Photos

The Old Red Courthouse in downtown Dallas is a fine example of the courthouse-building fervor that swept through Texas in the 1880s and 1890s. In an imposing Romanesque style with turrets and gargoyles, the courthouse dominates the area near Dealey Plaza, even though it is not as tall as many of the surrounding buildings.

The building was built in 1890, Old Red (as it is affectionately called) was made of huge blocks of gray granite and red sandstone from Arkansas and Pecos, Texas. The red mortar provides a striking contrast between the blocks of gray granite.

The restoration of the Old Red Courthouse began in 2001 and finished in 2007. The historic downtown courthouse is now open to the public as a museum showcasing the history of Dallas.