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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, In the 1930s, the Texas Centennial Commission |
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selected Dallas as the site for the celebration of the 100th |
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anniversary of the state's independence from Mexico; and |
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WHEREAS, The event was designed to draw the world's attention |
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to the Lone Star State, and Dallas was chosen over other cities |
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because of its central location for out-of-state visitors and the |
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availability of Fair Park, home of the State Fair of Texas; civic |
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leaders committed themselves to the $25 million project, and in |
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under a year, dozens of buildings were renovated or constructed |
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under the direction of famed Dallas architect George Dahl, who |
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fused southwestern themes and contemporary styles to tell the |
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stories of the state's history, culture, natural beauty, economy, |
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and innovation; and |
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WHEREAS, On June 6, 1936, the exposition opened to large |
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crowds; more than 6 million people visited Fair Park over the next |
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six months, among them President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; with |
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nationwide publicity, the event established Dallas as a modern, |
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dynamic destination and helped lift the city out of the Great |
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Depression; the business leaders who organized the fair went on to |
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form the Dallas Citizens Council, which continues to wield |
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tremendous influence in the civic sphere; moreover, the event |
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increased tourism beyond Dallas and provided nationwide publicity |
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for Texas as an exciting place to live; and |
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WHEREAS, Fair Park is admired today as one of the world's |
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largest and loveliest collections of art deco architecture and art, |
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and it stands as the nation's only intact, unaltered world's fair |
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site from the early 20th century; choosing Dallas as the site for |
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the 2036 Texas Bicentennial Exposition would energize renovation |
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efforts and also spur infrastructure improvements in South Dallas |
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and other areas of the city; and |
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WHEREAS, The Centennial Exposition played a pivotal role in |
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the evolution of Dallas as a major metropolis, and it would be most |
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fitting for the next such celebration to take place at historic Fair |
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Park; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby express its support for the selection of Dallas |
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as host of the 2036 Texas Bicentennial Exposition. |