Historical Swiss Avenue, Dallas

On my visit to Dallas in 1997, the bus stopped by these houses. I've always been fascinated by Victorian architecture, so I wanted to come back here, but I had a hard time finding it in 2004 because I didn't know where it was or what it was called. I had it mixed up in my mind with Old City Park.

So my main tip for these two blocks (which are entered in the National Register of Historic Places) is under Off the Beaten Track.. You can't tour these houses like you can in Old City Park. All you can do is look at them.

I did not get a photo of the main mansion(s) on Swiss Avenue but I have more photos of the buildings in these two blocks in my Victorians of Beilharz &Wilson Blocks travelogue

The Historical Sign for the Wilson Block says:

"Swiss native Jacob Nussbaumer, a colonist in the Pioneer La Reunion settlement of the Dallas area, purchased this land prior to the Civil War. In 1898, his wife Dorothea and children sold it to her niece Henrietta Frichot Wilson (1864-1953), the daughter of La Reunion settlers....Today the Wilson Block serves as a reminder of Dallas' rich heritage and early development."

The Historical Sign for the Beilharz Block says:

"The Beilharz Block is named after Theodore Beilharz, an early settler who built the Beilharz House and carriage house located at 2800 Swiss Avenue. Mrs. Beilharz was a sister to Mrs. Frederick Wilson, whose house anchors the Wilson Block. All the other structures on this block were built between 1887 - 1901 within a mile of the site and were moved and restored by the Meadows Foundation in 1984 - 1985 to serve as offices for non-profit community organization."

That's about it. If its not Christmas, I wouldn't bother. If it is, I would only bother if I had kids, a free evening, and a car.

Please, in Europe, they have dog's that are older than this neighborhood. The only people that think its impressive, are the highly impressionable and the ones who live there... (possibly the same demographic).

3 more images

Swiss Avenue is just 2 miles from downtown Dallas and was named when families of Swiss, German and French arrived and settled in this area. It is reported to be one of the finest early 20th-century neighbourhoods in the Southwest.
.

Old Dallas mansions/historic district. Most of the houses were built from 1900-1930. It's called Swiss Avenue because many of the first home-builders in the area were immigrants from Switzerland. The Swiss Avenue Historic District consists of Swiss Avenue, Bryan Parkway, Bryan Street, La Vista Avenue, and Live Oak Street...and Munger Place Historic District is nearby as well. It's a good place for a stroll or ride - and the houses are a sight when lit up for the holidays. There's a small park called Savage Park where you'll find an historic marker and a monument.
Virtual Tours of Swiss Avenue locations: http://www.swissavenue.com/virtualtour.asp
Another Swiss Ave. site: http://www.dougnewby.com/neighborhoods/swissavenue.htm

3 more images

The area has over two hundred homes varying in a dozen historical styles. Not only is their Swiss Avenue, but Live Oak Street, Bryan Street and La Vista Drive to view these wonderful old homes.

This was one of Dallas' first historic districts, and is also a Texas Historical Site, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.