Bath House Cultural Center, Cultural center on White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas, United States
The Bath House Cultural Center is a long, single-storey Art Deco building on the east shore of White Rock Lake, completed in 1930 to a design by Dallas architect Jon Carsey. Its cream-coloured facade has rows of dark rectangular windows and a projecting entrance with a stepped parapet and fluted detailing; a sign above the glass doors reads "BATH HOUSE" over "CULTURAL CENTER". Inside are a large gallery, a black box theatre, an outdoor amphitheatre and the White Rock Lake Museum.
The structure was built in 1930 as a public swimming facility and served that purpose for decades before closing in 1958 when the lake became unsuitable for swimming. It reopened in 1980 as a cultural center, transforming its role in the community.
The center's name comes from its first life as a municipal bathhouse; the White Rock Lake Museum, opened in 2004, occupies part of the building and covers the park's natural history, Blackland Prairie and ancient Indian settlements. Each summer it produces the Festival of Independent Theatres, a showcase for Dallas companies without a permanent home, and each spring and fall the Art Mart brings around 40 Texas artists working in painting, photography, sculpture, metal and jewelry.
The center sits on the east shore of White Rock Lake, reached by lakeside paths and roads; the paved walkway with its low pale balustrade runs past the building. The entrance is the projecting section with the stepped parapet and fluted pillars, marked by the "BATH HOUSE / CULTURAL CENTER" sign. Programming varies, so confirm opening times before a visit.
The Water Theatre is an outdoor art installation that doubles as a performance venue while also serving as a natural attraction for wildlife around the lake. Visitors can observe how art and nature coexist within this public space.
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