Dallas Union Terminal
Why it's listed
Dallas Union Terminal, at 400 S. Houston Street, is a railroad station designed by Chicago architect Jarvis Hunt and built from March 1914, opening to passengers on October 8, 1916. It replaced five separate depots that had served nine rail lines. The east facade follows a symmetrical five-part Beaux-Arts arrangement, with coupled Doric columns, Tiffany white enameled brick, and a granite base. Inside, a 70 by 132 foot second-floor waiting room rises 48 feet under a vaulted ceiling. Hunt's plan separated ticketing and baggage functions from the route to the train gates to ease circulation. Passenger traffic fell after World War II, and Wyatt C. Hedrick directed renovations between 1947 and 1950, including a tunnel under the tracks. Private passenger service ended in 1969. The city bought the building in 1972, and a 1974 restoration brought Amtrak and bus service. The nomination values it as one of the finest Beaux-Arts buildings in Texas that remains largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest examples of Beaux-Arts Classical style in Texas, notable for its craftsmanship and detailing and for how the style was interpreted in Texas after its peak on the East and West Coasts. Its plan separated functions to improve circulation. It also represents the railroad era in Dallas, when a single union station replaced five separate depots, and the building remains largely intact.
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 75001966, listed May 29, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 400 S. Houston St., Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | May 29, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75001966 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1914-1916 / 1947-1950 |
| Architect / builder | Jarvis Hunt / Wyatt C. Hedrick |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts Classicism |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Dallas and occupied; restored beginning in 1974 to serve Amtrak and Surtran bus passengers, with most platform sheds and the passenger midway razed. Plans called for a hotel, shopping and entertainment redevelopment. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 32.77566, -96.80774 (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 75001966.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5371609
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.