Virtual Tour of Downtown Dallas

Beaux Arts, 1915-1916. Located at 2551 Elm Street, it was designed by African American architectWilliam Sidney Pittman, son-in-law of Booker T. Washington. The building was originally known as the Knights of the Pythias Temple and was the first major commercial structure built for African Americans, by African Americans, and with African American money, now the only building downtown to hold that distinction. It provided office space for prominent African American professionals, such as lawyers and doctors, and the top floor was used for social activities. Pittman was a unique individual whose life became a tragedy. He was the first African American in the nation to win a federal contract (1907) to design a building. In addition to his work as an architect, Pittman established a newspaper, the Brotherhood Eyes . He remained in Dallas until his death in 1958.

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