TITLE: Expressing support for the selection of Dallas as host of the 2036 Texas Bicentennial Exposition.

SUMMARY: Expressing support for the selection of Dallas as host of the 2036 Texas Bicentennial Exposition.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, In the 1930s, the Texas Centennial Commission selected Dallas as the site for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the state's independence from Mexico; and WHEREAS, The event was designed to draw the world's attention to the Lone Star State, and Dallas was chosen over other cities because of its central location for out-of-state visitors and the availability of Fair Park, home of the State Fair of Texas; civic leaders committed themselves to the $25 million project, and in under a year, dozens of buildings were renovated or constructed under the direction of famed Dallas architect George Dahl, who fused southwestern themes and contemporary styles to tell the stories of the state's history, culture, natural beauty, economy, and innovation; and WHEREAS, On June 6, 1936, the exposition opened to large crowds; more than 6 million people visited Fair Park over the next six months, among them President Franklin Delano Roosevelt; with nationwide publicity, the event established Dallas as a modern, dynamic destination and helped lift the city out of the Great Depression; the business leaders who organized the fair went on to form the Dallas Citizens Council, which continues to wield tremendous influence in the civic sphere; moreover, the event increased tourism beyond Dallas and provided nationwide publicity for Texas as an exciting place to live; and WHEREAS, Fair Park is admired today as one of the world's largest and loveliest collections of art deco architecture and art, and it stands as the nation's only intact, unaltered world's fair site from the early 20th century; choosing Dallas as the site for the 2036 Texas Bicentennial Exposition would energize renovation efforts and also spur infrastructure improvements in South Dallas and other areas of the city; and WHEREAS, The Centennial Exposition played a pivotal role in the evolution of Dallas as a major metropolis, and it would be most fitting for the next such celebration to take place at historic Fair Park; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby express its support for the selection of Dallas as host of the 2036 Texas Bicentennial Exposition. Johnson of Dallas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2525 was adopted by the House on May 28, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House