Overview​

Scope and Content

Collection documents the land acquisition, planning, and construction of White Rock Lake and Dam. 

White Rock Lake is a 1,015 acre urban lake owned by the City of Dallas.  Its main entrance is located at 8300 East Lawther Drive.  White Rock Lake provides space for a variety of outdoor activities, including a 9.33 mile hike and bike trail, an Audubon Society-designated bird watching area and wetlands site, picnic areas, and three rental facilities.  The lake also includes fishing piers, sailing facilities, and a meeting and event facility, the White Rock Bath House Cultural Center, located at 521 E. Lawther Drive.

The lake is fed by nine tributaries, including White Rock Creek, and was created as a reservoir for the City of Dallas. The City of Dallas purchased the land for White Rock Lake between 1907 and 1910; construction began in the spring of 1910 and was completed in the fall of 1911.  Supervision of the parkland of White Rock Lake was transferred from Dallas Water Utilities to the Dallas Park Board in 1929 as White Rock Lake Park was created. 

Collection contains five items, including a report by William Barclay Parsons, Consulting Engineer, on the soundness of specifications submitted for building a dam at White Rock Lake, and an item relating to the sale of unneeded tracts.

Organization

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Access

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from the Dallas Municipal Archives. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards. The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Citation

White Rock Lake, 1909-1910 (Box <x>, Folder <y>), Dallas Municipal Archives

Related materials

None

Index terms

Dallas (Tex.) -- History
White Rock Lake Park (Dallas, Tex.)
White Rock Lake (Dallas, Tex.)

Container list