The 2022 Summer Sizzlers Series is back in person starting July 14th!
What do the symbols found on tombstones in historic cemeteries mean?

Did you know Dr Pepper had a bottling plant and headquarters in Deep Ellum?

How were photographs processed during the mid-to-late 19th century?


Join us as we discuss these topics and more this summer!


Preservation Dallas is pleased to present the 2022 season of Summer Sizzlers – our popular series of educational lectures that offer insights into preservation topics, architecture, and history! We are finally back in person this year and can't wait to welcome you back to the Wilson House.

The weekly sessions will be held at 6 pm on Thursday nights starting July 14th through August 18th in the Carriage House behind the Wilson House. 

Find out about each session we are offering this summer below!
Session 1 - Not Organizing for the Fun of It: Suffrage, War, and Dallas Women in 1918
Thursday | July 14 | 6 PM
Wilson Carriage House, 2924 Swiss Avenue
Who were the local activists that fought for the right of women to vote? During the late 19th and early 20th century, women’s clubs became a center of social life and activism. By March 1918, Dallas women won the right to vote in Texas primaries, and also radically changed one prominent politician’s views on suffrage. Local scholar Melissa Prycer tells us about these Dallas legends—and who we should thank each time we cast a ballot!
Session 2 - An Eclipse, a Murder, and the Wet Plate Collodion Photographic Process in Dallas
Thursday | July 21 | 6 PM
Wilson Carriage House, 2924 Swiss Avenue
In 1873, train service came to Dallas. Along with it came a British photographer named Alfred Freeman, who introduced the wet plate collodion photographic process to a town bustling with the spirit of progress. Join local photographer John Hall of Rodeo Tintype as he discusses Freeman, the history and methods of the wet plate process, and the current “wet plate revival” including a demonstration of 19th Century magic before your very eyes!
Session 3 - Tombstone Tourists: Artifacts, Epitaphs, and Symbols in Historic Cemeteries
Thursday | July 28 | 6 PM
Wilson Carriage House, 2924 Swiss Avenue
Cemetery enthusiasts, historians, and tomb hunters are drawn to cemeteries for many reasons - including their beauty, serenity, and architecture. But what can we learn from them? What stories lay forgotten or untold? Throughout her career in historic preservation and archeology, Victoria Clow has been intrigued by the secrets graveyards tell. Join her as she discusses the artifacts, epitaphs, symbols, and stories found in our historic cemeteries.
Session 4 - The Architecture of Eating: Dallas’ Delectable Dining Establishments
Thursday | Aug 4 | 6 PM
Wilson Carriage House, 2924 Swiss Avenue
Indulge in a culinary and architectural feast exploring some of Dallas’ most distinctive restaurants with unique architecture and interior décor with Texas Historical Foundation Director David Preziosi. Featured in this adventure will be beloved places including the Old Mill Inn, Polar Bear Ice Cream Shop, Red Bryan’s Smokehouse, La Tunisia, and the Brinks Coffee Shop. The intersection of Dallas’ culinary and architectural history will be explored for each, so bring your appetite!
Session 5 - Home Sweet Home: Growing Up as the Texas Icon, Dr Pepper
Thursday | Aug 11 | 6 PM
Wilson Carriage House, 2924 Swiss Avenue
Many of us have experienced the type of personal growth and career changes that have caused us to pack up our own homes and move. The Dr Pepper Company is no different! During its history, the company has headquartered in SEVEN different locations in Texas. Since the 1920s its home has been in the Dallas metroplex. Join Dr Pepper Museum’s Associate Director Joy Summar-Smith as she takes us on a virtual journey to visit the company’s many locations.
Session 6 - The Mystery of the Ceiling Mural at Wilson House
Thursday | Aug 18 | 6 PM
Wilson Carriage House, 2924 Swiss Avenue
The restoration of the entryway ceiling mural at the circa 1899 Queen Anne-style Wilson House on Swiss Avenue was completed in 2021. In the process, new evidence was uncovered that addressed some long-standing mysteries about the mural. Join Brown Mountain Art Restoration’s owner Laura Pate as she discusses issues she and her team confronted during this intricate restoration and explores theories of origin based on the new evidence.
REGISTRATION

Individual sessions are $10 each for current members of Preservation Dallas and $20 each session for non-members. You can save by purchasing all six sessions as a bundle! 

Attendees who purchase the non-member series bundle will receive a complimentary one year Individual membership to Preservation Dallas. To check your membership status please visit our website or call us at (214) 821-3290.

PARKING

Parking for the Wilson Carriage House is in the rear parking lot behind the Wilson House. Enter through the open gate on Liberty Street.