Administration Building, Decatur Baptist College - Decatur, Texas
Posted by: 
gparkes
N 33° 13.377 W 097° 35.202
14S E 631696 N 3676893
This is the state's oldest religious college and the world's first institution dedicated to be a junior college.
Waymark Code: WM8PHH
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 04/27/2010
Views: 15
Constructed of limestone that was quarried locally, this building was dedicated on September 6, 1893. The building has fifteen classrooms and a chapel. This three story building sits atop a hill overlooking the town.
In 1891, the Northwest Texas Baptist Association opened a college in Decatur. In the second school year, classes were held above a grocery store. For the third year, the school had this building. In 1896, the school became bankrupt due to falling donations from churches. The Texas Baptist Convention purchased the school in 1897 and changed the name to Decatur Baptist Junior College, becoming the first private junior college in the United States. In 1964, the college moved to Dallas becoming the Dallas Baptist College.
Today, the building is home to the Wise County Heritage Museum. Museum hours are 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Saturday. Admission is $1.00 for adults, 0.50 for Children under 12. The museum is dedicated to restoring the building to its original condition.
Street address:
1602 S. Trinity St.
Decatur, TX USA
76234
County / Borough / Parish: Wise County
Year listed: 1971
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1875-1899
Historic function: Education, Religion - College, Religious Structure
Current function: Work In Progress
Privately owned?: yes
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Please give the date and brief account of your visit. Include any additional observations or information that you may have, particularly about the current condition of the site. Additional photos are highly encouraged, but not mandatory.