Preservation Dallas is a major proponent for the revitalization of Dallas’ Central Business District. The district is Texas’ best surviving representation of commercial and architectural development of Dallas from 1888 through1958. It dramatically demonstrates Dallas’ transformation from a small agricultural trading center to a world-class financial center for banking, oil, insurance, and major retail.

Significant attributes include:

• Diverse styles including the Beaux-Arts Revival, Chicago School influences, Classic Revival, Art Deco, Art Moderne, as well as modern idioms
• Notable examples of government buildings
• An outstanding example of theatre architecture
• Buildings ranging from modest late 19th century and early 20th century brick and limestone commercial buildings to the finest examples of multi-story bank, hotel and office buildings from the 1910s through the 1950s, illustrating the evolution of the skyscraper form in both Dallas and the State of Texas

In addition, the physical development of the district reflects major advances in the history of city planning. Many of these advances were initiated in the City of Dallas planning, which served as a model for other city planning efforts.