Texas School Book Depository

Also known as Dallas County Administration Building
411 Elm St. - 1901

This building was originally constructed in 1883 as the Southern Rock Island Plow Company.  In 1901, it was struck by lightning and nearly burned to the ground.  It was rebuilt later that year, except that it was expanded to seven stories.  The first building was only five stories high.  In 1963, the building housed the Texas School Book Depository.  On November 22 of that year, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated as his motorcade was passing through Dealey Plaza.  Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed the President from a sixth floor window.  Dallas County now occupies the first five floors with administrative offices and the building is now called the Dallas County Administration Building. The Sixth Floor Museum opened as a tribute to President Kennedy and serves as a reminder of what happened on that day.