At the turn of the century, Fort Worth had become a center of commerce for the cattle industry, as well as the farms, ranches and towns stretching into West Texas. With the discovery of oil in these areas, Fort Worth also began to attract more entrepreneurs, many of whom focused their oil business operations -- and made their homes -- in "Cowtown."

One of these men was William Thomas Waggoner. Born in 1852 to a successful landowner and rancher, Waggoner worked hard all his life to preserve and expand his father's holdings in cattle, horses and real estate. In the early 1900s, while drilling for water to supply his thirsty livestock, he found oil -- several times. He was annoyed to be turning up the thick, black stuff that seemed more abundant on his property than the water his cattle needed so badly. Finally, he decided he might as well do something about the pesky oil problem and his first oil well was drilled in 1911. Although he always considered himself primarily a cattleman, his expansion into the oil business greatly enhanced his already substantial wealth. It is said that his friend Will Rogers, on a visit to one of the huge Waggoner spreads, observed, "I see there's an oil well for each cow."

In 1918, Waggoner decided that downtown Fort Worth should have a new office building with all the modern amenities. He hired the prestigious architecture firm of Sanguinet and Staats to design the building, which was built by C. S. Lambie & Company of Denver and opened in 1920. Today, the W. T. Waggoner Building serves as the headquarters of its owner XTO Energy Inc.

Like many other oil and cattle barons, Waggoner channeled a great deal of his fortune back into his own community. His entrepreneurial efforts built much of Fort Worth, and the philanthropy helped to create and sustain some of its most cherished institutions. A look in almost any direction reveals tangible reminders of the integrity and business acumen of Waggoner's vision.

In style as well as substance, the city of Fort Worth still reflects the influence of Waggoner and his contemporaries, men and women whose personal histories spanned a challenging era: from hostile Indians, cattle drives and civil war all the way to the invention of the automobile and the airplane.

FACTS ABOUT THE W. T. WAGGONER BUILDING

Designed by Sanguinet and Staats architectural firm, whose multi-story, steel-framed office buildings helped to urbanize the look of many cities throughout Texas.

Built at a cost of $1.5 million by C. S. Lambie & Company of Denver, Colorado.

When opened in 1920, its 20 stories made it the tallest building west of the Mississippi.

The steel-framed brick tower is set on a two-story base of polished green granite.

Its style is classical, with a U-shape to maximize ventilation and light. Nearly all the offices have windows that can still be opened today.

The entrance lobby, elevator hall and vaulted bank area with mezzanine, which have been restored, feature original white Italian marble wainscotting, terrazzo floors and vaulted ceilings. It is one of the few early skyscrapers with its original banking lobby intact.

Marble columns extend up into the mezzanine, which features a wrought iron balcony with brass handrail.

The four Otis elevator cabs of filigreed brass in the lobby are original and include hand-etched glass with the Waggoner logo, brass plated handrails and cherrywood paneling. Brass door handles and brass-plated mail box in the lobby continue the brass trim theme.

An artesian well provided drinking water and supplied water for one of the first central air conditioning systems in downtown Fort Worth. A built-in vacuum cleaning system was another modern convenience.

The first three floors have been restored to their original state including the hand set mosaic tile on the third floor elevator and common lobby.

The entrance has a suspended copper-trimmed canopy with brass coach lamps on each side.

The Waggoner Building incorporated many proven mechanical systems that are still in operation today.

The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and was designated Historic Building of the Year in 1987.