Texas, The
Why it's listed
Built in 1856 by Danforth, Cooke and Company of Paterson, New Jersey, the Texas is an eight-wheel American-type steam locomotive that entered service on the Georgia-owned Western and Atlantic Railroad in October of that year. It cost $9,050 and was later converted from five-foot gauge to standard gauge in 1886. Its fame comes from the Andrews Raid of April 12, 1862, when Union raiders seized the locomotive General at Big Shanty. The Texas joined the pursuit about 34 miles north, ran 51 miles in reverse, and towed the damaged General back to Ringgold. It kept working for the Confederacy through the war and stayed in service until about 1904. After years of neglect, it was given to the City of Atlanta in 1911, moved to Grant Park, and placed in the Cyclorama Building basement in 1927. It was refurbished in 1936 and remains on exhibit.
Significance in brief: The locomotive was one of the engines that pursued the stolen General during the Andrews Raid, or "Great Locomotive Chase," on April 12, 1862. It then served the Confederacy for the rest of the Civil War and remained in railroad service until about 1904. The raid has since inspired well-known films.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73002234, listed June 19, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Cyclorama Bldg., Grant Park, Atlanta |
|---|---|
| County | Fulton County |
| Listed | June 19, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73002234 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific dates 1856; April 12, 1862) |
| Architect / builder | Danforth, Cooke and Company of Paterson, New Jersey |
| Areas of significance | Military, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and altered; moved from its original site. Refurbished in 1936 to look as it did in 1860 but not to run, and on public display in the Cyclorama Building. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Grant Park Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.73398, -84.37088 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73002234.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7768585
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.