avenue. Pedestrian traffic continues in both directions. The length of the main span is 450 feet. Two approach spans measure 67 feet on the east side and 40 feet on the west, resulting in a total length of 557 feet. The total width, including roadway and sidewalks, is 41½ feet. At its highest point, the truss is 60 feet above the road surface. The bridge's substructure consists of four piers, 96 inches in diameter, one under each inclined end post. The piers are poured-in-place concrete, with the top 20 feet clad in ⅜-inch rolled steel plate. Each pair of piers is braced and cladded with ⅜-inch steel plates and angles, riveted diagonally between the them. The bracing is placed only at the top 18 feet of each pier. The inclined end posts are attached to the piers with a 6-inch diameter steel pin. On the west side the connection assembly is bolted to the top of the pier. To accommodate expansion and contraction the pinned connection assembly on the east side is allowed to slide on rails that are anchored to the top of the piers.

The Washington Avenue Bridge was the second permanent vehicular structure built across the Brazos River in Waco, Texas. The Waco Suspension Bridge (NR 1970) provided the first permanent crossing one block down river (east) in 1870. The 1902 bridge was, at the time of construction, the longest single-span vehicular truss bridge in Texas. Due to the 450-foot span, a truss system with a bowed top chord had to be used, and the Pennsylvania truss - useful in spanning great distances - was chosen. The Washington Avenue Bridge opened to traffic on June 30, 1902, forming a vital link between two main thoroughfares, Washington Avenue on the west bank and Elm Avenue on the east. The contract was awarded to J.H. Sparks of St. Joseph, Missouri, at a cost of $93,300. The railings and approach spans were constructed by Mess Hill Bros, at a cost of $1,850. John Wharton Maxey of Houston served as supervising engineer. McLennan County and the City of Waco each contributed $50,000 to meet the expenses, resulting in joint ownership of the bridge.

The Washington Avenue Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on February 20, 1998 for its significance in engineering and how it contributed to the rapid economic and demographic growth of Waco on both sides of the river in the early part of the 20th century. All of the information above and much, much more was found on the original documents submitted for listing consideration and can be viewed here:
catalog.archives.gov/id/40973013

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

Dealey Plaza, a generally rectangular and approximately 3-acre park, was formed in 1934-40 from several blocks of Dallas founder John Neely Bryan's original land grant. The Plaza replaced residential and commercial buildings on the tract. The land was acquired by the City of Dallas during the 1930's to create a major gateway to the city from the west, and to relieve traffic congestion at the Union terminal railroad tracks which passed north-south at the western edge of the city. Originally called the "Elm-Main-Commerce Subway", the gateway was conceived as a "triple underpass" of streets, which afforded access to the western edge of Downtown Dallas beneath the Union Terminal company tracks. To build the underpass, engineers regraded the area to slope gently down toward the west. All plans for the Plaza showed a rectangular park traversed by three streets rearranged in a bisected triangle - Commerce to the south, Main in the middle, and Elm to the north converging to the west in the Triple Underpass.

The plaza and roadway were designed by city engineers, with assistance in the final plan from E.F. Mitchell, chief engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad and Union Terminal Company. The joint federal-city-railroad project was supervised by the Texas Highway Department. The park was named Dealey Plaza in 1935, in honor of George Bannerman Dealey (1859-1946), an outstanding civic leader who had advocated city planning for Dallas for decades already, publisher of The Dallas Morning News, crusader for improvements to the Trinity River corridor, and president of West of Commerce Realty Company, which had donated most of the right of way west of the underpass. The Plaza was dedicated in 1936, the same year the park was placed under the administration of the City of Dallas Park Board, which still maintains jurisdiction over it.

In addition to Dealey Plaza (its features and the streets that run through and adjoin it), the buildings, structures, and lands adjacent to Dealey Plaza, except for the Sixth Floor Visitor Center and the Kennedy Memorial and its Plaza, were all part of the scene in 1963. Two of the buildings (the former Texas School Book Depository and the Dallas Textile Building), like others in the West End, began as early 20th-century Dallas warehouses for Chicago farm implement companies. Like their main commercial tenants, their architecture reflects the influence of Chicago in this case, that city's early skyscraper construction. The other buildings (like the one above) have had governmental functions and reflect more traditional architectural styles.

The Dallas County Criminal Courts Building (aka "Old Criminal Courts Building") was designed in an eclectic Renaissance Revival style by Dallas architect A.H. Overbeck. It was constructed in 1913-15 on the northeast corner of Main and Houston streets. The 124-foot-tall building faces Main Street, with a secondary facade occupying 90 feet along Houston Street on Dealey Plaza. The steel and brick structure, eight stories over a basement, is trimmed with granite and terra cotta in elaborate Classical motifs. The building was constructed to house two Dallas County criminal courts, the offices of the Sheriffs Department, and the County jail. The building retains its exterior details today, which were restored by Komatsu Associates of Fort Worth in the mid-1980's. The building was still in its original use and occupancy in 1963 but was later only occupied by the County Sheriffs Department who continues to use the space today with prisoners being housed in the included jail spaces.

On April 19, 1993, the Dealey Plaza Historic District (including Dealey Plaza and as many as eight 'other' builidngs and numerous other sites/structures/objects) was named as a National Historic Landmark (NHL) and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). All of the information above was found on the original documents submitted for consideration of listing as a NHL and on the NRHP. There is much more included on these documents that can be viewed here:
npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/88315def-c6a9-408b-ac2a-b...

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

The Praetorian Building was constructed for the Modern Order of Praetorians' Waco Chapter in 1915. The Praetorians were founded in 1898 as a fraternal life insurance order. They were the first life insurance company to be chartered in Texas, as a result of the efforts of one C.B. Gardner, who had moved to Dallas from Illinois in 1895. The Praetorians' 15-story home office building was completed in Dallas in 1909, and was designed by the same architectural firm that designed the 1915 Waco Praetorian Building (seen in the photograph above), C.W. Bulger & Son of Dallas. Bulger is listed in the 1920 Encyclopedia of Texas, Vol. 1, as an architect whose work is set apart by characteristics of distinction and originality. His son, Clarence, a graduate of the University of Chicago in 1903, was principle designer for the firm and was an author of architectural articles. The Dallas Praetorian Building, one of the first skyscrapers in Texas, was strictly Chicago School in design. The later Waco Praetorian Building, while based on Chicago School organization and detailing, also has a regional flair in its Mission parapet. It remains one of the few high-rise structures in Downtown Waco, and is one of only two Chicago style structures in the city. The Dallas Praetorian was severely altered in 1961, leaving its Waco counterpart as the most significant intact structure associated with that institution. The Praetorians expanded to Waco mostly because of the city's central location in Texas and its rapid development. By 1912, five of the state's largest insurance companies had their home offices there, causing Waco to be dubbed by local trade publications of the era as "The Insurance City of Texas".

The 1898 Praetorian charter specified that the organization be conducted solely for the mutual benefit of its members and not-for-profit. The order was named for the elite guards of the Roman Empire who were chosen for their courage, fidelity, and ability to protect and defend the Empire, hence the sword-and-shield motif and the stylized profile of a Roman guard. Even without capital stock the group grew rapidly, expanding to 14 southern and central states from coast to coast. Its earliest members and organizers included Texas business and political leaders such as Mayor A.P. Wooldridge of Austin, Judge James P. Hart of Austin, Judge J.C. Hutcheson of Houston, and a number of prominent Dallas citizens. The local Waco chapter first appeared in 1911 on South 4th Street, with an insurance agent named William A. Laughlin and a Mr. Fyffe listed as general organizers. Laughlin was the Praetorian General Manager until 1920. Construction on their seven-story building must have started in 1913, as it is listed in the city directory for that year with no tenants. By the publishing date of the next city directory, 1916, there were tenants on floors 3 through 7, with Praetorian offices on the 6th floor. The building's main first-floor tenant, First State Bank & Trust, was not in the building until 1917, but it remained there until 1933.

The buildings name changed to Service Mutual Building in 1934, and to Southwestern Building in 1956, when the building was sold prior to the Praetorian's change from a fraternal to a mutual company in 1958. According to the Praetorian Mutual Life home office in Dallas, most of their holdings had to be sold during that period in order to make the status change. The Veterans Administration occupied the building from 1962 to 1965, after which time occupancy rapidly dropped. At some point, the buildings name changed again to Franklin Tower and became vacant some time around 1973. It remained vacant at least up to the time it was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Today, the Praetorian Waco hosts commercial space on the 1st floor with three main vendors...BRU Coffee, Summer Ellis Bijouterie, and Paper Crown. Many of the upper floors have been renovated into 'lofts' featuring an industrial style design. And the 4th floor is comprised of "creative studios" that are rented out to local artists.
www.praetorian.info/

The Praetorian Building is of significance as one of the earliest and most intact skyscrapers in Central Texas and as the major intact building associated with the early years of the Modern Order of Praetorians, the first life insurance company chartered in Texas. Designed by prominent Dallas architects C.W. Bulger & Son, the Praetorian Building reflects Waco's early twentieth century prosperity, and seventy years later it still retains its prominence on the Waco skyline. All this history confirmed this buildings eligibility for listing on the NRHP where it was added on July 26, 1984. Most all of the information above was found on the original documents submitted for listing consideration that can be found here:
catalog.archives.gov/id/40972987

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

The Trinity Railway Express (TRE) is a commuter rail service in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Texas. It was established by an inter-local agreement between Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and Trinity Metro and began operating in December 1996. Each transit authority owns a 50% stake in the joint rail project and contractor Herzog Transit Services operates the line. The eastern terminus of the TRE route is Dallas Union Station on the west side of Downtown Dallas and the western terminus is at T&P Station in Downtown Fort Worth. According to current TRE schedules, a one-way trip in either direction takes approximately 1 hour and 2 minutes.

This particular train configuration includes an EMD-F59PH four-axle 3,000 hp diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors Electro-Motive Division from 1988 to 1994. This locomotive is pulling two Bombardier BiLevel Coaches with a seating capacity of 136 to 162 each. And, my favorite part of the setup, is all three sections fully painted with the colors and design of the state flag of Texas.

-- Technical Information (or Nerdy Stuff) --
‧ Camera - Nikon D7200 (handheld)
‧ Lens – Nikkor 18-300mm Zoom
‧ ISO – 250
‧ Aperture – f/7.1
‧ Exposure – 1/640 second
‧ Focal Length – 20mm

The original RAW file was processed with Adobe Camera Raw and final adjustments were made with Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

Following the Civil War, the cotton industry industrialized and grew considerably in Waco, Texas. The construction of the Waco Suspension Bridge and arrival of the Waco Tap Railroad in 1870 increased the number of people and goods entering and departing the city. Waco’s cotton market boomed, and by 1885, the city became known as the largest inland cotton market in Texas. When a second railroad connection arrived, it was named the Cotton Belt Route in honor of the large market to which it primarily catered. The Cotton Belt-Brazos River Railroad Bridge itself is of historical and architectural interest, being the second structure to span the Brazos after the 1870 Suspension Bridge. The St. Louis Southwestern Railway of Texas built the steel truss bridge in 1881 as it continued its expansion from Tyler to Corsicana to Waco to McGregor, according to the “Handbook of Waco-McLennan County History, Texas”.

This steel-truss bridge was the leading bridge design in Texas from 1880 to 1930. Constructed of a noteworthy pin-connected, multi-span structure displaying the Parker configuration that consists of 3 seven panel main truss spans and plate girder approaches. It was built as the Texas & St. Louis Railway, which reached Waco in 1881. The line, later known as the Cotton Belt or St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad, ran from Bird’s Point, Missouri, to Gatesville. The Waco Daily Times-Herald reported on June 5, 1907, that the new Cotton Belt Bridge was dedicated that morning to great fanfare, including a performance by the Baylor band at the Cotton Belt station at Third Street and Mary Avenue. The railway, also known as the Cotton Belt, had a depot on South Third Street until it was destroyed in the 1953 tornado. The railroad, which was part of the Southern Pacific system, ceased operations in the Waco area in the mid-1980's, leaving the bridge to sit vacant.

There have been plans in recent years to convert the abandoned railroad bridge to a pedestrian walking bridge but these have not panned out as of 2024.

kathiesees.wordpress.com/2019/05/15/kathie-sees-cotton-be...

historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=texas/...

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

The Texas Centennial Exposition was not only a celebration of Texas independence, but also of Texas and Western culture. The 1936-37 Exposition was also a festival of architecture, which embraced the then-new International style of architecture. Traditionally, worlds fairs are the testing grounds for new ideas in building design; Dallas and its Exposition architects chose to reflect the style of the Exposition Des Arts Decoratifs in Paris in 1925. They were also influenced by the recently completed "Century of Progress" in Chicago (1933-34), where the International style of architecture was prominently displayed.

The significance of Fair Park also extends beyond the architectural theme of the remaining buildings. Fair Park is one of the largest intact grouping of Exposition buildings remaining in the United States. Most World's Fairs or Exposition grounds in the United States have been demolished, except for one or two exceptional buildings. However, many of the original 1936 buildings and open spaces remain today from the Texas Centennial Exposition, even though several were constructed as "temporary" structures.

Fair Park is also significant in terms of urban design, open space design, and artwork and sculpture. The Exposition architecture expressed monumentality in design, but this was reinforced by the open spaces and landscaping that the buildings were sited around. The grounds were planned on two landscape design themes: a Beaux Arts theme that involved grand plazas and vistas that intersected or were terminated by major buildings, and a pastoral theme that used winding paths, random landscaping, and building siting to create a very informal atmosphere. The majority of these open spaces, both formal and informal, exist today in one of America's most well-planned parks. Four major open space areas (and their buildings) still remain: Esplanade of State (Grand Plaza—Esplanade of State—Texas Court of Honor); Agrarian Parkway and The Chute; Federal Concourse (Federal Concourse—Constitution Place—Stadium Plaza); and the Lagoon and Centennial Drive. These spaces combine to create a series of monumental spaces, formal vistas, landscaping, and pastoral images unparalleled in a planned park in Texas and the Southwest.

The sculptures, murals, and other artwork remaining from the Exposition are also significant. Often intended to be "temporary" artwork, they reinforced the monumentality of the buildings and the open space design in Fair Park. Many of the artists studied in Paris; their work remains in exterior spaces as sculpture and murals, and inside many of the buildings in the Park.

The Texas Centennial Exposition Buildings (or more commonly referred to as Fair Park or Site of Texas State Fairs) was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on September 24, 1986 for its long standing history described above. Most all of the information above was found on the original documents submitted for listing consideration and can be viewed here:
npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail/c6f55c0d-ef32-44ca-950...

Further indication of the importance and historical significance of the State Fair of Texas can be found within the Fair Park grounds on the historical marker erected in 1969 by the Texas State Historical Survey Committee. It reads:
Founded in 1886, the State Fair of Texas now ranks as the most largely attended state fair in the U.S. It was begun as a private, nonprofit corporation for civic purposes by Capt. W.H. Gaston and other pioneer business and civic leaders of Dallas.
Since 1904 the fair grounds have been owned by the city, which maintains them as a public park except during the annual two-week fair.
The fair suspended operations for two years in order to permit the Central Exposition of the Texas Centennial Celebration to be held here in 1936. In 1937 the Pan American Exposition used the grounds.
Over the years great names have appeared here, including Wild West showman Buffalo Bill, Harry Houdini the magician, silver-tongued orator William Jennings Bryan, and Comanche War Chief Quanah Parker.
Federal, state, and city governments have erected a series of permanent buildings on the fair grounds, including the Hall of State, five other museums, Music Hall, Livestock Coliseum, and "Cotton Bowl".
Originally 80 acres in size, the grounds have been successively enlarged to include the present 250 acres. Over 100,000,000 persons have entered its gates during annual expositions.

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

“Have you ever looked at the bud of a magnolia flower? It’s a tight little pod that stays closed up for a long time on the end of its branch until one day, out of nowhere, it finally bursts open into this gigantic, gorgeous, fragrant flower that’s ten times bigger than the bud itself. It’s impossible to imagine that such a big beautiful thing could pop out of that tiny little bud. But it does.”
– Joanna Gaines (American interior decorator, T.V. personality, & author who co-hosts the home renovation show Fixer Upper, which began airing on HGTV in 2013, with her husband Chip Gaines)

-- Technical Information (or Nerdy Stuff) --
‧ Camera - Nikon D7200 (handheld)
‧ Lens – Nikkor 10-20mm Wide Angle Zoom
‧ ISO – 400
‧ Aperture – f/9
‧ Exposure – 1/160 second
‧ Focal Length – 14mm

The original RAW file was processed with Adobe Camera Raw and final adjustments were made with Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

Merciful Wisdom , a mural by Christopher Gonzalez on the outside of a business in Arlington, Texas. The mural features a flowing ribbon coming from Lady Justice and being clutched by the wise owl. The Latin phrases Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, and Lex Vivendi are written on the ribbon. The translation is the law of praying is the law of believing is the law of living. The expansion of the translation is that as we believe, so we worship, and as we believe, so we live.

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

1851 – In the newly surveyed Waco Village, James C. Johnson, Noah Woods, George T. Holman, and Matilda Johnson, with the aid of Baptist missionary Noah T. Byars, charter the First Baptist Church of Waco. Rev. Byars immediately answers their call to pastor the new church. The Baptists are invited to meet one Sunday and the preceding Saturday each month in the log cabin Methodist Church located at 2nd and Jackson streets. By 1854, FBC Waco, under the leadership of its second pastor S.G. O’Bryan, has sponsored another new church, Bosque Baptist Church of Christ (now Bosqueville Baptist Church), chartered by eight members, most of whom were FBC Waco members. O’Bryan also leads a fund drive to construct a new brick church building erected at the corner of 4th and Mary streets. This allows the church to host the newly organized Trinity River High School, a project of the Trinity River Baptist Association. It also allows FBC Waco to hold a 17-day revival that adds 67 members to the church rolls, and in 1859 to host the Baptist State Convention. For this grand affair, the Methodists again step up and accommodate the overflow crowd.

The Civil War years create enormous challenges for the church. Pastor Rufus C. Burleson, in addition to his duties as president of Waco University, takes time off to serve as a chaplain in the Confederate Army. Finally, at war’s end, men return to the congregation and the church begins to rebuild its efforts to serve in the Waco community. 105 freed slaves, members of the FBC Waco congregation, come before the church and ask for letters of dismissal so they can start new churches. The letters are granted and Rev. Burleson and the FBC congregation assist 18 of those former members in the chartering of New Hope Baptist Church. In 1870, the church hosts the organizational meeting of the Waco Baptist Association, and the next year establishes the staff position of city missionary.

B.H. Carroll answers the call to pastor the church in 1871, beginning a 28-year tenure at FBC Waco. Five years later, he organizes a revival that will last 81 days and add 303 members to the congregation. By this time, Baylor University has moved to Waco and merged with Waco University. Dr. Carroll creates the Baylor Bible Department which will become Southwestern Theological Seminary. Later, the church building burns to the ground. Only the organ and furniture are saved. It takes three years to construct the new building on the same site. Two more churches are chartered with the sponsorship of FBC Waco, the 2nd Waco Baptist Church aided by city missionary V.G. Cunningham and the First German Baptist Church, established as a mission of FBC Waco by Rufus Burleson. FBC Waco also sends it first international missionaries, Dr. W.B. and Anne Luther Bagby and Dr. Z.C. Taylor to Brazil. In 1901, Annie Jenkins will enter missionary training in Chicago, preparing her for work in China.

The early 1900s saw growth and progress in Waco, but one result is perceived as a detriment to the FBC congregation as they were continually inundated with the noise of the increased railway traffic. In 1907, they move into a new church building, constructed at the intersection of 5th and Webster streets (and seen in the photograph above). The church continues to thrive, especially under the leadership of Dr. J.M. Dawson, called in 1915 and serving until 1946. By the end of his tenure, the church staff members include missionaries to Uruguay, Nigeria, Yugoslavia, Argentina, and Chile.

The pastors who follow Dr. Dawson include evangelists, Old Testament scholars, and the Rev. Peter McLeod, a Scotsman who will create the first college and singles ministries for the church. They continue in the tradition of generous hospitality by instituting a neighborhood sewing ministry, an Hispanic Mission, adopting a Vietnamese family, supporting international missionaries on leave in the United States, and joining the Meals on Wheels food program. In 1981, Dr. John A. Wood recognized for his hospitality, often opening his home to various groups in the congregation, begins his pastorate. He immediately institutes a television ministry and within three years the church begins preparations to house a Vietnamese congregation and a local apartment ministry is established. The church births another private school. Waco Baptist Academy leases space as it organizes and begins classes as it searches for a permanent campus. In 1993, Scott Walker assumes the position of pastor and FBC Waco finds room for Korean and Chinese worship groups. George Truett Theological Seminary also gets its start at 5th & Webster until its facility on the Baylor Campus can be funded and built. Mission groups are sent out to Prague in the Czech Republic, Mexico, Guatemala, and Canada. Local ministries include service at the Gospel Café and hosting an Agape meal, youth sports programs for both members and neighborhood children.

Under the leadership of its current pastor, Dr. Matt Snowden, the congregation has welcomed Buffalo River Native American Church and Live Oak Classical School to its campus. FBC groups make annual trips to Shaw, Mississippi, Huehuetenango, Guatemala, and the Moskito Coast. Members also mentor neighborhood school children and help them prepare for each new school year with new uniforms and supplies.

fbcwaco.org/about-us/our-history/

Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/

The room where all the preparation of the week comes to a head just before game time...the Cowboys Locker Room. Definitely one of biggest highlights on the stadium tour is a visit to the locker room. I highly recommend if your a fan...

-- Technical Information (or Nerdy Stuff) --
‧ Camera - Nikon D7200 (handheld)
‧ Lens – Nikkor 18-300mm Zoom
‧ ISO – 3200
‧ Aperture – f/9
‧ Exposure – 1/30 second
‧ Focal Length – 18mm

The original RAW file was processed with Adobe Camera Raw and final adjustments were made with Photoshop CS6.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11

The best way to view my photostream is through Flickriver with the following link: www.flickriver.com/photos/photojourney57/