Eldorado Ballroom, Houston, Texas
historic place
The Eldorado Ballroom, a historic place in Houston's Harris County, opened in 1939. It was commissioned by prominent philanthropists and business owners Anna Johnson Dupree and Clarence Arnold Dupree. Designed by architect Lenard Gabert, the ballroom quickly became a centerpiece of the Black music scene in the segregated Third Ward. Located at the corner of Elgin and Dowling Streets, across from Emancipation Park, the Eldorado Ballroom hosted renowned artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, and Etta James. Beyond entertainment, it served as a vital community hub for social gatherings and events. Known as the "Home of Happy Feet," the ballroom provided opportunities for the Black middle and upper classes to socialize and enjoy music. The Eldorado Ballroom closed in the 1970s. In 1999, it was donated to Project Row Houses, which undertook its restoration. A Texas Historical Marker was erected in 2011. The Eldorado Ballroom remains a significant historic building in the Third Ward.