History Entertains at Old Red Museum in Dallas

Whether you are interested in politics, archeology, or those intriguing little details which made life so different in the past, the Old Red Museum in downtown Dallas is a fun place to explore. The museum chronicles regional history from ancient times right up to the present day, offering something for all age levels and attention spans. Visitors can learn about everything from the ancient mammoth to the notorious Bonnie and Clyde, through 41 touch screen monitors, 4 theaters and 5 separate display rooms.

Old Red is a striking building in downtown Dallas.

I must confess that at first glance, it didn’t seem like there was all that much to see. I figured my friends and I would be finished with the museum in 20 minutes, but once I sat at a touch screen monitor and got the scoop on Mary Kay, Southwest Airlines, 7 Eleven and other businesses born in the Big D – I was hooked.Those monitors and headsets convey a lot of information in an engaging way. Hearing firsthand accounts of the capture of Bonnie and Clyde from law enforcement agents and reporters while watching photos and film from that time is so much better than simply reading a plaque on the wall next to a static display.

I wasn’t the only one who got sucked in. The group I was with quickly scattered, as we all found interesting displays to check out. We were still exploring, in fact, when the docent came through and rounded us up at closing time.

For those with internet access through their cell phones, the museum offers the Old Red Audio Tour. One of my friends tried this, putting his phone on speaker so we could all listen in. I didn’t find out until later that you can press *0 during the audio tour to leave comments, which is a nice touch.

Chances are, if you have driven through downtown Dallas, you have noticed the Old Red Courthouse. With its turrets, gargoyles, archways and beautiful red sandstone brickwork, it is an eyecatching building. Old Red is actually the 6th courthouse to be built in Courthouse Square, as John Neely Bryan labeled this area when he founded Dallas. How optimistic that after the first 5 burned down, the city still chose to create such an impressive building.

Before becoming a museum, Old Red served as a social hub for Dallas, hosting dances, funerals, auctions and other social gatherings in its elegant halls. Before moving to Pearl Street, the Dallas Farmers Market took place on the courthouse lawn. Even now, the top floor is still a rental facility for chic occasions. On my visit, I witnessed a steady stream of tuxedo-clad men wandering about.

The fact that it is located in the heart of downtown Dallas, and open 7 days a week makes a spontaneous visit to Old Red the perfect reply to, “What shall we do next?” on a day of sightseeing.

What: Old Red Museum
When: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
Where: Old Red Museum, 100 S. Houston St. Dallas, TX 75202 (map)
Price: $8 General admission, $6 Senior/Student admission, $5 Children ages 3-16, Children under age 3 are Free, Old Red Members are Free, $5 Early Bird Special (Sunday Only) for tickets purchased before noon.
Parking: Your ticket entitles you to park in the underground garage next to the museum for $2.
More information: Visit the Old Red official website.

Photo credit: Tui Cameron