Dallas Downtown Historic District in Dallas County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Formerly the Texas School Book Depository Building

Texas School Book Depository Building Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Gary Estep, January 1, 2026

1. Texas School Book Depository Building Marker

Restored Marker

Inscription. This site was originally owned by John Neely Bryan, the founder of Dallas. During the 1880s French native Maxime Guillot operated a wagon shop here. In 1894 the land was purchased by Phil L. Mitchell, President and Director of Rock Island Plow Company of Illinois. An office building for the firm's Texas division, known as the Southern Rock Island Plow Company, was completed here four years later. In 1901 the five story structure was destroyed by fire. That same year, under supervision of the company's Vice President and General Manager F.B. Jones, work was completed on this structure. Built to resemble the earlier ediface, it features characteristics of the Commercial Romanesque Revival style.

In 1937 the Carraway Byrd Corporation purchased the property. Later under the direction of D.H. Byrd, the building was leased to a variety of businesses, including the Texas School Book Depository.

On November 22, 1963, the building gained national notoriety when Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot and killed President John F. Kennedy from a sixth floor window as the Presidential motorcade

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passed the site.

Erected 1980 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6895.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #35 John F. Kennedy series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 22, 1963.

Location. 32° 46.779′ N, 96° 48.493′ W. Marker is in Dallas, Texas, in Dallas County. It is in the Dallas Downtown Historic District. It is at the intersection of Elm Street (State Highway 354) and North Houston Street (State Highway 354) on Elm Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 411 Elm Street, Dallas TX 75202, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Welcome to Dealey Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); The First Shot (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to Dealey Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); John Neely Bryan / Margaret Beeman Bryan

Vandalized Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 5, 2024

2. Vandalized Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Dealey Plaza (within shouting distance of this marker); Kennedy Assassination Route (within shouting distance of this marker); Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark (within shouting distance of this marker); Abraham Zapruder (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dallas.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for John Neely Bryan. John Neely Bryan is considered the founder of Dallas. (Submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

2. The Handbook of Texas entry for Maxime Guillot.
(Submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Additional commentary.
1. The use of the word "allegedly" on the marker.
Difficult to read for some people, on this marker, is the use of the word "allegedly"

Photographed by Michael Stroud, June 1996

3. Texas School Book Depository Building Marker

in the last paragraph. It states: "...Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly shot and killed President John F. Kennedy..." reportedly because there was no trial. The nearby Sixth Floor Museum also uses the word allegedly.

The historical marker for police officer J.D. Tippit, 3 miles away, notes he was "murdered" by Lee Harvey Oswald. No mention of allegedly, despite there also being no trial.

As a corollary we do not say John Wilkes Booth "allegedly" murdered Abraham Lincoln. Booth also did not have a trial.

— Submitted February 19, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.

Formerly the Texas School Book Depository Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 5, 2024

4. Formerly the Texas School Book Depository Building and Marker

The marker is at lower right. The shots were fired from the sixth floor square window at upper right.

The former Texas School Book Depository Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, November 1998

5. The former Texas School Book Depository Building

Grassy Knoll Area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Michael Stroud, 1998

6. Grassy Knoll Area

April 5, 2007

7. The former Texas School Book Depository Building

Dealey Plaza is in the foreground.

Administration Building Dedication image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Adam Margolis, April 9, 2024

8. Administration Building Dedication

Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 9,255 times since then and 313 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 2, 2026, by Gary Estep of Anna, Texas. 2. submitted on April 17, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 4. submitted on April 17, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5, 6. submitted on January 10, 2008, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 7. submitted on January 10, 2008, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 8. submitted on June 28, 2024, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.