The Year

The Year "The Old Girl" Was Born

During the 1910s, Dallas was undergoing considerable growth and prosperity, which made it one of the largest cities in the state of Texas. It was also becoming the financial center of the Southwest. Such growth naturally led to the development of the downtown area.

In 1910, the city leaders of Dallas traveled to St. Louis to suggest that beer baron Adolphus Busch build a hotel in Dallas. From this meeting came The Kirby Building's older brother, the 23-story Adolphus Hotel. Completed in 1912, the hotel served for years as the model for luxury hotels in the Southwest. When the hotel was completed, Busch began work on The Kirby Building to serve as an office and retail supplement to the Adolphus.

Built in 1913, The Kirby joins a list of other significant events in the state and nation's history.

Reminiscent of the past, The Kirby's architectural features take the visitors back to a previous era.

"The Old Girl," as The Kirby Building is sometimes called, was born in 1913. During this period of architecture, Dallas returned to historical eclecticism for expression. The St. Louis-based architecture firm of Barnett, Hayes and Barnett brought with it the eclectic philosophy that gave The Kirby Building its unique Gothic ornamentation. This style had not yet been applied to the skyscraper form, except for the Woolworth Building in New York, which also was completed in 1913.

The Kirby Building's eclectic look reflected the face of America during this period. 1910 to 1919 experienced one of the greatest surges of immigration in American history. Most immigrants were from Eastern Europe, Italy, the Balkans and the Middle East.

The year 1913, just before World War I began, was a time of prosperity and change. John D. Rockefeller Sr. became the first billionaire in history. The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was passed, starting our present income tax collection system. Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as president, and W.M. Holland was mayor of Dallas. The Hockaday School was established to serve as a college-prep school for Dallas-area girls. Outside of Downtown, Highland Park and Carrollton were both incorporated in 1913. Noteworthy individuals born in 1913 include Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Rosa Parks, Albert Camus, Jimmy Hoffa and Vivian Leigh. "The Old Girl" has quite a set of peers.

Select from the following to learn more about The Kirby's history.