The Magnolia (Mobil) Building
Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Erected in 1921-22, this building housed the offices of Magnolia Petroleum Co., later Mobil Oil Co. It was designed by Sir Alfred C. Bossom (1881 - 1965), noted British architect, and built at a cost of $4 million. The tallest structure in Dallas for almost 20 years, it reflected the city's increasing economic importance. In 1934 a revolving neon sign was placed atop the building. The "flying red horse," trademark for Magnolia products, quickly became a local landmark. RTHL - 1978
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in 1921–22 for the Magnolia Petroleum Company—later Mobil Oil—this $4 million skyscraper was designed by the British architect Sir Alfred C. Bossom and reigned as the tallest building in Dallas for nearly two decades. In 1934 a revolving neon 'flying red horse,' Magnolia's trademark, was mounted atop the tower and swiftly became a beloved city landmark. The building announced Dallas's rise as a center of the booming Texas oil economy.
Why it matters
The Magnolia Building and its Pegasus sign are enduring symbols of how oil wealth transformed Dallas into a major American city in the early twentieth century.
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Related people
- · Alfred C. Bossom
Themes & tags
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