Ashbel Smith Building

The Ashbel Smith Building, affectionately known as Old Red, is a stunning example of Romanesque Revival architecture located in Galveston, Texas. Constructed in 1891 from red brick and sandstone, it was the inaugural building of the University of Texas Medical Branch. Named after Ashbel Smith, a key figure in Texas history and a founder of the University of Texas System, the building was designated a Texas Historical Landmark in 1969 and underwent renovations in 1985. Notably, it survived the devastating Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and was one of the few structures to withstand the flooding from Hurricane Ike in 2008, making it a significant historical site for both tourists and researchers.