# Santa Fe Terminal Complex

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United States historic place

Santa Fe Terminal Buildings No. 1 and No. 2 U.S. National Register of Historic Places Dallas Landmark Historic view of Santa Fe Building No. 1 Santa Fe Terminal Complex Show map of Texas Santa Fe Terminal Complex Show map of the United States Location 1114 Commerce St. and 1118 Jackson St., Dallas, Texas Coordinates 32°47′48″N 96°48′3″W / 32.79667°N 96.80083°W / 32.79667; -96.80083 Area 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) Built 1924 (1924) Architect Lloyd R. Whitson, F. Cowderie Dale Architectural style Chicago, Mission/Spanish Revival, Classical Revival NRHP reference No. 97000478[1] DLMK No. H/43 (Bldg. #1), H/85 (Bldg. #2) Significant dates Added to NRHP May 23, 1997 Designated DLMK February 22, 1989[2] (Bldg. #1), April 8, 1998[3] (Bldg. #2)

United States historic place

Santa Fe Terminal Building No. 4 U.S. National Register of Historic Places Santa Fe Building No. 4 in 2010 Location 1033 Young St., Dallas, Texas Coordinates 32°46′37″N 96°48′4″W / 32.77694°N 96.80111°W / 32.77694; -96.80111 Area 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) Built 1923 (1923) Architect Lloyd R. Whitson, Frederick (Todd) Cowderie-Dale Architectural style Early Commercial NRHP reference No. 11000344[1] Added to NRHP June 8, 2011

The **Santa Fe Terminal Complex** is an 18-acre (73,000 m2) complex of historic buildings in the [Government District](/source/Government_District%2C_Dallas) of [downtown](/source/Downtown_Dallas) [Dallas](/source/Dallas%2C_Texas), [Texas](/source/Texas) ([USA](/source/United_States)). Constructed in 1924 as the headquarters for the [Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railway](/source/Gulf%2C_Colorado_and_Santa_Fe_Railway) and the Southwest's largest merchandising center, three of the original four buildings remain today and have been renovated into various uses. Santa Fe Buildings No. 1 and No. 2 were listed in the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) in 1997, and the buildings are [Dallas Landmarks](/source/Dallas_Landmark). The Santa Fe Freight Terminal is regarded as one of the chief factors in the development of Dallas commercially.[4]

## History

The site chosen for the terminal complex was already owned by the railroad and served by tracks connecting with the East Dallas GC&SF yard. The original Santa Fe station in Dallas was built on the site in 1884 and replaced by the 1896 Richardsonian Romanesque passenger station. The latter was one of six depots belonging to different railroads which became redundant with the completion of [Union Station](/source/Union_Station_(Dallas)) in 1916. The depot was razed and a vast, 100,000 cubic yard excavation done with the equivalent of a box car load of dynamite.

Project architect Lloyd R. Whitson, working with engineers and railroad planners from the AT&SF, planned the complex so that four buildings, in a line running north to south from Commerce to Young Streets, could be served by up to three sets of underground railroad tracks branching from a central subsurface line, which emerged from the underground farther south near the present [Dallas Convention Center](/source/Dallas_Convention_Center).

The complex was constructed in 1924-25 as one of the more ambitious Texas building projects of the 1920s and one of the Southwest's largest merchandising centers.[4] All four buildings were linked by a subterranean rail tunnel served by small steam locomotives. Construction of the buildings and the 750-foot-long (230 m) underground freight house was a massive undertaking and work continued around the clock.

**Building No. 1**, also known as the Santa Fe Office Building, was constructed as the main building at 1114 Commerce Street and opened in late 1924. It contained 20 floors of offices and included a restaurant and drug store, and was the most elaborately decorated building of the complex. The structure featured several setbacks and ornamental arches designed in the [Mission Revival](/source/Mission_Revival) style topped by a barrel vaulted roof.[5] The office building provided some of the most desirable office space in Dallas in the 1925-42 period, housing many national corporations and representatives of insurance companies. The rear of the building connected to a 10-story warehouse wing fronting Jackson Street and served as the terminus of the freight depot.

**Building No. 2**, also known as the Garment Center, followed the same design as Building No. 1's warehouse. This structure was built as 10-story warehouses in light brown brick with large open industrial spaces and concrete columns. The building housed offices and showrooms for manufacturing companies, chemical companies, and building supplies. Near the end of construction, a 2-story structure was added on the roof of the building to serve as the clubhouse for the University Club, a major private men's club. A [skybridge](/source/Skyway) was erected to connect the member entrance on the eleventh floor of Santa Fe Building No. 1 with the clubhouse. The penthouse included an auditorium/great hall, library and dining room with bedrooms for resident members and nonresident members' guests on the second level. Trees, shrubs and a putting green surrounded the clubhouse. Plans were made to expand the club to the roofs of Buildings No. 1 and No. 3, but the club only used the penthouse until the late 1930s. Radio station [WFAA](/source/WFAA) moved into and converted the former University Club space for a broadcast station in 1940.[5]

**Building No. 3 and Building No. 4** were similar in design to the other warehouses, with each being 8 stories in height and connected to the rail tunnel. Building No. 3, also known as the Ingram Freezer Building, was designed for cold storage.

### Rail operations

Thirty-five to forty rail cars entered the tunnel each day, pulled by a "hot water bottle" locomotive. It was specially designed to prevent smoke in the main line and its six spurs in the tunnels by being charged with steam, which would last from four to five hours from a central, high pressure boiler under the office building. A 1924 Santa Fe Magazine article called the engine a "unique feature in locomotive construction, only one other of its type being in existence." They remained in service until about 1950, when diesel locomotives assumed the duty. Rail cars carried goods into the buildings and then the 21 freight elevators lifted merchandise to upper-level showrooms and first-floor trucking platforms.

### Change of ownership

In 1942 the United States Government acquired Building No. 1 by eminent domain, converting portions of the building to serve as headquarters for the U.S. Army 8th Service Command as well as an enlistment center. Thousands of draftees, after reporting to the enlistment center in Building No. 1, proceeded to platforms beneath the buildings where they boarded trains bound for training centers. Informal sources suggest the building has among the strongest associations with the war effort of any building in North Texas.

After the government's acquisition of the complex, the warehouse buildings passed into various ownership. Construction of the nearby [Dallas Convention Center](/source/Dallas_Convention_Center) severed the link to the main rail lines, and over time the warehouses became vacant. Santa Fe Building No. 3 was demolished in 1988 and replaced with a large parking lot.[6] Santa Fe Buildings No. 1 and No. 2 were listed in the [National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places) in 1997 and renovated over the years, although the isolated No. 4 building remained abandoned for many years.

## Current use

Santa Fe Building No. 1 still houses offices for the federal government, with additional space in the adjacent [Earle Cabell Federal Building and Courthouse](/source/Earle_Cabell_Federal_Building_and_Courthouse). Santa Fe Building No. 2 was redeveloped into SoCo Urban lofts. Santa Fe Building No. 4, at the complex's southernmost point, reopened in 2009 as the downtown Dallas [Aloft Hotel](/source/Aloft_Hotels).[7] Remnants of the tunnels still remain in the buildings today.[6]

## Gallery

		- Rear warehouse extension of Santa Fe Building No. 1

		- SoCo Lofts in Building No. 2

## See also

- [National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallas County, Texas](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Dallas_County%2C_Texas)

- [List of Dallas Landmarks](/source/List_of_Dallas_Landmarks)

[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals):
- [National Register of Historic Places](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:National_Register_of_Historic_Places)
- [Trains](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Trains)
- [Texas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Texas)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nris_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nris_1-1) ["National Register Information System"](https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP). *[National Register of Historic Places](/source/National_Register_of_Historic_Places)*. [National Park Service](/source/National_Park_Service). November 2, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DalOrd_2-0)** Analeslie Muncy (February 22, 1989). ["Ordinance No. 20222"](http://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/HP%20Documents/Landmark%20Structures/Santa%20Fe%201%20Ordinance%2020222.pdf) (PDF). City of Dallas. Retrieved July 27, 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DalOrd2_3-0)** Sam A. Lindsay (April 8, 1998). ["Ordinance No. 23485"](http://dallascityhall.com/departments/sustainabledevelopment/historicpreservation/HP%20Documents/Landmark%20Structures/Santa%20Fe%20II%20Ord%2023485.pdf) (PDF). City of Dallas. Retrieved July 27, 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-thc_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-thc_4-1) [http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/common/view_narrative.asp?narrative=97000478.htm&title=Sante%20Fe%20Terminal%20Buildings&filepath=E:\atlas_text\nr_listed\html](http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/common/view_narrative.asp?narrative=97000478.htm&title=Sante%20Fe%20Terminal%20Buildings&filepath=E:\atlas_text\nr_listed\html)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-shell_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-shell_5-1) ["THC - Atlas - Site Name Search"](http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/shell-desig.htm). Retrieved January 5, 2010.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-dnews_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-dnews_6-1) ["1924: Santa Fe tunnels"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090211232137/http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2002/hiddenhistory/1901-1925/070002dnhhtunnels.44332667.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2002/hiddenhistory/1901-1925/070002dnhhtunnels.44332667.html) on February 11, 2009. Retrieved August 21, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Levinthal, Dave (May 27, 2009). ["Aloft hotel in downtown Dallas banks on convention center business"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090531234505/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-dalhotel_27met.ART.State.Edition1.50adf87.html). *The Dallas Morning News*. Archived from [the original](http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-dalhotel_27met.ART.State.Edition1.50adf87.html) on May 31, 2009. Retrieved September 6, 2021.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Santa Fe Terminal Complex](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Santa_Fe_Terminal_Complex).

- [Gsa.gov: GSA Architectural Description of the Santa Fe Terminal Complex](https://archive.today/20120609114705/http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/buildingView.do?pageTypeId=17109&channelPage=/ep/channel/gsaOverview.jsp&channelId=-25241&bid=874)

- [Texas Historical Commission Narrative](http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/common/view_narrative.asp?narrative=97000478.htm&title=Sante%20Fe%20Terminal%20Buildings&filepath=E:\atlas_text\nr_listed\html)[*[permanent dead link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot)*]

- [Aloft Hotel Downtown Dallas](http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3146&PS=PS_aa_SW_Google_Aloft_hotel_Downtown_Dallas_8202009_NAD_FM)

- [SoCo Urban Lofts](http://socourbanlofts.com/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090304002708/http://socourbanlofts.com/) March 4, 2009, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

- [Hidden History of Dallas](https://web.archive.org/web/20090211232137/http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/spe/2002/hiddenhistory/1901-1925/070002dnhhtunnels.44332667.html)

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

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v t e National Register of Historic Places in Texas Lists by county Anderson Andrews Angelina Aransas Archer Armstrong Atascosa Austin Bailey Bandera Bastrop Baylor Bee Bell Bexar Blanco Borden Bosque Bowie Brazoria Brazos Brewster Briscoe Brooks Brown Burleson Burnet Caldwell Calhoun Callahan Cameron Camp Carson Cass Castro Chambers Cherokee Childress Clay Cochran Coke Coleman Collin Collingsworth Colorado Comal Comanche Concho Cooke Coryell Cottle Crane Crockett Crosby Culberson Dallam Dallas Dawson Deaf Smith Delta Denton DeWitt Dickens Dimmit Donley Duval Eastland Ector Edwards El Paso Ellis Erath Falls Fannin Fayette Fisher Floyd Foard Fort Bend Franklin Freestone Frio Gaines Galveston Garza Gillespie Glasscock Goliad Gonzales Gray Grayson Gregg Grimes Guadalupe Hale Hall Hamilton Hansford Hardeman Hardin Harris Harrison Hartley Haskell Hays Hemphill Henderson Hidalgo Hill Hockley Hood Hopkins Houston Howard Hudspeth Hunt Hutchinson Irion Jack Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis Jefferson Jim Hogg Jim Wells Johnson Jones Karnes Kaufman Kendall Kenedy Kent Kerr Kimble King Kinney Kleberg Knox La Salle Lamar Lamb Lampasas Lavaca Lee Leon Liberty Limestone Lipscomb Live Oak Llano Loving Lubbock Lynn Madison Marion Martin Mason Matagorda Maverick McCulloch McLennan McMullen Medina Menard Midland Milam Mills Mitchell Montague Montgomery Moore Morris Motley Nacogdoches Navarro Newton Nolan Nueces Ochiltree Oldham Orange Palo Pinto Panola Parker Parmer Pecos Polk Potter Presidio Rains Randall Reagan Real Red River Reeves Refugio Roberts Robertson Rockwall Runnels Rusk Sabine San Augustine San Jacinto San Patricio San Saba Schleicher Scurry Shackelford Shelby Sherman Smith Somervell Starr Stephens Sterling Stonewall Sutton Swisher Tarrant Taylor Terrell Terry Throckmorton Titus Tom Green Travis Trinity Tyler Upshur Upton Uvalde Val Verde Van Zandt Victoria Walker Waller Ward Washington Webb Wharton Wheeler Wichita Wilbarger Willacy Williamson Wilson Winkler Wise Wood Yoakum Young Zapata Zavala National parks Big Bend National Park Guadalupe Mountains National Park Other lists Bridges National Historic Landmarks National Natural Landmarks Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks United States National Register of Historic Places listings Keeper of the Register History of the National Register of Historic Places Property types Historic district Contributing property

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