How to log this virtual!
This is the "Original" Iconic Landmark Symbol of Dallas. Built in 1934 and originally displayed from atop the Magnolia Building, it could be seen from as far away as Waco. Your best photo opportunity is at sunset! You MUST post a photo of "Original Pegasus" at Ground Zero IN YOUR LOG as a requirement to claim this cache!
The original Flying Red Horse as it appears today.
The History of The Flying Red Horse
The Magnolia Petroleum Building was built in downtown Dallas in 1921. The original Pegasus was built of porcelain and neon by Texlite sign company for the Magnolia Oil Company to celebrate the American Petroleum Institute's annual meeting, held in Dallas for the first time in 1934.
The Flying Red Horse sits atop the Magnolia Building in the 1940s
Another historic photo of the Red Pegasus.
"The Flying Red Horse," as it was referred to by Dallas residents, was never intended to be a permanent structure, but immediately became an iconic landmark of Dallas and was maintained. Standing majestically 450 feet above street it was visible 75 miles away. Pilots reported catching sight of it 60 miles south in Hillsboro, and some claimed to see it from as far away as Waco. The Magnolia was the tallest building in Dallas and in Texas for decades. When Magnolia Oil merged with Socony Mobil in 1959, the Red Pegasus became the iconic trademark logo of the new Mobil Oil Company. The flying red Pegasus appeared on Magnolia and later Mobil signs at filling stations. For those who grew up in Dallas, The Pegasus has long been our beacon, our emotional bond to the city we know as home, a link to the memories of a bygone time. The Pegasus is our Gateway Arch, our Statue of Liberty. The Pegasus icon can be seen in many places in Dallas.
The Flying Red Horse in all its glory!
The Pegasus remained on the Magnolia building until in its rusted and decrepit state, it was taken down in 1999. A new Pegasus, costing $600,000, was made for the city’s 2000 Millennium Celebration and took its place atop the now Magnolia Hotel. It was fully illuminated at the stroke of midnight on Jan. 1, 2000.
The new Flying Red Horse being installed atop of the Magnolia Hotel.
The Pegasus is now dwarfed by the surrounding buildings.
The Original Pegasus Restored
The original Pegasus was put in storage and lost until April, 2012. Found in pieces it was lovingly restored, at a cost of $200,000. THE ORIGINAL, restored PEGASUS measures 42 feet wide and 40 feet high, rising upward from the base of a rotating 22-foot-highmakeshift oil derrick platform and moved to its CURRENT location of in front of The Omni Dallas Hotel and relit on May 27, 2015. The rotating winged horse came to represent the city of Dallas and became one of its most recognizable and endearing landmarks, even after the building became obscured by much larger skyscrapers (the Replacement neon Pegasus can now only be seen in the downtown skyline approaching from the south).
Do not forget, you must post a photo of the ORIGINAL Pegasus in front of the Omni Hotel to your log or it will be deleted. Congratulations to AMaMatt823 for being FTF!
AmaMatt823's FTF Log on September 25, 2017: Daddy and the boys and the 'red horsey'
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.