Dealey Plaza

Historic Significance

Dealey Plaza is a historic urban park located in the West End Historic District of downtown Dallas, Texas. Covering approximately 15 acres, it is often referred to as the "birthplace of Dallas" due to its significance in the city's early history.

The plaza was completed in 1940 as a Works Progress Administration project and named after George Bannerman Dealey, a prominent civic leader and early publisher of The Dallas Morning News.

Trees alongside historic brick buildings

Layout and Features

The park is situated at the convergence of three major streets - Main Street, Elm Street, and Commerce Street - which pass under a railroad bridge known locally as the "triple underpass."

Dealey Plaza is bordered on three sides by buildings at least 100 feet tall, including the former Texas School Book Depository building, now home to the Sixth Floor Museum.

The plaza features a mix of green spaces and concrete structures. It includes grassy areas, trees, and decorative fountains.

The park also contains several monuments honoring early Dallas residents, which predate the 1960s. A notable feature is the "grassy knoll," a small, sloped area on the northwest side of the plaza.

Red brick Dallas County Courthouse with distinctive clock tower

Presidential Assassination Site

The plaza gained international recognition as the site of President John F. Kennedy's assassination on November 22, 1963. This event transformed Dealey Plaza from a local landmark into a place of national and historical significance.

In 1993, on the 30th anniversary of the assassination, Dealey Plaza was designated a National Historic Landmark District to preserve its appearance and historical integrity.

Dealey Plaza Today

Today, Dealey Plaza serves as both a functional urban park and a historical site. It attracts numerous visitors daily, many of whom come to learn about and reflect on the events of November 1963.

The park's layout and many of its features, including street lights and signs, have been intentionally maintained to resemble their 1963 appearance, providing a stark contrast to the modern Dallas skyline visible beyond the plaza.