Newby-McMahon Building

The Newby-McMahon Building is a four-story red brick structure with cast stone details in Wichita Falls. Its narrow form measures roughly 40 feet (12 meters) in height, 18 feet (5.5 meters) in depth, and 10 feet (3 meters) in width, creating an unusual silhouette in the downtown area.

Construction took place in 1919, when businessman McMahon convinced investors to fund a new office tower without mentioning that the plans showed inch measurements. The finished structure disappointed backers who expected floors for offices but found only cramped spaces.

The nickname emerged from a swindle during the oil boom, when investors thought they were funding a multi-story office tower but the blueprints showed only inch measurements. Today visitors from different countries come to see this odd structure, often cited as an example of clever deception.

Interior rooms are very small and unsuitable for regular office use, as steep stairs take up about a quarter of each floor. Visitors should expect narrow passages and limited movement space, since the footprint per level covers only 108 square feet (10 square meters).

Courts upheld the contract after completion because investors had signed blueprints clearly showing inch rather than foot measurements. McMahon had technically acted correctly even though he misled investors, and he kept the money raised.

Location: Wichita Falls

Inception: 1919

Official opening: 1919

Architectural style: neoclassicism

Floors above the ground: 4

Made from material: brick

Part of: Depot Square Historic District

Address: 509-511 7th Street, Wichita Falls, Texas

GPS coordinates: 33.91444,-98.48972

Latest update: December 12, 2025 20:36