Cathryn Colcer, the Deep Ellum archivist, accepts donations from local artists. Photo courtesy of Deep Ellum Foundation.
The Deep Ellum Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places this month.
An application to be included in the list was submitted by the Deep Ellum Foundation under the guidance of Preservation Dallas, with financial support from the Summerlee Foundation and the City of Dallas, according to a press release.
In January, the Advocate reported that the Deep Ellum Foundation, Preservation Dallas and the Texas Historical Commission spent years surveying Deep Ellum — which turns 150 this year — to prove its historical significance.
The register is maintained by the National Park Service, under the United States Department of the Interior. As of the end of 2020, it included more than 96,000 properties; almost every county in the country is represented.
In our neighborhood, the Swiss Avenue Historic District, the Bella Villa Apartments, the Bromberg House, the Continental Gin Building and other sites are included in the register.
The Deep Ellum Archive, which is an initiative of the Dallas Public Library, Deep Ellum Foundation and Deep Ellum Community Center, reached the milestone this month of collecting more than 150 items that record the history of the district.
The Deep Ellum Community Center, featuring exhibitions on Deep Ellum’s history, will celebrate a grand opening in September. Award-winning writer, photographer and filmmaker Alan Govenar is curating permanent and temporary exhibitions there.
