Hall of State v. Uri

Hall of State main entrance exterior — restored in 2020.

Three years ago on February 13-17, 2021, Winter Storm Uri walloped Texas with record-breaking bitter cold, which resulted in massive and days-long power outages. The storm and subsequent power crisis claimed 246 lives – many from hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning – and left behind more than $195 billion in infrastructure damage. Pipes in unheated homes and buildings froze and burst, unleashing streams of misery.

Before Uri’s merciless arrival, a $14.4 million renovation of Fair Parks’ Texas Hall of State, arguably the most important building in the park and the centerpiece of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition, was completed in late 2020. Its dingy, weathered limestone exterior was transformed to the polished gem it had been during the Centennial. ADA-compliant ramps were added, and interior enhancements were also part of the project.

Three months after the restoration was complete, in the early morning of February 16, 2021, Dallas’ temperature plunged to -2 degrees Fahrenheit. Fair Park had no power. Pipes froze. And in the early-morning hours of February 17, one of those frozen pipes burst and the waters flowed through the newly restored Hall of State. Ceilings were damaged, both levels were flooded, and some historical documents and artworks were harmed. The damage was estimated to be $3 million.

The Dallas Historical Society’s offices and archives are in the Hall of State, and fortunately the most valuable artifacts, including the only known original copy of the 1865 Juneteenth Proclamation, were safely stored.

The damage was repaired, and the Hall of State restoration continues to be an inspiration for how the rest of the park can be transformed. The photos here highlight select details of the restoration.

Texas Centennial Art