Today we went on an hour tour of Dallas, that was actually a two-hour tour! We met Isaac (our guide) at the JFK Memorial Plaza.
There were only seven of us for the tour. This made it a nice, intimate tour.
JFK – Assassination
The Texas School Book Depository building where Lee Harvey Oswald waited for the Presidential motorcade. Oswald shot and (supposedly) killed President Kennedy while he was riding in a convertible. Oswald shot through the far right window on the 6th floor. A box is currently in the window.
Walking toward the white X in the middle lane and towards the “grassy knoll” – the location of a possible 2nd and 3rd shooter.
The large white X in the road marks the spot of Kennedy’s vehicle when he was assassinated.
Below is an excerpt for the speech President Kennedy was planning to give at the Dallas Trade Mart later that day.
A man had an incredible display set up here on the grassy knoll for people to see pieces of information from his investigation over the years. It was impressive…especially the film clips that he had from a lady who filmed the procession from an upper level office where she worked. She caught the assassination from a vantage point that included the grassy knoll in the background. Her video shows the light of a couple shots from the grassy knoll, but the police and FBI never showed or used her film.
This guy brought up a clip where he was present with an FBI agent who started giving this same lady a hard time about her video. Being short on time, I didn’t ask him his name or why he was present in the video for the interview or whatever it was. I had the impression he had been a policeman/detective. I found it quite interesting though.
Read more on the assassination: Multiple shooters
The entrance to the parking garage that Jack Ruby used to get into the courthouse where he shot Lee Harvey Oswald. Jack Ruby ran strip clubs and dance halls in the city and had connections to organized crime. He knew a lot of policemen with whom he had a “good” relationship. “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” was common operating protocol. This is what likely helped him gain access into the building to shoot Oswald with intent to kill as Oswald was about to be transferred to jail. Conspiracy theory or not, Jack Ruby killed Lee Harvey Oswald and was prosecuted for it. Ruby spent the rest of his life in jail. He died in the hospital from lung cancer. To read and watch more: History website
Do I think there was likely a crime mob or government cover-up? I’m open to that possibility with newer evidence. Jack Ruby and his murder of Oswald could support a mob connection. There are people who will do anything when it comes to the quest for money and power. It is an unquenchable thirst. There are people who have devoted their lives researching Kennedy’s assassination. Me? I prefer a clean cut case, but believe a second shooter was likely with some of the newer evidence. I don’t see how we will ever know who that second shooter was at this point, so I will not obsess over it. Staying informed is exhausting. There’s enough going on in the present. I don’t need to be drawn back to the 60s.
First impressions of the JFK Memorial was underwhelming, but when I read the information provided, I was able to appreciate the simplicity and meaning of the structure.
I just realized today that JFK was one year older than my parents. I guess he has remained a young 46-year old to me, while living with my parents, we all kept getting older. LOL Of course I was only in 2nd grade when Kennedy was assassinated.
And now the additional sites from our tour of Dallas:
The red pegasus is the unofficial mascot, yet beloved symbol for Dallas. It extends from being the Mobile Oil logo and the numerous buyouts of petroleum companies where the Magnolia Building was part of the acquisition of Magnolia Petroleum. Dallas has embraced the pegasus. It continually rotates 360 degrees and is lit up every night.
Cattle run in downtown Dallas!
The sidewalk between the street and these long horns depict many branding iron symbols, the ranch it belongs to and the year. We didn’t have time to check too many of them out, but here are a few examples.
The oldest cemetery in Dallas is located right here! Often the oldest cemeteries appear quite neglected with more dirt than grass and areas overgrown with weeds. This one is well taken care of being adjacent to “the cattle drive” in this park setting.
I like unusual buildings.
Golden AT&T winged boy marks this plaza. The Adolphus Hotel is the ornate building at the end of the plaza. It was built in 1912 by Adolphus Busch of Anheuser-Busch. It supposedly has quite the “King of Beers” chandelier in the lobby. This is the hotel English royalty come to when in Dallas. The grand piano in large room adjacent to the lobby is historic. It was originally bound for the Titanic! Fortunately, it was left on the dock, while its twin made it onto the ship and is now at the bottom of the ocean. The French Room is a palatial restaurant with two magnificent Murano chandeliers. Next visit we may try to check out the inside. Today, this was our only vantage point as we learned about it from Isaac.
There are many raised air conditioned walkways and underground tunnel walkways to get around in the city avoiding traffic AND the triple digit SUMMER HEAT! The one below is likely missed by many walking around at ground level since it is so high above them.
I think the Adolphus maybe on the right hand corner.
Cool American Deco building
The Majestic Theatre used to be where you’d go for silent movies, but now it hosts special events.
Remember Bonnie & Clyde? They met in Texas. Below is where Clyde Barrow’s body was displayed in an open casket for viewing. The casket was placed outside on the portico between the pillars and the main door. At that time it was the Sparkman-Holz Brand Funeral Home. Today it is the location of the Dallas Bar Association.
The Neiman Marcus in Dallas is the flagship store. The building was constructed in 1912, and is also home to the Neiman Marcus Group corporate headquarters.
Food trucks are quite popular within the city. Isaac said if you see a taco truck at a gas station that it will be the most authentic Mexican food you can get. At this location there were a number of them. Below is just a few. He said they are always here.
ART in the City:
Thanksgiving Square (Isaac told us that the same architect of the JFK Memorial created this spiral chapel.)
It is an interfaith Chapel of Thanksgiving. The curving white structure symbolizing the ancient spiral of life and suggesting the infinite upward reach of the human spirit. A 100-foot-long bridge crosses the Great Fountain to arrive at the Chapel, which serves as a gathering place and a spiritual center for the daily life of the city. While it is a chapel, there are no overt religious symbols found here. Significant leaders from Hindu, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths approved the quotes and messages found here. Everyone is truly meant to feel welcome and to be thankful. The exquisite spiral ceiling of stained glass is breathtaking to behold. I think it would be worth checking out – next visit.
For more click here: https://thanksgiving.org/thanksgivingsquare/visit/
Pacific Plaza Pavilion: The cool halo-like ring is an abstracted version of Morse code! Why Morse code? Pacific Avenue was a rail line in the Texas and Pacific Railway that ran from 1871 to 1976, providing service from El Paso, Texas, to New Orleans, Louisiana. Conductors and engineers communicated by telegraph using American Morse Code. Historical information related to this route, such as train stops and track elevation, was translated into American Morse Code for use as the perforation pattern for the Pacific Plaza panels. Pretty cool.
Think these people feel like someone or something is watching them?
What about you?
Isaac said if you turn right at this intersection instead of left as we are about to do, you go into the Deep Elm District of Dallas that is home to over 200 murals! That would be so cool. Next visit. 🙂
We passed by the American Airlines Center that houses the NBA Dallas Mavericks and the NHL Dallas Stars, and also hosts live entertainment events. I loved how I could feel the “movement” in the instant this basketball player takes his shot. So cool to be in a statue form with only his left foot on the attached to the base. Glad I was able to quickly capture a photo of him.
A Dallas Stars ice hockey player in action, too!
We made a 20-minute stop at the Dallas Farmers Market. Unfortunately, it isn’t hopping on Mondays- only Saturdays and Sundays. Then it is insane with people – locals and visitors with all kinds of vendors!
If we had enough time, we would have ordered a medium Texas Cowboy pizza. But since we didn’t I took a picture of these unique options. 🙂
Ruibal’s – The ONLY nursery in the city of Dallas. It is huge!
It’s always nice to take some type of city tour to get a feel for what is around to more efficiently plan more thorough exploration, or to get a cursory feel for the city if you are limited on time. Today’s tour fulfilled our goal for today. To see the area of JFK’s assassination and to learn of a few areas we’d like to explore on a subsequent visit.
Well that had to be the most organized vacation post ever. Truly enjoyed it. Keep safe as I look forward to the next post.
Thank you so much. That means a lot to me.