Upcoming Events

Hall of State: Restoring the Showpiece of Fair Park

March 30, 2021 6:00 pm - March 30, 2021 7:00 pm

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Join Preservation Dallas, AD EX, the Dallas Historical Society, the Dallas Architecture Forum and Preservation Houston for a special virtual program which will explore the restoration of the magnificent Hall of State at Fair Park.

The Hall of State was built as the showpiece of the 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition and remains one of the outstanding examples of Art Deco design in the United States. Its blend of modern architecture, murals, sculpture and decoration led architecture critic David Dillon to call the structure “one of the finest, and last, artisan-architect collaborations in the country.” A $14.4 million restoration completed in late 2020 returned the Hall of State to its 1930s glory, repairing and uncovering damaged and long-hidden elements of the building.

In this program, key figures in the restoration will discuss the painstaking work that went into the restoration, including disassembling and cleaning elaborate metal doors, restoring detailed plasterwork and refinishing the iconic “Tejas Warrior” sculpture at the building’s main entrance. The speakers will be accompanied by a video showing the restoration work in progress and the spectacular finished product. An update on damage the Hall of State sustained in last month’s winter storm and a Q&A with the panelists will follow the presentation.

REGISTRATION:

The program is free for members of ADEX, the Dallas Architecture Forum, the Dallas Historical Society, Preservation Dallas, and Preservation Houston. Registration is $10 for the general public.