Frozen in time: The Landmark Tower and its revolving clock

Frozen in time: The Landmark Tower and its revolving clock

Published on April 07, 2026

Although it didn't happen right away, one of the eventual casualties of the 2000 tornado was downtown's legendary Landmark Tower, 200 W. Seventh St. The 30-story structure had scraped the sky since 1957, when it opened as the Continental National Bank building.

It held the title of tallest downtown building until 1974, when the Fort Worth National Bank building (now known as The Tower) rose to 38 stories. (Burnett Plaza, completed in 1983, later beat them both at 40 stories.)

But its landmark status had little to do with height - it was the 32-foot-tall revolving digital clock that had heads turning.

Before we tick over to the clock, let's take a minute to examine the building's storied history.

The makings of a skyline standout

Designed by Fort Worth-based Preston M. Geren & Associates, Landmark Tower was built twice. (Yes, you read that right. Oh, and it also had three different names over the years. We'll get to that later.)

Originally conceived as a 28-story brick tower with a red granite base, that lofty plan crumbled when the economy faltered in the early '50s. So when it debuted in 1952, the building was just four stories tall, with a single floor of brick facade atop the granite base.

As the economy rebounded, the tower's owner completed the remaining 24 floors - and then added two more, bringing the total to 30. Not only was it the tallest building in Fort Worth, but it also was the first to use an aluminum curtain wall. Clad in aluminum framing and large glass panels, a curtain wall (as its name suggests) hangs on the outside of a building like a curtain rather than supporting its weight like brick or concrete.

Enter the clock

The building had to be redesigned to accommodate the timepiece. Architects nixed the brick for aluminum, which helped lighten the load. Since two more floors and the clock were added, they also had to shore up the existing structure within the building. But as most locals who saw the building in its glory would likely say, all the rigmarole was worth it.

The tower clock featured the letters "CNB" (Continental National Bank) in green neon on two sides; the time glowed in white on the other two sides. At one point, it claimed bragging rights as the world's largest revolving clock. (Side note: It stopped revolving in 1978 due to a malfunctioning motor.)

Other fun facts: It was the world's largest digital clock (it quit keeping time in 1991), and the "Guinness Book of World Records" once listed it as the world's largest four-sided sign. Measuring 32 feet tall and weighing in at roughly 77 tons, the towering timepiece could be seen for miles.

Same face, new name

When Continental National Bank relocated its headquarters, the building's name changed to the Texas Building, a moniker it sported from 1982-1998.

Over those years, the number of tenants declined. By 1990, the building was empty, a shell of its former self. Neglected and deteriorating, the structure fell into disrepair until its 2006 demise.

After 1998, the building's name changed a third and last time: Landmark Tower.

The tornado makes its mark

On March 28, 2000, the historic storm damaged and/or destroyed a large swath of the downtown area. The embattled Landmark Tower stood in its path. Windows were shattered, and the already fragile structural issues worsened. A skywalk connecting the building to a parking garage was removed soon after for safety reasons.

The clock came down too.

Already in disrepair, the tornado exacerbated the structure's existing problems. With repair costs estimated around $62 million - coupled with asbestos concerns and stalled redevelopment plans - the building was ultimately leveled six years later. At 7:40 a.m. on Saturday, March 18, 2006, professional crews armed with 364 pounds of explosives imploded Landmark Tower. Out of an abundance of caution, all residents within a 15-block radius were evacuated.

Interestingly, this ticked another box in the building's long lineage of history-making accomplishments: It was among the tallest high-rises ever intentionally demolished in the United States.

A parking garage occupies the site today.

Despite the fact that it sat dark and motionless for years, the clock remained a permanent fixture until its final hours - and remains a lasting memory for many who saw it in its prime.

The Fort Worth skyline, looking down on West Seventh Street in 1957. The Continental National Bank building (later Landmark Tower) is in the center. Courtesy of Fort Worth History Center Archives.

CNB building standing tall at 10:45 a.m. in 1955. Courtesy of Fort Worth History Center Archives.

CNB building in 1957. Courtesy of Fort Worth History Center Archives.

CNB building in 1958. Courtesy W.D. Smith Commercial Photography Inc. Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.

CNB building June 30, 1961. Courtesy W.D. Smith Commercial Photography Inc. Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries.

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