Dallas Landmark: Thanks-Giving Square
One of Dallas’ most beloved landmarks is in jeopardy.
Cover photo: Glory Window, designed by Gabriel Loire, Thanks-Giving Square, Dallas, Texas, United States (2026). Photo by Danny With Love.
Thanks-Giving Square
DALLAS — Thanks-Giving Square, a unique downtown landmark, faces an uncertain future as the city moves to end funding for the park. Established in the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, it remains one of the most beautiful sites in Dallas.
Thanks-Giving Square’s History and Artistry
In the aftermath of Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas, local businessmen Joe O. Neuhoff, Julius Schepps, John M. Stemmons, and Peter P. Stewart envisioned an urban oasis dedicated to gratitude. Thanks-Giving Square fully opened in 1977 as downtown Dallas’ first park.
The triangular complex was designed by award-winning architect Philip Johnson. Rising 90 feet (27 meters) above street level, the non-denominational Chapel of Thanksgiving was inspired by the Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq. During my visit in early August, I met urban illustrator Alena Niehaus, who describes the structure as “one of Dallas’ coolest buildings.”
The chapel’s spiral ceiling features the kaleidoscopic Glory Window designed by French artist Gabriel Loire. It’s one of the largest horizontally mounted stained-glass windows in the world. It appeared on a 2000 United Nations postage stamp commemorating the International Year of Thanksgiving and was also featured in the 2011 film The Tree of Life.
Other highlights include the sunken garden, Court of All Nations, and Golden Rule mosaic. Made from Venetian glass by the Cooperativa Scuola Mosaico Veneziano, the mosaic is modeled after Norman Rockwell’s famous painting of the same name.
Budget Cuts
According to The Dallas Morning News, Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert decided to cut funding to the nonprofit Thanks-Giving Foundation, citing a “lack of public benefit.” The decision reportedly relates to an unfulfilled request for an underground pedestrian walkway dating back to the early 1970s. During my visit, operations manager Stan McMillion told me, “We’re still talking to the City.”
How to Support Thanks-Giving Square
I hope this unique Dallas landmark will be cherished for generations to come. Its architecture, artwork, and peaceful setting make it a special part of downtown. Please consider donating to the Thanks-Giving Foundation and contacting Dallas City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert by phone at 214-670-3302 or email at k.bizortolbert@dallas.gov to express your support for the square.
