Experiencing Downtown Amarillo

Many people travel through downtown Amarillo daily and don't realize how much history they are missing. However, with a handy guide and a careful eye, everyone can enjoy a stroll through downtown Amarillo and see that the city contains more than just tall buildings.

When one sets out on foot through the streets of downtown Amarillo, you see it and experience it very differently. All you have to do is slow down and take the time to pay attention to the details.

Polk Street alone contains nine sites of history. Therefore, I am taking advantage of my blog to list some of these sites as a guide for anyone interested in discovering Amarillo's downtown history for themselves.

High Plains Public Radio is located at 500 S. Polk St. It was built in 1902 by Stafford Lightburne. This is the oldest commercial building still standing in downtown Amarillo.

The Fisk Medical Arts Building is located at 724 S. Polk St. It was built in 1927 by Guy Carlander. This brick building features beautiful terra cotta ornamental trim. Don't forget to look for the blue statues that are on top of the building.

White and Kirk Building is located at 516 S. Polk St. It was built in 1938 by Guy Carlander. The style of this building is based on the Art Deco movement in the Pueblo Deco style.

The Santa Fe Building is located at 900 S. Polk St. It was built somewhere between 1928 and 1930 by E.A. Harrison. This building is a 14-story skyscraper that features a great mix of modern and Gothic ornamentation. Check out the lobby. It features marble and bronze.

The Kress Building is located at 702 S. Polk St. It was built in 1932 by R.R. Rowe. Like several other Kress retail stores of this time, the building features high-end architectural details. This building also represents the Pueblo Deco movement.

The Barfield Building is located at 602 S. Polk St. It was built in 1927 by Wyatt Hedrick. This building is a 10-story structure that was once home to a bank and other offices. It now stands vacant; however, it will soon be converted into apartments.

Polk Street United Methodist Church is located at 1401 S. Polk St. It was built in 1928 by J. Roy Smith and R. H. Hunt and Co. The main complex of the church features a Gothic style design and the adjoining parsonage features an English Tudor style. Look for the Good Shepherd in the stained-glass windows.

Acapulco's is located at 727 S. Polk St. It was built in 1972 by an unknown person. This particular building features some of the most elaborate artistic architectural work that can be found in downtown Amarillo. There are also beautiful flower details around the top of the building.

The Paramount Theater is located at 817 S. Polk St. It was built somewhere between 1928 and 1930 by E.A. Harrison. This building was once Amarillo's finest movie theater before it was converted into office space in 1969. There is a 33.5-foot neon sign that was restored in 2006.

I hope this guide helps make the most of your experience the next time you are in downtown Amarillo.

Realtor® Connie Taylor ~ Amarillo, Texas Real Estate

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