Tower Building
Shamrock, Wheeler County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The distinctive Tower Building was one of many commercial structures erected in the early 1930s along new U.S. Route 66. Designed by Pampa architect, J. C. Berry, the structure was built by local entrepreneur, J. M. Tindall in 1936. The Tower Building is an excellent example of a gas station/diner of the 1930s and exhibits many elements of the art deco style, curvilinear massing, and neon highlights. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1994
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The distinctive Tower Building rose in 1936 along the newly bustling U.S. Route 66, one of many roadside businesses built to serve a nation newly on wheels. Designed by Pampa architect J. C. Berry and built by local entrepreneur J. M. Tindall, it combined a gas station and diner in curvilinear Art Deco lines, once trimmed with glowing neon. It remains a polished example of the Mother Road's golden age.
Why it matters
As a surviving Route 66 landmark, it captures the romance of automobile travel that reshaped American commerce, architecture, and the open road.
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Related people
- · J. C. Berry
- · J. M. Tindall
Themes & tags
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