Texas and Pacific Terminal Complex
Why it's listed
Rising above the southern edge of downtown Fort Worth, this railroad complex at Lancaster and Throckmorton Streets was built between 1928 and 1930 for the Texas and Pacific Railway. Architect Wyatt C. Hedrick designed a thirteen-story passenger station and office tower with corner towers, a granite and limestone base, and brick upper floors. Beside it stand an express building and commissary, an eight-story inbound freight warehouse, and an outbound freight building. Geometric and plant-motif ornament, carved limestone, gold-leaf plaster ceilings and marble finishes show the Art Deco style then called Modernistic. The complex was part of a $13 million railroad investment in Fort Worth, supported by local civic groups, and it served the city's cattle and oil economy. Passenger traffic peaked during World War II, then declined as air travel grew, and service ended in the 1960s. Few passenger terminals were combined with a skyscraper office building in this way.
Significance in brief: The complex is an architectural landmark marking the south edge of downtown Fort Worth and a major example of Art Deco design. It reflects the Texas and Pacific Railroad's role in sustaining the livestock, oil and other economic growth of the Southwest. The railroad's roughly $13 million building programme is credited with encouraging Fort Worth's prosperity and population growth.
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 78002983, listed May 26, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Lancaster and Throckmorton Sts., Fort Worth |
|---|---|
| County | Tarrant County |
| Listed | May 26, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002983 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Wyatt C. Hedrick |
| Architectural style | Art Deco (described at the time as Modern or Modernistic) |
| Areas of significance | Art, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent condition; the form says the passenger terminal closed and tenants began leaving after railroad service ended in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 10.7 |
| Coordinates | 32.74597, -97.32963 (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 78002983.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q117081140
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.