For more than a decade, a piece of Irving history sat hidden away in storage.
Until now.
Recently, teams from Visit Irving and the Irving Convention Center opened a crate containing the Convention Center's original architectural model. After years in storage, no one knew exactly what they would find.
The surprise? It was in pristine condition.
The massive model offers a rare look at the original vision for a building that has become a distinctive part of Irving’s skyline and an important part of the city’s visitor economy.
And when we say massive, we mean it.
The model doesn’t fit through doorways. Convention Center crews had to carry it down the exterior stairs before loading it onto a forklift for its next chapter.
This October, you can see it for yourself at the Irving Archives and Museum (IAM). Even better, admission is on us.
History, on the house
Visit Irving is partnering with the Irving Archives and Museum for History on the House, a month-long promotion offering free museum admission to residents and visitors throughout October.
Guests will also receive a coupon for $5 off a $10 or more purchase in the IAM Museum Store.
The promotion tells more than Irving’s history. It also shows how tourism gives back to the community.
When visitors stay in Irving hotels, they pay hotel occupancy taxes that help support local amenities, including the Irving Archives and Museum. That means a hotel stay today can help preserve Irving’s stories for tomorrow.
A new piece of history
Another piece of Convention Center history is headed to the museum.
At 6 p.m. Oct. 8, Visit Irving will host a public reception at IAM and present the museum with a piece of the distinctive copper from the Convention Center’s exterior.
The copper will eventually become part of a permanent exhibit chronicling the building’s construction and history.
History on the House runs throughout October at the Irving Archives and Museum, 801 W. Irving Blvd. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Come discover a little Irving history. It’s on the house!
