Exhibiting the Famous and the Infamous

Though many people might not know it, I've seen the comings and goings through Dallas County history of many nationally famous and/or infamous people. For example, Blind Lemon Jefferson, the first nationally renowned folk blues singer, got his start in Deep Ellum right here in Dallas. During Blind Lemon's short three years of recording with Paramount in Chicago (1926-1929), he created a legacy which would influence American popular music and even gain international fame. Even today, Blind Lemon's musical impact can be seen in the Swedish Blues magazine, Jefferson. http://www.jeffersonbluesmag.com/

Blind Lemon Jefferson and the story of the Dallas blues scene are exhibited in Old Red's Big "D" gallery. If that's not good enough for you--the infamous Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow were from the Dallas area, and they're actually buried in their family plots in Dallas. (No, they aren't buried together!) Old Red has a fantastic interactive kiosk with oral histories and videos about the deadly ambush of the criminal couple.

Want to see more? Come visit me and other important historical celebrities like these at the Old Red Museum.

New EDU at Old Red!

This just in---apparently the Education department for Old Red has introduced a new education program for this school year! It's called CULTURE SHOCK! and it promises to give students the opportunity to really interact with the culture of Dallas County throughout its history. The music wafts up to the roof from the third floor---and I get to hear snippets of Blind Lemon Jefferson's jazz and Plains Indian grass dance songs. I've seen the students walking back to their buses with colorful banners for the Dallas County holiday they've created. Their excitement makes me wish I could abandon my post for just a few moments to participate too--I've been looking out over Dallas for 115 years, but there are always new things to learn, even for me! CULTURE SHOCK! Station Images

Targeted Grade Levels: 5-8

In this multi-sensory program, students transform into historical anthropologists for an investigation of Dallas County culture, past and present. Students uncover the meaning of culture by learning to identify cultural universals like kinship, artistic expression, economics, and belief systems. In addition to first-hand analysis of historical family photographs, students explore the connection between culture and economics with a hands-on investigation of cultural objects. Learning the importance of artistic expression to culture, students engage with diverse samples of music, many directly related to musicians in our museum exhibits. After exploring several examples of cultural, religious, and patriotic holidays, students create an original holiday honoring their own culture as an important part of today’s Dallas culture. CULTURE SHOCK, the Old Red Museum’s newest lab, connects students with a Dallas County culture that is animated, illuminated, and celebrated.

TEKS: Social Studies- 4.13, 4.20; 5.14, 5.23; 6.15, 6.16, 6.19; 7.19; 8.13, 8.24

Print out the Teachers Guide for Education Programs and History Labs! To Schedule a school program, call (214)757-1949 or email groupsales@oldred.org

What's a Wyvern?!

Often when the staff of Old Red ask people to describe the creatures on top of the roof, we hear "Gargoyle!" Well, before I begin any other posts about Old Red, I first need to clear up this gargoyle issue! Those dragon-like, winged creatures (i.e. me) that you see on top of the Old Red County Courthouse are Wyverns NOT Gargoyles. "What the heck is a Wyvern?" you may ask. Well, the main differences are as such:

Gargoyles are grotesquely carved creatures often functioning as drain spouts to divert water away from roofs, often medieval/gothic architectural features, from the Old French "gargouille" and the Late Latin "gurgulio", both meaning throat.

Wyverns, on the other hand, are reptilian heraldic creatures often resembling dragons, from the Saxon word "Wivere", which means "serpent".

1. I'm a magnificently-crafted beast, but FAR from grotesque.

2. Besides my clear aesthetic contribution to Old Red, I am also an important member of Security. As a heraldic dragon, I ward off evil spirits--much more romantic than a rain gutter!

Vindicated at last! I feel SO much better getting this off of my chest!