Construction on Old Red Courthouse originally began in March of 1890. The sixth building (and the fifth county courthouse) to occupy the site, Old Red was designed in the Richardson Romanesque style by M.A. Orlopp. It was originally crowned with a clock tower, the clockwork rivaling Big Ben's in quality, but the tower was removed in 1919 when prevailing winds threatened its stability. The grand stairway, an ornate design feature that provided passage between the busy floors, was removed in the 1920s.
Voters defeated an initiative to demolish Old Red and replace it with a modern building in 1938. Through the next fifty years, Old Red served a variety of public functions, but the demands of efficiency caused countless remodelings and adaptations of space use. Eventually, the original, grand interior design was hidden from view and appreciation.
Efforts to restore the landmark were championed during the 1990s by civic groups such as the Friends of Old Red, the Dallas County Historical Commission, and the Dallas Historical Society. With the leadership of Judge Lee Jackson and the County Commissioners Court, and support from the State of Texas, plans for renovation have been put into action. Under the guidance of architect James Pratt, the structure has been stabilized, the Grand Hallway and selected parts of the ground floor have been renovated, and various exterior features, such as the tile roof and its adorning sculpted figures (acroteria), have been replaced. The goal is a fully revitalized Old Red, with at least one courtroom renovated to its original state, and the clocktower and grand stairway replaced.
Old Red will find renewed purpose as the natural home to the Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture, a celebration of the dynamic story of Dallas County, expected to open in Spring 2007.