Thanksgiving Square Foundation

What an under-​appreciated spot in Dallas!
Thanks-​Giving Square is a park, chapel, and museum operated by the Thanksgiving Square Foundation in downtown Dallas. We didn’t visit the museum, but we did visit the chapel! And it’s so worth visiting! The chapel, built by über-​famous architect Philip Johnson, has a unique spiral exterior and an interior spiral of 73 stained-​glass panels created by a French artist. It’s stunning. And most people don’t even know it’s there! I’m from Dallas, and my dad has lived there for 30+ years, and when we visited over Thanksgiving weekend, it was the first visit for both of us — and he hadn’t even heard of it!
Now, the chapel and park is in need of some repairs. The exterior of the chapel isn’t quite the pristine white it appears in photos, and the letters meant to spell «Thanks-​Giving Square Park» on the wall at the entrance to the park is missing more letters than remain.
However, it’s an amazing, quite, beautiful spot in Dallas that deserves a bit more care and attention!
Most definitely worth a visit! Put it on your Dallas bucket list!

I will always have a soft spot for this little chapel. When we first moved to Dallas (over two years ago now!) I stumbled on it completely by accident one afternoon as I was wandering around downtown, trying to get my bearings on this city. I walked up the spiraling ramp, through the glass doors and into the cool, dark interior, tipped my head back and beheld the spectacular spiral stained glass ceiling. I was enchanted. Such a surprise, such a gem, it felt like Dallas was welcoming me home.
Since, then, my experience has varied. The inconsistencies in its hours has been frustrating when I’ve wanted to take friends and family here. The grounds are indeed often pitted with dog poop (despite plenty of signs asking folks to clean up after themselves). But on my most recent visit, I discovered the little (free!) museum beneath the chapel, all about the history of the Thanksgiving movement, and it’s certainly worth a visit if you can catch it when it’s open. I think that’s true of this whole place – worth the visit if you can catch it when it’s open!

I love Thanksgiving Square. It is easily accessed from DART and is a nice contrast to the business of the city. The architecture is incredible. They really have captured the sacredness of the space.
The only pitfall is all the dog poop. Literally, everywhere.

Loved reflecting and spending peaceful time here. Pay attention to days that they are closed though.

I drove 45 minutes to see the chapel and although there’s a sign on the chapel door that says it’s open right now, the doors are locked and there’s no on inside. If there’s a sign up for hours of operation, is it too much to ask that they abide by them? Or at least out up another sign saying when they’ll be open next? What a waste of 45 minutes and $ 8 for parking.

I think this place is worth a stop if you wanted to sight see in Dallas. When you walk on the property you will see the man made waterfall structure. It has a really cute small chapel with the prettiest stain glass ceiling. You can also get a small history lesson about the foundation and sign the guest book!
Additionally look for the yellow ring go to the center and yell something! The ring is fun and great for a quick photo! This place is so pretty a nice visit for something free.

This is not a spot worth specifically venturing downtown for, but it is worth a short diversion if in the area. It has a number of attractions that make for some pretty shots. Given the area, I would not ask a stranger walking by to take your picture though…
It is not the recipient of the best upkeep either…

This park has been in need of renovation/​re-​greening for over a year at least. The sloping lawns used to be set up to be used as a big dog bathroom, and the folks with big dogs let their animals rip up the turf — one guy let his dogs both try to jump high enough to grab a tree branch, over and over, every day, thus destroying the lawn. Thanks dude! No, it’s cool. I like walking around in slippery mud when I’m on a 40 degree hill grade. Yeah, my favorite!
Recently, they’ve removed the dog bags and put up some signs trying to dissuade the usual park users who live in the area to not allow their dogs on the grass, though there is absolutely no evidence that anything has been done to reseed the area, or do anything to it other than take away the poop bags. Now the slopes are littered with turds of all sizes and varieties. I’m surprised I haven’t seen any hobos waddle over and take a dump on the hill but it seems likely someone has.
Otherwise, if they ever attempt to take care of the park, it will again be a nice little spot with shade, a large water feature, and access to the tunnels during the day (which themselves contain delicious fast food joints). There is also a chapel and a big twirling white thing you can walk up which seems attached to the chapel but I haven’t been inside.

Stunning chapel! The chapel is open 1 – 5 on weekends. I posted a picture of the chapel hours so that you can go when it’s open and unlocked. This is free and it’s a beautiful sight to see, stop by for a quick 15 minutes to see the glory windows in the chapel.

The chapel is beautiful, the plaza is nice, and it’s a good contrast to the surrounding area. But let’s be honest, the real reason you’re coming to Thanksgiving Square is to listen to the tubas on December 24^th. Thanksgiving Square is great for TubaChristmas. See you there.

Featured in the made-​for-​TV movile «Heaven’s Lathe», Thanksgiving Square Park is reminiscent of a 1970s dystopian future science fiction setting. Crumbling slowly to the ground, the park floods any time there’s significant rainfall. The water feature, when it’s running, is a sickly green. Various Bible quotes and religious platitudes adorn the poured concrete outdoor structure, along with what seems to be an argument against the separation of Church and State in one corner. The enormous bells are set too low to the ground, and are inappropriately deafening when they ring out the time.
The angle of the ground around the center of the valley-​shaped park makes it useless for people or dogs. The catwalk to the chapel seems unsafe. The park is poorly lit at night and used for either a bum or pet toilet most of the time. Most of the signs are installed crooked, or with letters that have fallen off.
I have a hard time imagining what the strange layout is supposed to accomplish, and have never seen the park used effectively as a public space. I’m sure it has potential, if it were properly maintained and the grounds cared for properly, but I have a feeling that will never happen, as it’s been mostly abandoned by the Thanksgiving Foundation.

I loved visiting this place. There’s not a whole lot to see so it don’t plan on spending a lot of time here. It is a really pretty place though with a really sweet idea behind it. The stained glass swirls up to the top and you can go in there and write what you’re thankful for and put that note in the middle of the room. I love it.

Cool to see if you’re in the area. A few pictures and 5 minutes and you’re done.
Apparently this was used in the movie Tree of Life, which was too strange for me and I like some pretty weird movies.

The Chapel at Thanksgiving Square, a quirky but elegant structure designed by Philip Johnson, is a wonderful counterpoint to much of the mundane modern architecture in downtown Dallas.
Walking up the spiral ramp gives you a great view of the park below. The door to the chapel’s interior was locked during my visit so I didn’t get to see the magnificent stained glass windows; but, I wasn’t disappointed because it was fascinating to see how the concrete chapel exterior contrasted with the aluminum panels of Republic Tower across the street.

I truly believe Thanksgiving Square is one of Dallas’s greatest little secrets. If you don’t know it’s there, or you haven’t stumbled upon it, you’d never figure such a unique, gorgeous place, with such fascinating and beautiful architecture was tucked in the heart of Downtown Dallas.
I’m not a religious person nor particularly spiritual but I will say, it’s hard not to feel a really cool sense of peace overcome you when you’re in the small spiral chapel all alone staring up at the gorgeous stained glass.
You can read from the other reviews more details, but I’ll leave it up to you to discover the place on your own, just like I did.
I said this place isn’t good for kids. In reality, it’d be great for well-​behaved kids, but this isn’t the place for unleashed demon-​spawn running around screaming and causing havoc. This is a place to escape the city for a little peace and tranquility. If you think your kids are going to ruin that, then please respect the others who may be there and don’t get off the DART Train, take them down to the West End, or leave your rugrats at home.

Thank you for pizza. Thank you for cheese. Thank you for sunny days and dandelions.
I had no idea the tiny museum was free, as I just learned from the other Unilocal reviews, so I haven’t even been inside! But I have gone to the park a number of times.
First and foremost, though it is called a «square,» I find the shape to be much more triangular. Thus, for accuracy, I propose calling it Thanksgiving Triangle. This is a really nice place to get away, and is conveniently located next to my office building (which sometimes I want to get away from). So Thanksgiving Triangle is my oasis for a quick break. There’s always a few leaves floating in the breeze, there’s a fountain that makes a nice sound, the grass is soft, and you can easily find sun or shade. My preference is to lie in the grass, mostly in the sun and pretend that I can stay there all day making cloud animals.
It’s an extremely peaceful place, except when random school groups chose to eat lunch here. I wish I could shake an angry fist at them, or chase them away with a broom, but on those days I tend to just get some sun walking around the triangle.
It’s located by Ervay, Pacific, and Bryan. If you want to grab something to munch on, the closest places include Beyond the Box and Backbeat Café.

This is a beautiful area in downtown Dallas that has a chapel, water fountain, and a very small one-​room museum. I came here with my parents and we spent about 45 minutes looking at the grounds, going inside the chapel, and reading some of the information inside the museum.
As Pamela mentioned, it’s free to go inside the chapel and walk around, so it’s great for families and tourists on a budget. Highly recommended!

Something Free (donations excepted) to do in Downtown Dallas. A good place to bring your family around Thanksgiving to read about the history of Thanksgiving as a holiday and remind you to be thankful to God for everything good in your life. A quiet little place, not too many people around, but a large water fountain, some small shops, and of course the museum and chapel. This little park is not super exciting, but is very serene.