Dallas Tent and Awning Building
Also known as: Murray Building
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Why it's listed
Built in 1921 at 3401 Commerce Street in Dallas's Deep Ellum neighborhood, this three-story red-brown brick building was constructed as a factory for the Dallas Tent and Awning Company. It was reported at the time to be the largest tent and awning factory south of Kansas City. After the company left by 1939, the building sat vacant for a time, then housed a machinery supply firm before the Murray Company, a major cotton gin and industrial equipment manufacturer, bought it after World War II. It is one of the last buildings tied to that company. Its Commercial Style design includes an open plan, fireproof materials, cast-stone accents, paired wood windows, brick pilasters and a metal cornice with dentils. Deep Ellum was shifting toward manufacturing and wholesale use when it was built, and the building reflects that growth. It remains largely unaltered outside and now serves as apartments.
Significance in brief: The building is significant under Criterion A for its link to the industrial development of Deep Ellum, as the home of the Dallas Tent and Awning Company and later the Murray Company, a cotton gin and industrial equipment maker. It is significant under Criterion C as a good example of an early 20th century Commercial Style factory/office building. It retains a high degree of integrity, and the significance is local.
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 99001292, listed October 28, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 3401 Commerce St., Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | October 28, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001292 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1948 |
| Architect / builder | J.M. Jordon, contractor |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th Century American Movements: Commercial Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Renovated and converted into loft apartments; the open plan has been divided into units. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Deep Ellum Historic District |
| Coordinates | 32.78518, -96.77484 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 99001292.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000940
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.