By Norman Alston, FAIA
Despite the clear significance of Dealey Plaza as a nationally important historic site, over the past year it has been the focus of ideas and attitudes that illuminate how we generally have only a superficial grasp of Dallas history. In addition, we can see how we still struggle to understand the appropriate ways to tell the Dallas story while preserving the sites and structures that remain to help us tell that story.
Recently, as the 60th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination has approached, there have been well-publicized opinions that Dealey Plaza may neither honor John F. Kennedy appropriately nor represent the numerous visitors who continually visit the city and this site. These proposals focus on the idea that we should “enhance the visitor experience” at Dealey Plaza through modern upgrades and changes for better access, improved pedestrian safety, additional interpretive opportunities, and a generally more pleasant, more park-like environment. In other words, a better and higher use for this important site.
The problem is that is exactly the rationale for all undertakings that diminish or destroy historic buildings and sites.
These proposals do not fully grasp the depth of the history that Dealey Plaza represents. They do not recognize the role historic buildings and sites play, the stories they tell, or the unique way in which they tell them. In virtually every instance where a historic building is destroyed, altered, or otherwise diminished, the justification is that the new work makes the site somehow better.
Knowing The Transformational History of Dealey Plaza
As noted earlier, this problem starts with not having a full appreciation or knowledge of the history. For instance, during public events to consider these proposed enhancements, I heard the criticism that those changes were needed because Dallas had never “dealt with” the tragedy of the Kennedy assassination. This is a remarkable statement because nothing could be further from the truth.
Goals for Dallas
Reeling from the tragedy of the Kennedy assassination and wishing desperately to shed the “City of Hate” label, Dallas undertook a robust self-examination. Under the leadership of prominent business leader (founder of Texas Instruments) and future mayor J. Erik Jonsson, an ambitious Goals for Dallas effort was created to provide a way forward for the city.
As summarized by the Dallas Historical Society, “Jonsson’s Goals for Dallas initiative spurred the construction of DFW Airport, the Dallas Convention Center, the New Museum of Fine Arts, and Dallas City Hall. The program helped establish public school kindergartens, citywide family planning, the University of Texas at Dallas, several branch libraries, and neighborhood parks.”
The Goals for Dallas program began with the selection of 13 local writers by the Goals for Dallas Planning Committee. With the help of many Dallas Citizens and authorities of national prominence, these essayists undertook a comprehensive examination of current conditions in our city and reported on them in separate papers. Thereafter, the Goals Planning Committee chose from Dallas and its environs “additional men and women of diverse backgrounds, creeds, races, viewpoints, interests, cultures, and occupations to represent all Dallas citizens and to draft goals in all areas of mutual concern.”
The result was a program that identified 12 sets of goals. These goals were vigorously pursued, and even a casual review reveals how they were the genesis of sweeping changes over the coming decades. Clearly, the history associated with Dealey Plaza was instrumental in giving us the city that we enjoy today.
The Preservation of Dealey Plaza National Historic Landmark
Also, in the post-assassination self-examination, consideration was given to what to do about the assassination site itself. There were powerful advocates for erasing all reminders of that day, including the demolition of the Texas School Bood Depository. Wiser heads prevailed, however, and a conscious decision was made to retain the historic site as a memorial and a reminder.
While perhaps looking dated to some, the site as it exists today is virtually the same as it looked on that day. As recently as 10 years ago, Dallas Parks and Recreation pumped significant funding into Dealey Plaza to prepare it for the 50th-anniversary observation of President Kennedy’s assassination. These improvements were focused on reversing changes that had organically occurred over the years but which had diminished the historic appearance and integrity of the site.
The guiding principle through the years has been for the site to be a clear, physical artifact from that day. Today, it serves as a memorial to President Kennedy by preserving the last thing he saw during his time with us. As historic sites and structures go, this is an almost unparalleled achievement. Historic sites are typically designated many years after they achieve historic significance and thus usually have been modified in ways that compromise their historic integrity and interfere with their representation of those past moments of history.
Not Dealey Plaza. It is virtually as it was, serving as the clearest reminder of a turning point in our own history. This is a powerful aspect of that site, one that should continue to be preserved in exactly this manner. As well-intentioned as recent proposed enhancements might be, this is a place where such modifications get in the way of history and preservation, not enhance it.
Our lack of an effective Culture of Preservation, a culture that recognizes important historic sites, buildings, and artifacts and knows how to preserve them, stems from these two issues illustrated by Dealey Plaza. Our city’s history is not, it seems, casually integrated into our conversations or our consciousness.
Dallasites appear not to look back on their own history. Perhaps because some of the most prominent events are very unpleasant, or maybe we don’t like looking over our shoulders for fear of what might be gaining on us. Dallas is always looking ahead, looking to the future. Not balancing that forward mindset with knowledge of the past can explain why we feel we have no history to protect, and this could then explain why we don’t seem to know how to protect it.
If you missed part one you can read it here.
