Thanks-Giving Square

A peaceful and serene urban park tucked away in the centre of downtown Dallas,TX. This is a great place to practice reflection and gratitude while enjoying the art installations, water features and chapel. The water features dull the surrounding city noises and the chapel is a must-see with its beautiful spiral ceiling and stained glass windows. It's worth a visit if you're in the area.

A quiet, enjoying place to go. When you enter the chapel, you can have a seat and lock up the ceiling with beautiful glass sky. And there’s people’s grateful wall at the entrance, you can write down what you thanks for.

We hosted our wedding there back in 2014 and we are thrilled to come back for our renewal and party this year. I hope it works out that way anyway. It’s a Dallas icon and gorgeous photo ops. Love everything about the space and the crew who helped make the magic happen.

Beautiful and peaceful place tucked in Dallas downtown. Very close to Akard Dart station. Go check it out

This park has a beautiful fountain, murals, mosaic art, Ring of Thanks and the stunning Chapel of Thanksgiving. Entrance is free. The fountain dampens the noise of the city and the chapel has a Glory Window that is a stained glass masterpiece inside a spiral structure. This is a small but beautiful place to take a walk, take photos and be grateful for the many things life offers each of us.

peaceful, beautiful, thoughtful spot tucked into the heart of downtown bustle and traffic. loved it

There are many studies out that say that gratitude contributes to good mental wellness and can help you refocus during down periods in your life. Whether you’re feeling up, down, or somewhere in between, a visit to Thanksgiving Square in downtown Dallas is worth the trip. There’s no cost to enter and you can reflect in its peaceful chamber as you look upward through the stained glass spiral to the heavens. Be sure to take a minute and write down what you’re thankful for and put on the gratitude board. You never know who you might encourage with your words!

I love the whole area, the little chapel and the atmosphere in the garden around. Beautiful spot, water fountains, peace.. you can rest, and enjoy a little nature in the middle of downtown Dallas. Very much recommended.

How absolutely wonderful to stumble across this as a break from the concrete and steel jungle of downtown Dallas. Sitting at a table next to the water feature, it completely drowned out the sounds of honking horns and screaming ambulances and everything else. I spent about a half hour relaxing here and allowing my senses to reset. It is quiet, it is calm, it is peace. I opted not to visit the chapel. [Review 778 of 2024 - 535 in Texas - 21809 overall]

An absolutely wonderful treasure within the hustle and bustle of downtown Dallas. Non denominational place of gratitude, surrounded by waterfalls, beautiful flowers and lots of symbolism. My daughter and I walked here and enjoyed the beautiful interior of the chapel and wrote notes of gratitude. There's a beautiful golden ring where when you stand within it and speak your thanks, your heart and otherworldly echo. Overall amazingly designed, I felt honored to donate to this. It's great to capture the spirit of positivity without the pressure of one religion or another. Definitely worth a visit

Really gorgeous place to come sit and be thankful at. I recommend coming here to clear your mind, eat your lunch, catch up with a friend or the like. Very quiet and peaceful although it's literally in the center of downtown. It's very informing about why they do this and created such a moving and intentional space. Spectacular.

Beautiful little chill park! Just to go and relax, enjoy and take in nature! Very calm atmosphere, even though this is located in Downtown Dallas. To enter the chapel and the circular room you have to make appointments!

Nice looking place. Wasn't sure where the entrance was but found it. You can take the stairs but there's also an accessible way too, going on a ramp.

It doesn't have to be the third Thursday of November for you to celebrate Thanksgiving in Thanks-Giving Square, but I'm sure it doesn't hurt. This public park goes from the chapel that looks like a scrolled up paper, or a seashell on its side in the middle of downtown. When you enter the park through the chapel, look up and check out the stained glass ceiling inside the chapel. It's pretty non-denominational, but has a beautiful modern look. From here, you can cross along a marvelous walkway below street level to a replica of the mosaic that Norman Rockwell designed for the United Nations building in New York. Nearby, you can check out some modern art, and fountains, and just hang out in the shade here. The water works in the shade of the nearby skyscrapers is a nice backdrop to such a vibrant city. It's a free thing downtown to do, and is easily accessible from public transit. The chapel is handicapped accessible, but there's a looong spiraling inclined ramp that would be tough to do.

A place to take in & give out gratitude. A tranquil spot in the midst of downtown. I can only imagine if I lived or worked hesr here that I'd spend my lunches in this spot. The water features were soothing. One of many very well designed city park/rest areas within downtown Dallas.

This is literally my favorite way to experience nature; trees, surrounded by concrete and water falls. It is so beautiful and peaceful!

Thanks-Giving Square is a tucked away treasure offering the opportunity for quiet reflection amidst the hustle and bustle of Dallas. Wander through the outdoor space to enjoy multiple water features, thought provoking quotes and outdoor art including a mural depicting a Norman Rockwell painting of the golden rule. Stop inside the chapel for a look at truly breathtaking stained glass and the space to ponder your journey.

I'm not religious by any means, but I still enjoy good architecture. This fascinating modern park has little tower which is free to enter. Look up and you'll see a dazzling array of colorful stained glass swirling its way up and up...towards Heaven perhaps? Nice place to spend 5 minutes if you're wandering around Downtown Dallas...and maybe stay an extra 5 minutes for the refreshing air conditioning!

This is beautiful. It's a great place for you to grab some lunch and read some lovely words from the Bible.

I had never visited this chapel but saw a review posted by another yelper and had also read about it on a list of free things to do in Dallas. When celebrating Thanksgiving with a hotel stay in downtown Dallas with my parents, I saw the Thanksgiving Chapel from the 32nd floor and also spotted the Giant Eyeball only blocks away. We had just enough daylight left to walk to both sites and visit the Dallas Farmer's Market before dark. What could be more appropriate that visiting Thanks-Giving Square and the Chapel of Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving weekend with my parents who were visiting from out-of-State! This was such a beautiful and special activity to pursue as a family and we were lucky that the chapel was still unlocked an hour later than the hours which were printed on the door. I can't wait to visit again and will certainly add it to our list of sites/activities to explore with any Dallas visitors!

I came here to see the Thanks-giving chapel. This is a little hidden gem in Dallas. I have passed by this area many times and had never even noticed the building. It's free go get inside. On the door it said it closes at 3, but we walked right in after 3. I was definitely impressed! From the outside it looks like a sea shell and the inside is even more unique. The chapel was very peaceful inside and we were able to sit and admire it for a bit. I love the beautiful ceiling full of colorful spiraling stained glass windows! If you are passing by, definitely stop in and enjoy this beautiful place!

I lived in Dallas in the 80s and was always aware of Thanks-Giving Square but never fully understood what it was about. Yesterday I met my cousin Kyle who gave me a tour of the facility and told me more about it. I am quite taken and as a person who follows a lesser-known religion I am impressed as heck with what is going on here. It is a beautiful location in the heart of downtown. Spending time there was the highlight of my Thanksgiving weekend in Dallas.

So my niece and I were wandering in the area and we stumbled across this park (which is being renovated/re-sodded/something) at the moment. I wish we could have gone inside the chapel but it was closed on a Saturday afternoon. There was a group of people having some sort of informal ceremony, involving balloons, hugs and tears so we let them have their privacy. There's a good number seats and some are the ones on the elevated sections of the park caught a breeze on a hot afternoon so that was nice. People were walking their dogs and seemed to be cleaning up after them so yay for that. Actually the park was surprisingly clean so kudos to the management. There was a spot or two that smelled and there was some trash in the various fountains but really for an urban park, not bad at all. Interesting oasis in the middle of all the buildings.

What an under-appreciated spot in Dallas! Thanks-Giving Square is a park, chapel, and museum operated by the Thanksgiving Square Foundation in downtown Dallas. We didn't visit the museum, but we did visit the chapel! And it's so worth visiting! The chapel, built by uber-famous architect Philip Johnson, has a unique spiral exterior and an interior spiral of 73 stained-glass panels created by a French artist. It's stunning. And most people don't even know it's there! I'm from Dallas, and my dad has lived there for 30+ years, and when we visited over Thanksgiving weekend, it was the first visit for both of us - and he hadn't even heard of it! Now, the chapel and park is in need of some repairs. The exterior of the chapel isn't quite the pristine white it appears in photos, and the letters meant to spell "Thanks-Giving Square Park" on the wall at the entrance to the park is missing more letters than remain. However, it's an amazing, quite, beautiful spot in Dallas that deserves a bit more care and attention! Most definitely worth a visit! Put it on your Dallas bucket list!

Beautiful experience visiting the Thanksgiving square Chapel. Beautiful architecture, and the ambiance was perfect for reflecting and giving thanks! Highly recommend visiting here if you are in Dallas.

The Chapel at Thanksgiving Square, a quirky but elegant structure designed by Philip Johnson, is a wonderful counterpoint to much of the mundane modern architecture in downtown Dallas. Walking up the spiral ramp gives you a great view of the park below. The door to the chapel's interior was locked during my visit so I didn't get to see the magnificent stained glass windows; but, I wasn't disappointed because it was fascinating to see how the concrete chapel exterior contrasted with the aluminum panels of Republic Tower across the street.

My husband and I stumbled upon this awesome park after dinner our last night in Dallas. I cannot say that many places give me the warm fuzzies, but this place did and will have a lasting impression on me. There is a chapel here, but it was so late at night that it was closed. The walls are all decorated with scripture and murals, which was pretty cool in general. My favorite part was the Circle of Gratitude. It's a large metal circle that you stand in and say something you are grateful for. I dang near whispered my husbands name and the circle seems to pick your your voice and carry it. It started bouncing off the circle and echoed my voice back to me in different pitches and tones. It was breathtaking and I don't think I'll ever forget that. When we go back to Dallas, I'd like to go back during the day so that I can go into the chapel and see the beautiful ceiling for myself!

Absolutely my favorite place in downtown Dallas. The chapel has some stunning stained glass that is like nothing I've ever seen before. On the inside wall, there is a place for visitors to reflect on and write what they are grateful for. I loved seeing visitors' reflections and reading the quotes from great thinkers about gratitude. Outside the chapel, Thanksgiving Square offered a glass wall with etched quotes about gratefulness, as well as some interesting sculptures and space. Such a unique place to visit and think.

I love Thanksgiving Square. It is easily accessed from DART and is a nice contrast to the business of the city. The architecture is incredible. They really have captured the sacredness of the space. The only pitfall is all the dog poop. Literally, everywhere.

Visited on a rainy Sunday morning. It was quiet, peaceful, and clean. This is a great stop for travelers on a budget, or if you need a momentary escape from the day. Free to visit and easy to find. There's many signs posted around the square to educate yourself. Nice message throughout the area. I saw few people walking through, some wth pets. There are dog clean up stations to clean up after your furry, which are allowed on the rocky hilly area. I enjoyed the grove area with all the trees, and the water fall down the rocks right by the chapel. I could sit in this area for a while! Great place to visit with a coffee or just a serene break. I'd like to visit again when the chapel is open. Great little find in Dallas. Worth stopping by!

This is a beautiful area in downtown Dallas that has a chapel, water fountain, and a very small one-room museum. I came here with my parents and we spent about 45 minutes looking at the grounds, going inside the chapel, and reading some of the information inside the museum. As Pamela mentioned, it's free to go inside the chapel and walk around, so it's great for families and tourists on a budget. Highly recommended!

This is not a spot worth specifically venturing downtown for, but it is worth a short diversion if in the area. It has a number of attractions that make for some pretty shots. Given the area, I would not ask a stranger walking by to take your picture though...... It is not the recipient of the best upkeep either....

I will always have a soft spot for this little chapel. When we first moved to Dallas (over two years ago now!) I stumbled on it completely by accident one afternoon as I was wandering around downtown, trying to get my bearings on this city. I walked up the spiraling ramp, through the glass doors and into the cool, dark interior, tipped my head back and beheld the spectacular spiral stained glass ceiling. I was enchanted. Such a surprise, such a gem, it felt like Dallas was welcoming me home. Since, then, my experience has varied. The inconsistencies in its hours has been frustrating when I've wanted to take friends and family here. The grounds are indeed often pitted with dog poop (despite plenty of signs asking folks to clean up after themselves). But on my most recent visit, I discovered the little (free!) museum beneath the chapel, all about the history of the Thanksgiving movement, and it's certainly worth a visit if you can catch it when it's open. I think that's true of this whole place--worth the visit if you can catch it when it's open!

Thanksgiving Chapel was very recently, a lovely and pleasant surprise for a special couple that I know, and I assisted with the wedding, taking pictures and stuff, so I can personally verify the following review. The clean and cozy interior of the chapel is amazing with the most unbelievable stained-glass ceiling and, even though it was the coldest day of the year so far, the inside of the chapel was toasty warm. The chairs were set up and arranged for the guests and they were so comfortable and appropriate. Everything about the chapel, made the special day for the bride and groom as romantic and perfect as anyone could imagine. Chapel Director, Erika was a godsend to the bride, encouraging and comforting her with friendly and motherly conversation to ease the tension of the pre-wedding jitters, which was invaluably appreciated by the bride and the entire family. Erika is an awesome lady, and we can't let her go unmentioned. The chapel is a perfect location for a wedding party of 50 to 60 people, in my estimation, although it is rated to hold many more. Depending on the size and the number of the guests, as well as the day and time of the wedding, on-site reception facilities may accommodate the wedding. There is some very interesting history surrounding the Thanksgiving Square Memorial and the chapel located on the premises. As it turns out, spiritual leaders of Dallas wanted to recognize the long history of giving and living thankfulness of the citizens of Dallas. Thanksgiving, which is gratitude in action, was recognized with the dedication of the Thanksgiving Square monument commemorating the 200 year anniversary of the United States, in 1976. The Thanksgiving Square includes a non-denominational chapel, and while uniquely located amid the hustle and bustle of the economically booming downtown environment, there is a lovely relaxing park, complete with a gentle recycling waterfall. As it was explained, The Thanks-Giving Foundation was started in 1964 to create a public space in the center of Dallas dedicated in gratitude to our Holy God and to this most ancient and long enduring tradition that He provides. The Thanksgiving Foundation has hosted numerous guests at Thanks-Giving Square Chapel since 1976, including President Gerald Ford, Rosa Parks, Arun Gandhi, Martin Luther King and the Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey. If you are considering a small wedding in the Dallas area, and you want a romantic chapel that is unforgettable and special, you don't want to overlook the Thanksgiving Square Chapel.

What a serene and thoughtfully designed sanctuary! We were here on a quiet Saturday, and there was a palpable feeling of peace in the chapel. The quotes and art around the park are lovely reminders for gratitude and understanding, and the architecture of the chapel delighted my inner architecture aficionado.

A really nice, scenic area to hang out. There's a lot of historical properties about this specific attraction, and a lot of people come here. The only bummer is that they don't allow pets.

Thank you for pizza. Thank you for cheese. Thank you for sunny days and dandelions. I had no idea the tiny museum was free, as I just learned from the other Yelp reviews, so I haven't even been inside! But I have gone to the park a number of times. First and foremost, though it is called a "square," I find the shape to be much more triangular. Thus, for accuracy, I propose calling it Thanksgiving Triangle. This is a really nice place to get away, and is conveniently located next to my office building (which sometimes I want to get away from). So Thanksgiving Triangle is my oasis for a quick break. There's always a few leaves floating in the breeze, there's a fountain that makes a nice sound, the grass is soft, and you can easily find sun or shade. My preference is to lie in the grass, mostly in the sun and pretend that I can stay there all day making cloud animals. It's an extremely peaceful place, except when random school groups chose to eat lunch here. I wish I could shake an angry fist at them, or chase them away with a broom, but on those days I tend to just get some sun walking around the triangle. It's located by Ervay, Pacific, and Bryan. If you want to grab something to munch on, the closest places include Beyond the Box and Backbeat Cafe.

I truly believe Thanksgiving Square is one of Dallas's greatest little secrets. If you don't know it's there, or you haven't stumbled upon it, you'd never figure such a unique, gorgeous place, with such fascinating and beautiful architecture was tucked in the heart of Downtown Dallas. I'm not a religious person nor particularly spiritual but I will say, it's hard not to feel a really cool sense of peace overcome you when you're in the small spiral chapel all alone staring up at the gorgeous stained glass. You can read from the other reviews more details, but I'll leave it up to you to discover the place on your own, just like I did. I said this place isn't good for kids. In reality, it'd be great for well-behaved kids, but this isn't the place for unleashed demon-spawn running around screaming and causing havoc. This is a place to escape the city for a little peace and tranquility. If you think your kids are going to ruin that, then please respect the others who may be there and don't get off the DART Train, take them down to the West End, or leave your rugrats at home.

Kind staff, very responsive to our needs for a wedding that was hosted very last minute! Our family tried and succeeded(thanks to the help of Thanksgiving Chapel) to plan a beautiful wedding for my brother and his now-wife. My brother is military, and will be moving soon. Therefore, the wedding needed to be expedited for the military to recognize them moving together. I can't think of a better place to accomodate the ceremony. We were all very pleased with our experience, and the photos turned out gorgeous!! It was, as the bride would call it, "their perfect wedding". There is so much history behind this chapel as well! It's a sweet little treasure located in the middle of downtown. The atmosphere was amazing for a wedding. It added a bit of a unique flare to an already somewhat unconventional wedding. Since this was primarily a family affair, we were thankful that the staff treated us as though we were family as well. We searched all over the place for a chapel that would allow us to utilize their services, and this one was booked ONLY 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE. Needless to say, we feel very blessed by God to have provided us with an amazing venue and staff. The title of this place is very appropriate, because we cannot be more thankful!

This park has been in need of renovation/re-greening for over a year at least. The sloping lawns used to be set up to be used as a big dog bathroom, and the folks with big dogs let their animals rip up the turf - one guy let his dogs both try to jump high enough to grab a tree branch, over and over, every day, thus destroying the lawn. Thanks dude! No, it's cool. I like walking around in slippery mud when I'm on a 40 degree hill grade. Yeah, my favorite! Recently, they've removed the dog bags and put up some signs trying to dissuade the usual park users who live in the area to not allow their dogs on the grass, though there is absolutely no evidence that anything has been done to reseed the area, or do anything to it other than take away the poop bags. Now the slopes are littered with turds of all sizes and varieties. I'm surprised I haven't seen any hobos waddle over and take a dump on the hill but it seems likely someone has. Otherwise, if they ever attempt to take care of the park, it will again be a nice little spot with shade, a large water feature, and access to the tunnels during the day (which themselves contain delicious fast food joints). There is also a chapel and a big twirling white thing you can walk up which seems attached to the chapel but I haven't been inside.

Featured in the made-for-TV movile "Heaven's Lathe", Thanksgiving Square Park is reminiscent of a 1970s dystopian future science fiction setting. Crumbling slowly to the ground, the park floods any time there's significant rainfall. The water feature, when it's running, is a sickly green. Various Bible quotes and religious platitudes adorn the poured concrete outdoor structure, along with what seems to be an argument against the separation of Church and State in one corner. The enormous bells are set too low to the ground, and are inappropriately deafening when they ring out the time. The angle of the ground around the center of the valley-shaped park makes it useless for people or dogs. The catwalk to the chapel seems unsafe. The park is poorly lit at night and used for either a bum or pet toilet most of the time. Most of the signs are installed crooked, or with letters that have fallen off. I have a hard time imagining what the strange layout is supposed to accomplish, and have never seen the park used effectively as a public space. I'm sure it has potential, if it were properly maintained and the grounds cared for properly, but I have a feeling that will never happen, as it's been mostly abandoned by the Thanksgiving Foundation.

Your staff is rude, mean and ghetto. They are disrespectful, aggressive and plan wrong. The park is littered with feces and urine (the human type). Awful experience. If you're looking for a place to do some public outreach with the homeless this would be the spot. Overall I'm extremely embarrassed to say I live next-door. What a pathetic site.

Very pretty to look at. Lots of religious type things to read all along the walls. A tiny dog friendly area that's on some rocks (kind of awkward) but they do provide bags to pick up after your pooch. The chapel is the best part. It's absolutely gorgeous to look at and I believe it's open 24/7. Go in, lay on the floor (trust me on this), and take some photos. A few fountains and a man-made waterfall are there. Nice to look at but it will take you about 10 minutes tops to walk through.

A place meant to express gratitude and thanks. It is more known for its Chapel of Thanksgiving which contains the stained glass "Glory Window" inside, which is also a place for prayer. Really beautiful.

Stunning chapel! The chapel is open 1-5 on weekends. I posted a picture of the chapel hours so that you can go when it's open and unlocked. This is free and it's a beautiful sight to see, stop by for a quick 15 minutes to see the glory windows in the chapel.

I think this place is worth a stop if you wanted to sight see in Dallas. When you walk on the property you will see the man made waterfall structure. It has a really cute small chapel with the prettiest stain glass ceiling. You can also get a small history lesson about the foundation and sign the guest book! Additionally look for the yellow ring go to the center and yell something! The ring is fun and great for a quick photo! This place is so pretty a nice visit for something free.

Cool to see if you're in the area. A few pictures and 5 minutes and you're done. Apparently this was used in the movie Tree of Life, which was too strange for me and I like some pretty weird movies.

Currently on vacation so my time is planned out and precious. Heard a lot of good things about the area with stained glass windows. Checked and double checked the times online so I would be able to get in. Waited 20 minutes after its "opening time" time with no avail. Pretty disappointed and bummed that I missed it based on false times online. Maybe next time, Dallas, maybe next time.

This is a beautiful building and sanctuary with many historical facts. The gardens are currently under construction possibly due to flooding or erosion from the recent storms. With that said, the building was peaceful and provided a lovely place to give thanks. I will go back.

Something Free (donations excepted) to do in Downtown Dallas. A good place to bring your family around Thanksgiving to read about the history of Thanksgiving as a holiday and remind you to be thankful to God for everything good in your life. A quiet little place, not too many people around, but a large water fountain, some small shops, and of course the museum and chapel. This little park is not super exciting, but is very serene.

I loved visiting this place. There's not a whole lot to see so it don't plan on spending a lot of time here. It is a really pretty place though with a really sweet idea behind it. The stained glass swirls up to the top and you can go in there and write what you're thankful for and put that note in the middle of the room. I love it.

The chapel is beautiful, the plaza is nice, and it's a good contrast to the surrounding area. But let's be honest, the real reason you're coming to Thanksgiving Square is to listen to the tubas on December 24th. Thanksgiving Square is great for TubaChristmas. See you there.

Loved reflecting and spending peaceful time here. Pay attention to days that they are closed though.