Restoration of Old Red was slow going. It included pulling out the warren of offices, drop ceilings, florescent lights, etc. The original plaster walls were closely matched, marble and wood wainscotting was installed to mimic the original, new HVAC systems were installed, and curved window panes for the turrets were custom made.
One of the most important restorations, visually, was the majestic staircase. Parts of the original iron and wood staircase were found in storage. From these parts, custom iron and wood pieces were ordered to match exactly. The staircase was then reassembled in its original location. Restoration work is denoted from the original parts: the light colored handrails denote new sections while the dark handrails indicate original sections of the staircase.
Old Red Museum offers daily private tours that take you behind the scenes. I have done one of these tours and it was great! You are given access to rooms that are normally closed to the public. I was able to see parts of the building that have been left ‘original’, ie, what was found after dismantling the modern offices. That included original paint colors, plaster, original woodwork, graffiti, etc.
We love tours! Take one with us and learn about Old Red in addition to a bunch of wild characters from the origins of Dallas.
Image: Reddit, of all places.
