The Active Historian

Hey, friend! Welcome back to another post. Today, I want to show you one of the prettiest buildings I saw in Dallas while I was in town for a work conference. I was not able to go inside as the museum is closed to the public. I loved having an opportunity to walk around outside of the museum during golden hour one evening! The light hitting the red sandstone bricks was absolutely stunning. Let’s get started!

History

Plaque transcription:

“Designated as public land in John Neely Bryan’s 1844 city plat, this was the site of a log courthouse built after Dallas County was created in 1846. When Dallas won election as permanent county seat in 1850, Bryan deeded the property to the county, and a larger log structure was erected. In 1856 county offices occupied a 2-story brick edifice, rebuilt in 1860 after a fire that almost destroyed the city. The fourth courthouse, a 2-story granite structure erected in 1871, survived one fire in 1880 before it burned again in 1890.

The old red courthouse, the fifth seat of county government, was begun in 1890 and completed in 1892. Designed by architect M.A. Orlopp, it exemplifies the Romanesque revival style with its massive scale and rounded arches. The blue granite of the lower floor and window trim contrasts with the red sandstone of the upper stories. Eight circular turrets dominate the design. A clock tower with a 4500-ound bell originally topped the building, but it was removed in 1919. Two of the four clay figures perched on the roof have also been removed.

To house the expanding county government, a new courthouse was built in 1965. Some offices remained in the 1890 structure, which was renovated in 1968.”

In 2007, the building opened as the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture. Currently in 2025, the museum is no longer open to the public and the exhibitions have been moved.

Photos

Below are several photos of the outside of the building! The light kept changing as the sun set and the old red courthouse looked so amazing.

Concluding Thoughts

I loved the architecture on this historic nineteenth-century building. When I got to Dallas I immediately looked out the window of my hotel room and saw this building and grabbed my computer to immediately figure out what it was called. I was pleasantly surprised it was within walking distance and am so grateful for my colleagues for going on a historical adventure with me.

I love checking out the local history when I visit new places and Dallas did not disappoint. I can’t wait to go back!

Happy Traveling, friend! I’ll talk to ya soon 🙂

Visit

100 South Houston Street
Dallas, TX 75202

Sources

Text from the historic marker outside of the building.

Old Red Museum of Dallas County History and Culture – Website