# Praetorian Building

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For the Waco, Texas building, see [Praetorian Building (Waco, Texas)](/source/Praetorian_Building_(Waco%2C_Texas)).

Commercial offices in Dallas, Texas

Stone Place Tower Depiction of the Praetorian Building on a 1908 postcard Interactive map of the Stone Place Tower area Alternative names Praetorian Building General information Status Demolished Type Commercial offices Location 1607 Main Street Dallas, Texas Coordinates 32°46′52″N 96°47′54″W / 32.7811°N 96.7983°W / 32.7811; -96.7983 Construction started 1905 Completed 1909 Demolished 2013 Height Roof 58 m (190 ft) Technical details Floor count 15 Design and construction Architects Corgan Associates CW Bulger & Son References [1][2][3]

The **Praetorian Building**, also known as **Stone Place Tower**, was a 15-story, 58 m (190 ft) [high-rise](/source/High-rise) constructed in 1909 at Main Street and Stone Street in the [Main Street District](/source/Main_Street_District%2C_Dallas%2C_Texas) of [downtown Dallas](/source/Downtown_Dallas), [Texas](/source/Texas). It was regarded the first skyscraper in Texas and the first skyscraper in the [Southwestern United States](/source/Southwestern_United_States). It was among the first skyscrapers built in the entire [Western United States](/source/Western_United_States), following the 1885 [Lumber Exchange Building](/source/Lumber_Exchange_Building) in [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis%2C_Minnesota), [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota) and other taller towers in [Minneapolis](/source/Metropolitan_Building_(Minneapolis)), [San Francisco](/source/Central_Tower_(San_Francisco)), [Omaha](/source/Omaha_National_Bank_Building), and [Kansas City](/source/Commerce_Trust_Building).[4]

However, the Praetorian Building remained the tallest building in Dallas only until 1912.[5] It was 190 feet (58 meters) tall with 15 floors of office space.[6] Plans for its redevelopment were eventually disbanded and the building's deconstruction was completed in the summer of 2013.

## History

The Praetorian Tower was conceived as the national headquarters of the [Praetorian Order](/source/Praetorian_Order), a fraternal insurance company based in Dallas.[4][7] The mostly empty plot of land at Main Street and Stone Street had previously hosted the circus, medicine shows and college football events. In 1905 the Order announced a six-story, fireproof building capable of expanding eight additional floors. Months later, plans were changed to the construction of a 15-story building—the first skyscraper in Dallas.[8] Construction began in late 1905 and after several delays the frame of the $800,000 building was complete in 1907 and it finally opened to visitors on February 28, 1909.[9][10] Designed by [C.W. Bulger & Son](/source/Charles_William_Bulger), its unique neoclassical exterior was fitted with gray granite pillars, gold ornamentation, and terra cotta columns on a brick and steel structural frame, while the interior was finished with African mahogany, tile and marble.[4] The building was heated by steam, featured three modern elevators of the time and contained 2 artesian wells. Each office featured electricity, telegraph and telephone connections and hot and cold running water. A rooftop observatory provided views over the growing city and up to 20 miles (32 km) over rural landscape.[11]

The building remained a center of business activity even as taller skyscrapers opened in following years. The building was air conditioned in 1948.[12] The Order also requested that Stone Street, named after a Dallas Civil War hero, be changed to Praetorian Lane; this was denied by the City in 1952.[13] The Praetorian Order transformed into the Praetorian Mutual Life Insurance Company and in 1958 announced an adjacent 15 story addition and $1.5 million face-lift for the 50-year-old structure.[14] Months later, what had been planned as a general modernization changed to a complete overhaul of the building. The width of the building along Main Street was doubled with the addition, increasing the building tract to 10,000 square feet (930 m2). The historic exterior was stripped down to the steel frame and replaced with a brightly colored "Praetorian Yellow" porcelain steel exterior. The new building, opened in 1961, was designed by Grayson Gill, Inc. and contained 140,000 square feet (13,000 m2) of office space.[15]

[Tandy Corp.](/source/Tandy_Corp.) occupied the building's basement and first two levels with the 21-department "Tandy Craft & Hobby Mart" in the 1960s, but success of the new building was short-lived.[16] The building was sold to off-shore investors in 1970,[*[who?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Words_to_watch#Unsupported_attributions)*] and Praetorian Mutual Life vacated the building in 1987 for a new location in [Las Colinas](/source/Las_Colinas).[17][18] The yellow porcelain exterior was painted gray during a 1990s renovation by [Corgan](/source/Corgan_(company)). The structure changed hands over successive years and fell into foreclosure; by 1993 low occupancy forced the building to close. It became the 10th office building in a five-block stretch to close its doors during the five-year period of economic hardship for the downtown business district.[19]

### Redevelopment and demolition

As the [Main Street District, Dallas](/source/Main_Street_District%2C_Dallas) and downtown Dallas began a revival and multiple surrounding buildings were rehabilitated, the Praetorian Building was also eyed for renovation. In 2005, the tower was purchased by the [California](/source/California)-based 3J Development. The company decided to remodel the tower and restore it to its original 1909 [façade](/source/Fa%C3%A7ade). Due to financial problems the renovation was delayed and the building sold in 2007 to Lockey Capital.[4] The building's office floors were planned to be converted into loft apartments.[4] In 2010 the building was one of several in the Main Street District to be purchased by [Timothy Headington](/source/Timothy_Headington), developer of [The Joule Hotel](/source/The_Joule_Hotel), with plans for redevelopment.[20] Soon after, the city of Dallas confirmed plans to demolish the building.[21][22] The building was fully demolished by the summer of 2013, being replaced by [a sculpture of an eye](/source/Eye_(sculpture)).

## See also

- [List of tallest buildings in Dallas](/source/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Dallas)

- [Wilson Building](/source/Wilson_Building_(Dallas%2C_Texas))

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Emporis building ID 118310"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160818083529/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/118310). *[Emporis](/source/Emporis)*. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Praetorian Building"](https://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=71285). *[SkyscraperPage](/source/SkyscraperPage)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Praetorian Building](https://structurae.net/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=20041211) at *[Structurae](/source/Structurae)*

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pra2_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pra2_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-pra2_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-pra2_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-pra2_4-4) ["Praetorian Building"](http://dallaslibrary.org/ctx/photogallery/downtownliving/praetorian.htm). Dallas Public Library. Retrieved 2007-10-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pra1_5-0)** ["Dallas' First Skyscraper"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120208135815/http://www.dallaspioneers.org/stories/historical.php?ID=330). Dallas County Pioneer Association. Archived from [the original](http://www.dallaspioneers.org/stories/historical.php?ID=330) on 2012-02-08. Retrieved 2007-10-19.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["The Tallest Buildings in Dallas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20071010075627/http://www.dallasarchitecture.info/tall.htm). Dallas Architecture. Archived from [the original](http://www.dallasarchitecture.info/tall.htm) on 2007-10-10. Retrieved 2007-10-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "New Praetorian Building." *The Dallas Morning News*. May 23, 1905.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** "First Skyscraper Had Its Skeptics." *The Dallas Morning News*. August 27, 1948.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "Frames Are In Place." *The Dallas Morning News*. March 31, 1907.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** "Praetorian Building Opens to Visitors." *The Dallas Morning News*. February 28, 1909.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** "New Home of the Praetorians." *The Dallas Morning News*. October 10, 1909.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** "Praetorian Building to Be Air-Conditioned." *The Dallas Morning News*. May 9, 1948.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** "Change in Name of Stone Street Advised Against." *The Dallas Morning News*. January 24, 1952.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** "Praetorian Addition Set." *The Dallas Morning News*. October 10, 1958.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** "Structure to Utilize Old Frame." *The Dallas Morning News*. March 29, 1959.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** "Tandy Opens 'Supermart' for Hobbyist." *The Dallas Morning News*. November 23, 1962.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** "Mutual Fund Buys Praetorian Building in Central Dallas." *The Dallas Morning News*. August 1, 1970.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** "Praetorian Mutual Life Moving To Irving." *The Dallas Morning News* 21 May. 1987, HOME FINAL, BUSINESS: 4D. NewsBank. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** Steve Brown. "Downtown offices hit towering loss of tenants – Many firms have moved their operations to suburbs." *The Dallas Morning News* 4 Jun. 1993, HOME FINAL, NEWS: 1A. NewsBank. Web. 9 Feb. 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Joule developer adds Praetorian to downtown Dallas holdings." *The Dallas Morning News*. February 9, 2010.](http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-headington_09bus.ART.State.Edition1.3f6558b.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Wilonsky, Robert (2012-01-15). ["Erykah Badu, Rebirth Brass Band and a Late-Night Funeral Procession for Main Street"](http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2012/01/erykah_badu_rebirth_brass_band.php). *Dallas Observer*. Retrieved 2016-06-24.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Murray, Lance (December 20, 2011). ["Headington Oil buys building on Main Street in Dallas"](http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/morning_call/2011/12/headington-oil-buys-building-on-main.html).

## External links

- [Photo from 2007](https://www.flickr.com/photos/38795277@N05/3567755627/)

- [Photo from 2009](https://www.flickr.com/photos/sminor/3984556429/)

- Robert Wilonsky (September 15, 2011). ["The Old Praetorian Building Downtown May Be Coming Down as Part of Joule Expansion"](http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/09/praetorian_tower.php). *The Dallas Observer*. Unfair Park. Retrieved September 1, 2012.

v t e Downtown Dallas Only items within the "Loop" are listed. Areas Arts District City Center District Convention Center District Farmers Market District Harwood Historic District Government District Main Street District Reunion District West End Historic District Dallas Downtown Historic District Education Primary and secondary schools Dallas ISD Washington PVA Dallas HS (closed) Lassiter ECHS Pegasus of Liberal Arts & Sciences Other education Dallas County Community College District (El Centro College) Dallas Public Library J. Erik Jonsson Central Library Universities Center at Dallas University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law Skyscrapers and complexes 1600 Pacific Tower (LTV Tower) (Hilton Garden Inn) 1700 Pacific 2100 Ross Avenue Adolphus Hotel Bank of America Plaza Bryan Tower Chase Tower Comerica Bank Tower Corrigan Tower Dallas Hilton (Hotel Indigo) Davis Building Energy Plaza First National Bank Tower Fountain Place Hyatt Regency Dallas The Joule Hotel Kirby Building KPMG Centre Magnolia Hotel Mercantile Commerce Building (AC Hotel; Residence Inn) Mercantile Continental Building Mercantile National Bank Building Museum Tower Omni Dallas Hotel One Arts Plaza One Dallas Center One Main Place (Westin Hotel) Pacific Place Plaza of the Americas Renaissance Tower Republic Center Reunion Tower Ross Tower Salazar Center Santa Fe Terminal Complex Sheraton Dallas Hotel Statler Hotel & Residences Thanksgiving Tower Tower Petroleum Building (Cambria Hotel Dallas) Trammell Crow Center Crow Museum of Asian Art Whitacre Tower Parks Civic Garden Park Dealey Plaza Ferris Plaza Main Street Garden Park Pegasus Plaza Elaine D. and Charles A. Sammons Park Thanks-Giving Square Klyde Warren Park Religious buildings Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe Fellowship Church First Baptist Church First Presbyterian Church of Dallas First United Methodist Church St. Jude Chapel St. Paul United Methodist Church Other landmarks AT&T Performing Arts Center Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House Annette Strauss Square Butler Brothers Building Citywalk@Akard Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse Dallas City Hall Dallas County Courthouse (Old Red) Dawson State Jail (closed) Dallas Farmers Market Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum Dallas Municipal Building Dallas Museum of Art Dallas Pedestrian Network Dallas Scottish Rite Temple Dallas World Aquarium Dal-Tex Building Dealey Plaza Fairmont Hotel Dallas Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center John Fitzgerald Kennedy Memorial Majestic Theatre Manor House Apartments Mayflower Building Moody Performance Hall Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center Nasher Sculpture Center Neiman Marcus Building Old Dallas Central Library (The Dallas Morning News) Pioneer Plaza Pioneer Park Cemetery Sanger Harris Building (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) Texas School Book Depository (Dallas County Administration Building) Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza Thanks-Giving Square Titche–Goettinger Building Wilson Building Transportation Dallas CBD Vertiport DART rail stations Akard Convention Center Pearl/Arts District St. Paul Union Station West End/West Transfer Center Streetcar services M-Line Trolley Dallas Streetcar Crime JFK assassination 2016 shooting of police officers 2019 courthouse shooting First Baptist Academy of Dallas was previously in Downtown Dallas

v t e Timeline of the tallest buildings in Texas Franklin Lofts (35 m) (1904) Capitol Lofts (41 m) (1908) Praetorian Building (58 m) (1909) Adolphus Hotel (95 m) (1912) Magnolia Hotel (122 m) (1923) Niels Esperson Building (125 m) (1927) JPMorgan Chase Building (130 m) (1929) Mercantile National Bank Building (131 m) (1943) Republic Center Tower I (138 m) (1954) Southland Center (183 m) (1959) ExxonMobil Building (185 m) (1963) First National Bank Tower (191 m) (1965) Tower of the Americas (229 m) (1968) Renaissance Tower (270 m) (1974) JPMorgan Chase Tower (305 m) (1982)

v t e Timeline of the tallest buildings in Dallas Wilson Building (34 m) (1904) Praetorian Building (58 m) (1909) Adolphus Hotel (95 m) (1912) Magnolia Hotel (131 m) (1923) Mercantile National Bank Building (131 m) (1943) Republic Center Tower I (138 m) (1954) Sheraton Dallas Hotel (158 m) (1959) Republic Center Tower II (183 m) (1964) First National Bank Tower (191 m) (1965) Renaissance Tower (216 m) (1974) Bank of America Plaza (281 m) (1985)

v t e Skyscrapers in Dallas Current Bank of America Plaza Renaissance Tower Comerica Bank Tower Chase Tower Fountain Place Trammell Crow Center 1700 Pacific Avenue Thanksgiving Tower Energy Plaza First National Bank Tower Gables Republic Tower Republic Center Tower II Whitacre Tower Ross Tower Tower at Cityplace Reunion Tower Sheraton Dallas Hotel Mercantile National Bank Building Bryan Tower Magnolia Hotel Harwood Center 717 Harwood 2100 Ross Avenue Renaissance Dallas Hotel One Dallas Center One Main Place 1600 Pacific Tower Omni Dallas Hotel The Mondrian Adolphus Hotel Davis Building Kirby Building Tower Petroleum Building Corrigan Tower Plaza of the Americas Pacific Place The Crescent See also List of tallest buildings in Dallas

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Praetorian Building](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praetorian_Building) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praetorian_Building?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.