Dallas County Jail, Dallas Texas, history, marker, photos, travel. (original) (raw)

The Dallas Couny Jail
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, February 2008

The 1915 Dallas County Jail and Criminal Courts Building

Designed by H.A. Overbeck of the architectural firm of Martin, Byrne and Johnson, the jail was built with a hospital, operating room, barber shop and jailer's quarters. The building is still in use today. - Terry Jeanson, February, 2008

Historical Marker:

Dallas County Criminal Courts Building

This site was purchased by Dallas County in 1913 for a new jail and courts building, designed by local architect H. A. Overbeck (1861 - 1942). The steel-framed building, finished in 1915 at a cost of $585,982, is clad with granite, terra cotta, and brick, exhibiting Renaissance Revival styling. The upper six floors housed the jail, designed for 200 prisoners. Two large district courtrooms on the second floor suspended jury trials during summer months until air conditioning was installed in 1951. In 1964 Jack Ruby (1911 - 1967) was tried in the east courtroom for killing assassination suspect Lee Harvey Oswald (1939 - 1963).
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1986

The Dallas Couny Jail historical marker
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, February 2008

The Dallas Couny Jail architectural details
Photos courtesy Terry Jeanson, February 2008

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