The population of Dallas at the beginning of the 1960s was around 679,684 and the city was thriving. The racial integration of public facilities began on August 15, 1961, when African Americans were sent to lunch counters and businesses throughout the city for equal treatment. The Dallas and Negro chambers of commerce appointed a biracial committee to devise a publicity campaign and notify business owners of the event, which proceeded without incident. Public schools were integrated more slowly, and the district remained under court supervision for decades.
On November 22, 1963, Dallas experienced its most traumatic event when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated a few yards from the site where John Neely Bryan had settled in 1841. After two days, Jack Ruby, a Dallas nightclub owner, killed Lee Harvey Oswald before television cameras.
Here are some stunning photos that show Dallas in the 1960s.
#1 Skyline of downtown Dallas, 1969
#2 Various buildings, including the Adolphus Hotel and Magnolia in Downtown, Dallas, 1960s
#3 Tower Petroleum building in Dallas, Texas, 1960s
#4 Street Outside Dallas Federal Savings & Loan Fire, 1964
Five fire engines, an ambulance, and a police car in the street to the right of the Dallas Federal Savings & Loan building (which is barely visible on the left). There are men in white hard-hats (and some wearing suits) standing on the sidewalk and street between the building and the emergency vehicles. The buildings and crowd of civilians watching the scene from down the street in the background are partially obscured by smoke.
#5 Dallas Service Center, 1965
#6 Adolphus Hotel and Magnolia, 1960s
#7 Meal at sales meeting in Dallas, 1969
#8 Dallas soccer club in Rangoon, 1967
#9 Dallas skyline, 1960s
#10 A distant view of downtown Dallas from a blimp, 1969
#11 Exterior of a Dallas fire station, 1960s
#12 Dallas Centre building, 1960s
#13 verview of Downtown Dallas, 1960s. The picture includes Thanksgiving Square and the Fidelity Union Life building.
#14 City Hall Basement with Dallas Police Department Vehicle, 1960s
#15 Smoke Pours From Dallas Federal Savings & Loan Building, 1964
#16 Dallas County Courthouse Under Construction, 1964
#17 Dallas Memorial Auditorium Exterior Walkway, 1964
#18 Aerial View of Urban Dallas, 1967
#19 Aerial view of urban dallas, 1967
#20 Civil rights march in Dallas outside Dallas Morning News building, 1965
#21 Aerial of Love Field, its terminal and runway, looking south toward downtown Dallas, Texas, 1962
#22 Central Expressway, near Lemmon Avenue and Washington Avenue exit, Dallas, 1960s
#23 Main rail lines approaching the Dallas Union Station from the south, 1968
#24 Union Station in Dallas, 1968
#25 “The Flying Scotsman” leaving Dallas, 1969
#26 Aerial view of Oak Cliff area in Dallas, 1969
#27 Men and women sitting around a table, and having a meal together, 1969. They are all dressed in formal attire and having conversations with one another.
#28 Preston State Bank, Dallas, Texas, 1960s
#29 Dallas Symphony Director with the Grand Chorus, 1962
#30 A soccer game between the Dallas Tornado Soccer Club and an Iranian team during the club’s tour in Shiraz, 1967
#31 Harry’s in Dallas, Texas, 1969
#32 Dallas Fire Station 1 and Fire Truck, 1969
#33 Dallas Fire Station 21 at Love Field, 1969
#34 Dallas Police officers standing guard outside the Dallas Trade Mart, 1963
This image shows Dallas police officer Kenneth Heard and other unidentified Dallas police officers standing guard outside the Dallas Trade Mart where President Kennedy was to speak at a luncheon. The Trade Mart is part of the Market Hall complex just north of downtown Dallas.
#35 Banquet tables being set up at the Dallas Trade Mart, 1963
#36 Dallas Police officers exiting the Texas School Book Depository, 1963
#37 A Dallas Police officer outside the Texas School Book Depository, 1963
#38 Dallas Police officer outside the Texas School Book Depository, 1963
#39 Commerce Street in downtown Dallas the evening of November 22, 1963
#40 Jack Ruby’s sister Eva Grant leaving for the Dallas Police Department, 1963
#41 Dallas Theatre Center (located at 3636 Turtle Creek) in Dallas, Texas, 1960s
#42 Af an aerial overview of Kimble Park and the surrounding neighborhoods and downtown Dallas, 1966
The two (2) block long and half block wide park is adjacent to S.M. Wright Freeway that weaves throughout the city splintering off into additional roads. Downtown Dallas is visible looming in the background of the photograph. Residential, commercial, and industrial buildings are scattered throughout the metroplex surrounding Kimble Park.
#43 A civil rights protest at Piccadilly Cafeteria in Dallas, 1964
#44 Dallas Trade Mart, 1960s
#45 Low angle shot photograph from a street view of Downtown Dallas, 1960s
#46 Dallas Police squad car headed east towards the Tippit crime scene, 1963
#47 Office building at 701 Elm Street in Dallas, Texas taken from street, 1960s. The building is marked Dallas County Community College District. This building was also known as the R.L. Thornton building.
#48 Texas School Book Depository, now known as the Dallas County Administration Building, building facing Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, US, 19th November 1968.
#49 Cotton Bowl and Surrounding Area, 1967
#50 Freeway near Downtown Dallas, 1967
#51 Aerial view with the Memorial Auditorium in the center foreground, Dallas, Texas, 1960.
#52 Downtown Dallas, 1967
#53 Aerial View of Roadway Design in Dallas, 1967
#54 Aerial View of Roadway in Dallas, 1967
#55 Skyline of dallas, Dallas is ever expanding with industries, as well as the cultural arts such as theater, music, museums and several major universities, , Dallas, 1967
#56 Traintracks in dallas, 1967
#57 Oak Cliff apts. in Dallas where Jack Ruby lived, 1960s
#58 Street view around Dallas, Texas, 1964.
#59 Street view around Dallas, Texas, 1964.
#60 Exterior view of the Texas Theater (built in 1931 by architect W. Scott Dunne), located at 231 W. Jefferson Street, Dallas, Texas, December 1963.
#61 Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas, showing area near Texas State Book Depository building following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, 1963
#62 Dealey Plaza following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, Dallas, 1963
#63 Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas, showing area near Texas State Book Depository building following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, 1963
#64 The Dallas, Texas skyline from Oak Cliff, 1963
#65 Commerce Street, downtown Dallas, 1962
#66 Executive Aircraft, Love Field, Dallas, 1960
#67 Carousel Club in Dallas; owned by Jack Ruby, who killed Lee Harvey Oswald, 1963
#68 Civil rights march in Dallas with 2,500 marchers, supporting African American voter registration and protesting racial atrocities in Selma, Alabama, 1965
#69 Civil rights march in Dallas outside Dallas Morning News building, 1965
#70 The Thornton freeway, Beckley and Marsallis area, Dallas, Texas, 1960
#71 Runway at Love Field, Dallas. There are airplanes parked, 1960
#72 Aerial view of planes at Love Field at 7 a.m., Dallas, 1960
#73 Midway Road and Highway 635, 1965
#74 Aerial view of planes at Love Field at 7 a.m., Dallas, 1960
#75 Northwest Highway and Shady Brook, Dallas, Texas, 1965
#76 The Dallas area highway with Bigtown sign on left, 1960
#77 Dallas, Texas skyline and triple underpass, 1965
#78 Aerial view of Highway 775 and Danieldale, 1960s
#79 Freeway near downtown Dallas, 1962
#80 Downtown Dallas aerial, 1964
#81 Statler Hilton Hotel, Dallas, Texas, 1960
#82 Construction of the First National Bank building, downtown Dallas, Texas, 1983
#83 Southwestern Life Insurance building under construction, downtown Dallas, Texas.1963
#84 Dallas, Texas skyline, Victory Park area, 1969
#85 This aerial shot of Dallas in the 1960s shows how large the city had already become.
#86 Dallas Fire recruits from class numbers 107 and 108, posing in three lines, standing and kneeling in front of a concrete edifice with a grid pattern, 1967.
#87 Dallas Firefighters and Truck, 1964
#88 Pumpkin fields in Dallas, 1960s
#89 Modern Art Sculpture in Front of Dallas Memorial Auditorium, 1964
#90 Dallas Police Officer H.B. McLain outside of Parkland Hospital, 1963
#91 Tall glass entrance with two doors and a sign above them that reads “Dallas Garden Center’, 1968
#92 Vine Covered Dallas Garden Center, 1968
#93 Leaving no doubt about their Presidential choice, these girls offer solid backing to GOP nominee Vice President Richard M. Nixon. The gals cast their spell at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.
#94 Aerial View of Urban Dallas, 1967
#95 Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers, 1967 NFL Championship, 1967
#96 Cotton Bowl, University of Arkansas vs. Louisiana State University (L. S. U.), 1965
#97 Highway with exit signs “Colorado Blvd” and connections to I-35, Highway. 67 and 77 North and 80 East, and 80 West, Dallas, 1960s
#98 3525 Turtle Creek, Dallas, Texas, 1960
#99 Inwood and LBJ freeway, Dallas, Texas, 1969
#100 Dallas Highways 67 and 77, 1960
#101 3505 Turtle Creek, Dallas, 1962
#102 A Freeway by downtown Dallas, 1960
#103 Federal Reserve Bank, Dallas, Texas, 1960
#104 The Market Hall in Dallas, Texas, 1960s
#105 Dallas skyline and Convention Center, 1965
#106 An aerial of triple underpass at Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas, 1963
#107 Dallas City Hall, 106 S. Harwood St., 1960
#108 Aerial view of planes at Love Field at 7 a.m., Dallas, 1960
#109 A street view of Bond Clothes store, Dallas, Texas, 1963
#110 John F. Kennedy’s Secret Service Limousine, 1963
#111 Aerial of downtown Dallas, Texas looking toward northeast from southwest, 1963
#112 Looking northeast toward the Texas School Book Depository building following assassination of President John F. Kennedy, 1963
The Texas School Book Depository, now known as the Dallas County Administration Building, is a seven-floor building facing Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas. The building was Lee Harvey Oswald's vantage point in his assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Oswald, an employee at the depository, shot and killed President Kennedy from a sixth floor window on the building's southeastern corner; 30 minutes after the shooting, Kennedy died at Parkland Memorial Hospital. The structure is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, located at 411 Elm Street on the northwest corner of Elm and North Houston Streets, at the western end of downtown Dallas.
#113 Dallas skyline looking south-east toward Cotton Bowl,1962
#114 Aerial view of planes at Love Field at 7 a.m., Dallas, 1960
#115 A street view of Bond Clothes store, Dallas, Texas, 1963
#116 Aerial of Zang Boulevard, Beckley Avenue, and West Jefferson Street looking northeast towards the downtown Dallas skyline, 1964
#117 Downtown Dallas aerial, 1969
#118 Aerial of downtown Dallas, Dealey Plaza and triple underpass, 1965
#119 Aerial of Dealey Plaza and Triple Underpass, Dallas, 1965
#120 Downtown Dallas, Texas, 1960
#121 Downtown Dallas aerial, 1965
#122 Marina and Marguerite Oswald with Marina’s children walking into Parkland Hospital morgue following Lee Harvey Oswald’s death, 1963
#123 President John F. Kennedy and wife Jackie Kennedy as they enter a convertible limousine at Love Field, Dallas, Texas, 1963
#124 Looking toward Texas School Book Depository, Dealey Plaza, following John F. Kennedy assassination, 1963
#125 “Grassy Knoll” near Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, 1963
#126 Dealey Plaza following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, 1963
#127 Dealey Plaza following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, 1963
#128 Grassy Knoll, near Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, 1963
#129 Grassy Knoll, near Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, 1963
#130 Texas School Book Depository, Dealey Plaza, 1963
#131 People standing on bridge overlooking grassy knoll, 1963
#132 Priscilla Art Club, Dallas, 50th Anniversary, 1961
#133 Dallas Federal Reserve Bank building, downtown Dallas, 1960
#134 Grassy Knoll, near Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas following President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, 1963
#135 Construction of the First National Bank building, 1963
#136 Runway at Love Field, 1960
#137 Texas School Book Depository building at Dealey Plaza, 1963
#138 Construction of the First National Bank building, downtown Dallas, Texas, 1963
#139 Parking area and runway at Love Field, Dallas, 1960
#140 Dealey Plaza after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Dallas, Texas, 1963
#141 Construction of the First National Bank building, 1963
#142 Dealey Plaza after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Dallas, Texas, 1963
#143 Looking toward Texas School Book Depository, Dealey Plaza, following John F. Kennedy assassination, 1963
#144 Dealey Plaza, Dallas, Texas 2 days following assassination of President John F. Kennedy, 1963
#145 President John F. Kennedy’s limousin, 1963
#146 Electric Building and Big Tex, at the State Fair of Texas, Fair Park, Dallas, Texas, 1965
A crowd shot with Big Tex in the middle. Big Tex is seen wearing a traditional 60-foot-long Mexican sarape as part of the State Fair's theme for the year, which celebrated North American and South American cultures, and this particular outfit was chosen to represent Mexico Day. The building is also known as the Tower Building, constructed for the Texas Centennial Exposition as the Federal Building.
I’m the same vintage as some of those photos. Thanks for making me feel ancient.
I’d like to know what the Dallas Service Center was
https://www.google.com/maps/@32.8501561,-96.5904018,3a,31.3y,270.26h,88.06t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s0BMtrcIq56XtJVpiDNjjgw!2e0!5s20160701T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu
I arrived in Dallas, fresh out of UT, to begin working for the City in the summer of 1964, when Dallas was still reverberating from the assassination. I must have walked up and down Commerce a thousand times between City Hall and the old red Courthouse — and later, the new courthouse, which I watched them build — so those downtown shots really bring back memories.
Anyone else here remember Sol’s Turf Bar, next to the Commerce Street Newsstand? Ate lots of great pizzas and pastrami sandwiches there.
I worked for the City until I retired at the turn of the century, by the way. But then I fled to south Louisiana.
I remember Sol’s.
I used to run into Stanley Marcus there sometimes. Sol’s was his favorite lunch place at work and he’d nip in there from the store, which was only a block away.
You misspelled t.u.
Well, my brother’s an Aggie, but no family’s perfect.
Two things I noted: 1. No traffic 😂 2. We had some big-gun toting cops
It was during the time where if you were tweaking two dudes in white pull up in a van and tell you to try on this sweater. Can’t have ya out here scaring folks.