Magnolia Building
Why it's listed
Rising more than 400 feet above downtown Dallas, this 29-story office tower was begun in 1921 and opened in August 1922 for the Magnolia Petroleum Company, later Mobil. Alfred C. Bossom, a British architect working with Dallas associates Lang & Witchell, designed it with tan Indiana limestone walls, a bracketed cornice, twin front pavilions joined by an arch at the 17th story, and a tiled attic and cupola. The first two floors were covered with granite in the 1950s, but the marble and walnut lobby remains intact. In 1922 it ranked among the tallest buildings in the United States and stayed the tallest in Dallas for almost twenty years. It reflected the city's growing role in the oil industry. A large neon Pegasus sign added in 1934 became a regional landmark, visible for miles. The building was listed for its architectural, economic and industrial importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building has architectural, economic and industrial significance. It was designed by a well-known British architect, housed Magnolia (later Mobil) Oil as an early oil industry headquarters, and became a symbol of Dallas. The Pegasus sign on its roof became a regional landmark.
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 78002915, listed January 30, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 108 S. Akard St., Dallas |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | January 30, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002915 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Alfred C. Bossom, N.Y./London; Lang & Witchell, Associate Architects, Dallas |
| Architectural style | Adapted Beaux-Arts classicism applied to a 20th century high rise; described in the significance section as Renaissance revival |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Economics, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition and slightly altered; the first two floors were covered with granite in the 1950s. Ownership is listed as private and public, with a note that the city owned it and was considering selling it. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Within district | Dallas Downtown Historic District (Additional Documentation) |
| Coordinates | 32.78002, -96.79910 (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 78002915.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q12061439
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.