Monday, July 1, 2013

Thanksgiving Square

Thanksgiving Square is officially located at 1627 Pacific Avenue, but to put it into better perspecitve, it is bounded by Pacific Avenue to the South and Bryan Street and North Ervay Street to the North, making it a triangular oasis in the center of downtown Dallas. Built in 1976, it was originally planned as a "traffic relieving complex" for the city, and while the Bullington Truck terminal and pedestrian network is underneath it, the main thing to see if the park and its non-denominational chapel.

One of the plaques found throughout Thanksgiving Square.
 The Chapel of Thanksgiving was architected by Philip Johnson as a small, spiral tower for the urban pilgrim to find a peaceful enclave for prayerful thanks. It is accessible from either a spiral ramp originating at the Northern tip of the square, or from a 125 foot bridge spanning one of the square's waterfalls accessible from the middle of the square.

Thanksgiving Chapel and the waterfall.

Thanksgiving Chapel in front of Republic Center

A view up the bridge leading to the chapel.
The stained glass inside is truly a sight to see. Designed by Gabriel Loire of Chartres, France, it spirals from outside in, from dark to light, and is one of the largest horizontally mounted stained glass installations in the world.

Gabriel Loire's "Glory Window"

Pictures do not do the stained glass justice.
Further information can be found from the Thanks-Giving Square Foundation

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