Excursion tour in Dallas. Top architecture - monuments, castles, temples and palaces

Dallas Skyline In this article, dedicated to the architecture of Dallas, we will 'fly' over such iconic historical monuments as Old Red Museum, Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe, African American Museum, and Arboretum and Botanical Garden. In addition to the virtual flight video, we offer the most important and interesting facts about every landmark, including high-quality photographs. You can also use this article to make your own excursion tour in Dallas. Simply use the icon to locate the object of interest on the map of Dallas.

Old Red Museum, Dallas

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The county court building made of red sandstone and blue granite (1892) resembles a gingerbread house. It’s a museum now.
»  The dragon-like figures attract visitors’ attention. The wyverns have legs, leathery wings, a scaly back. The four-floor building is open for guided tours.
»  The 27-meter clock tower of the Old Red Courthouse has four backlit dials. They can be seen from afar at night.
»  One of the halls is called the Hatton Sumners Courtroom. There are a jury box, a tribune where a judge was seated, and seats for visitors.
»  The upper floor has over a hundred window openings. The original stained glass was preserved only in 2 windows.
»  The bright red Pegasus stands on the first level. The figure of a winged horse points to the flight of stairs leading to the second floor, where the museum hall is located.
»  The exhibits – different fossils, combat gear, trophies – tell you the history of the county.
»  Both permanent and off-site exhibitions are arranged.
»  One of the rooms with bookshelves has a secret door behind the shelves. As a result of the restoration work, it was possible to restore some parts and natural paints of the complex pattern on the steel door.

Cathedral Santuario de Guadalupe, Dallas

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The tall building has pointed arches. It was built by an unknown architect in 1898-1902.
»  The massive Cathedral of the Virgin of Guadalupe is considered to be one of the first parish communities in the city. It is the oldest house of prayer and is considered to be the head house of God for the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas. The full name of the cult institution is the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
»  In Christian teaching, this image is associated with the earthly representation of Jesus. She is considered to be a helper of all Christians and is revered as the Mother of God. That’s why the Dallas Cathedral bears her name.
»  The prayer temple is a traditional English church. The shape of the building resembles an elongated cross. The Gothic construction has lots of stained glass windows. A high dome sort of expands the internal space. The rear area of ​​the room has an organ. There are several sculptures and statues inside. Many parishioners kneel when praying.
»  The souvenir shop offers various religious products.
»  There is plenty of free space around the cathedral. The building can be well observed from all sides.

African American Museum, Dallas

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the popular tourist attractions.
»  The museum was founded in 1974. It houses a collection of exhibits taken from one college’s special collection. Africans used to study there until it was closed down in 1988.
»  The museum began to operate independently in 1979. It contains data on the African-American chronicle of Dallas.
»  It’s the only cultural center whose aim is to preserve and display the aesthetic, cultural, historical information about African Americans.
»  The construction and arrangement of the building cost $7 million. Money were raised through private donations and the issue of special bonds worth $1.2 million.
»  The total area is 38,000 square meters. The building is shaped like an elongated cross.
»  The external walls are faced with light stone. Only natural materials were used during the construction. This combination should remind of the pre-industrial culture of the Dark Continent.
»  The museum has four arched galleries for US folk art exhibits. There is a library with a science foundation.

Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Dallas

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The total area of the botanical park is over 250 000 m². There are a lot of different landscape gardens in its territory.
»  The part of it is occupied by the ranch of famous geophysicist’s family. DeGolyer’s House that has a total area of 2 000 m² is designed in the Spanish style. Behind it, there is a cafe that has a view of the lake and fountains.
»  The first green area is called “A Woman’s Garden”. Here, you can see beds with seasonal plants. 2 000 species of azalea grow on these lands. Gardeners have a special electronic device that displays the data on the upkeep of the plot.
»  The next green area with paths is “Calm Garden”. The paths take you to the limestone bridge, hanging bridge and colorful well.
»  In the Virginia Cedar Stream Square, these trees grow. There are over 80 species. The trees are planted along the stream. You can see a big maple in the center. It is 100 years old.
»  In the Dallas Arboretum, there are a lot of unique gardens.
»  Different festivals are annually held in their territory. During the Flower Festival, almost 500 000 representatives of flora are displayed here. The Autumn Festival will present tens of thousands of vegetables brought from all over the country.

Renaissance Tower, Dallas

Location on the map:
Facts: » The modernist skyscraper is 270 meters high and has 56 levels.
»  The underground level has shops and cafes. It’s possible to get to the city streets from here using an underpass. The parking lot has 1,089 spaces. The very top is occupied by the library.
»  The total area is over 160,000 square meters. The rooms are up to four meters high. Most of the premises are used as offices.
»  The building was constructed in 1974.
»  One day, a 26-year-old climber acting like Spider-Man got to the roof along the wall of the building without belays, using only suction devices.
»  The external illumination of the tower resembles the XX symbol. The letters stand on each other.
»  The roof has transmitting antennas. One of them is more than 53 meters long.
»  The construction cost 40 million dollars.
»  One of the firms renting offices here occupies 22,000 square meters. About four hundred employees work there.
»  The Renaissance Tower became popular after it was shown in the iconic TV series about oil dynasties. The high-rise building serves as the headquarters for the main characters in the film.
»  The Renaissance Tower is the eighth tallest skyscraper in the world.
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Plan your own tour over Dallas on the monuments map

More to see in Dallas
Dallas is a young commercial city, which was founded in 1841. Today Dallas is the location of offices of the world's major companies and famous industrial plants, but travelers are usually attracted not by these important economic facilities, but by unique attractions and entertainment complexes that can be found in the city. The central area of the city is the location of beautiful skyscrapers, which have become a kind of hallmark of the city. The height of the famous Bank of America is 281 meters and the building of the Renaissance Tower is just 11 meters shorter, but is certainly no less impressive. Swiss Avenue is a great place for walks as one can see a lot of interesting architecture places of interest during a simple stroll here. Here you will find beautiful buildings of past centuries made in neo-Gothic style. There are also several modern architectural landmarks in this street. West End is considered the historic district of the city. Its territory is home to a few dozen buildings constructed in the end of the 19th century. Many historic buildings have been converted into museums and galleries. As a rule, excursion programs in Dallas include visits to Deep Ellum district as this is the location of Lakewood Theater. The territory of the quarter is ideal for walking. Tourists usually recommend visiting Bayram and Vickery Squares. They are surrounded by a picturesque park. There is even a botanical garden there. Park City is considered the favorite vacation spot of … Read further

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