“Historic buildings are part of the fabric of Dallas and are important to who we are as a city and where we have come from. They are a tangible record of our past and tell a story of how the city developed from a small outpost on the banks of the Trinity River to a world class city. Could you imagine downtown Dallas without the classical edifice of Neiman Marcus, the sleek colorful exterior of the Statler Hilton, the Majestic Theatre with its extraordinary detailing, the stately Old Red Courthouse, or Dealey Plaza? We can’t and don’t want to! The historic buildings in Dallas bring vibrancy and uniqueness in a sea of glass towers and similar looking new construction. They have enduring craftsmanship, character, and human scale that is hard to match with new buildings today.
“Preservation Dallas works to preserve these historic places in Dallas through education, advocacy, and programs, which highlight the importance to the city of our historic places. As a nonprofit organization we have been around since 1972 and have supported many efforts all over the city to better preserve the historic neighborhoods and places of Dallas. We believe that historic preservation is a great economic development tool, benefits the environment by reusing existing materials, and makes Dallas a vibrant and viable place to live and work.
“In addition to our advocacy work Preservation Dallas also does fun programming throughout the year with architectural tours in the spring and fall, monthly outings to cool historic places with behind-the-scenes access and information, educational lectures, book signings, and more! We also recognize outstanding preservation efforts yearly at our Preservation Achievement Awards.
“Funding received from North Texas Giving Day helps Preservation Dallas better advocate for historic places and get the message out about why they should be rehabilitated rather than demolished. Historic preservation is a constant battle that continually needs to be advocated for and with your help we can continue to do just that. So, preserve a bit of Dallas’ history by supporting Preservation Dallas and donating here on Thursday, September 17!
-By David Preziosi, Preservation Dallas executive director
* Photo credit: Preservation Dallas