1890
February - Destruction of 1871 Courthouse by fire for the second time
March - Ground Breaking for new Granite and Sandstone Courthouse Architect: M. A. Orlopp
November - Cornerstone Ceremony
1892
December - Courthouse Occupied
1893
January - Courthouse opens featuring:
- Six courtrooms of 2400 square feet each
- Great Hall of approximately 5000 square feet
- Stained Glass windows throughout
- Cast brass hardware
- Marble wainscots
- Five-quarter oak instead of pine was unusual for trim.
- Curved glass in turrets
- Two hydraulic elevators (flanking Grand Stairs)
- Electrical lights and ceiling fans
1919
Clock tower removed due to structural instability; metal from bell sold; clockworks given away.
1920
Grand Stairs removed, replaced by four floors of office space.
1967-68
"Modernization" of Old Red loses big doors, marble wainscot and stained glass, slate roof and rooftop figures, shrinks courtrooms in size by installing new walls and ceilings to air-condition spaces.
1978
Stabilization of building undertaken, bolstering the roof, trusses, and exterior walls. Serves as the Family Law Center through 1980s.
1985
A county bond provided for the start of exterior restoration. Dallas Architect James Pratt oversees restoration over next two decades.
1986
Friends of Old Red, a volunteer group, raised funds to put back the patterned slate roof.
1993
Centenary Celebration of Old Red; Dealey Plaza declared National Landmark
1995
Old Red Task Force charged to explore feasibility of museum at Old Red
1997
Portion of first floor renovated - New flooring, wainscot, and millwork installed
Old Red Foundation charged by County with developing role for Old Red including museum of regional history.
2001
Capital campaign to restore Old Red and build Old Red Museum of Dallas County History & Culture begins; historians recruited to research Museum story-line; partnership with Dallas Historical Society to preserve and display artifacts developed; Old Red restoration Phase I (exploratory demolition, hazardous material abatement, interior and exterior restructuring) commences.
2004
Texas Historical Society grants funding for restoration of Old Red Clock Tower ($3.5-m).
2005
Restoration Phase II (new infrastructure installation, finish-out of walls, floors and ceilings) commences. Old Red Museum design finalized. Restoration Phase III (restoration of clock tower) commences.