About this property
McFarlin Memorial Auditorium is a proscenium style theatre located on the campus of Southern Methodist University. The venue seats 2,386 on three levels. The building is the third oldest on SMU's campus and has hosted a number of notable acts. By the early 1920s, the students, faculty and staff of SMU had severely outgrown the capacity of Dallas and Clements Halls. Arguments were put forth as to what the next campus building should be. In the end, President Selecman and the Methodist bishops made the decision to build a chapel/auditorium as SMU's third permanent building. Financing was secured by a generous donation from devout Methodist and San Antonio businessman Robert M. McFarlin. The McFarlin Memorial Auditorium was opened in 1926 to fulfill the University's pressing need for a chapel that could accommodate the entire student body. The building has evolved over time and continues to serve the University in the manner envisioned by SMU President Charles Selecman as "a place where we can have our friends from the community and elsewhere gather together on great occasions." Though historically attractive, technology and ambiance are priorities as the university continues to keep the facility current. Recent projects include restoration of the main lobby to its historic integrity, renovation of restrooms, installation of a sprung floor on stage, and a complete reupholster of the auditorium's seats. National Register of Historic Places listings in Dallas County, Texas
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was McFarlin Memorial Auditorium listed on the National Register?
McFarlin Memorial Auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 26, 1980.
What type of historic resource is McFarlin Memorial Auditorium?
McFarlin Memorial Auditorium is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for McFarlin Memorial Auditorium?
The period of significance for McFarlin Memorial Auditorium is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near McFarlin Memorial Auditorium?
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