Just a few yards north of Grand Place stands the Tower Building, constructed for the Texas Centennial Exposition as the Federal Building. Its most distinguishing feature is its tall tower topped by a stern-looking stylistic bald-eagle, designed by Raoul Josset and sculpted by artist Jose Martin. Lower down, on the front of the building, on either side of the tower, are large plaques depicting the front and reverse sides of the Great Seal of the United States. A large bas-relief frieze featuring figures of early Texas pioneers, explorers, soldiers and so on runs along the front and sides of the building. (Learn more about the Decorative Frieze.)

During the Centennial Exposition this building, as its former name implies, housed exhibits of United States government agencies. These included the Department of State, the Department of Commerce, the various branches of the U.S. armed forces, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of the Interior, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute and the Post Office - to name but a few.

In 1954 this structure was designated the "Electric Building." The tower featured lighted letters spelling out its new name and a large clock. In recent years the building has been used during the State Fair for general exhibits and for indoor food vendors selling pizza, Tex-Mex food, barbecue and so on - generally at prices a little more reasonable than on the Midway.

Copyright © 1996-2012 by Steven Butler, Ph.D. All rights reserved.