The Driskill Mezzanine

The second floor Driskill Mezzanine has been the central hub of countless political and social functions, including the annual University of Texas homecoming balls. The decorations for one of the UT balls included 5,000 gardenias and maidenhair ferns. For that particular event, some 60 gallons of whiskey were consumed just as a warm-up for the festivities.

Extensive restoration of the mezzanine began in 1996. The columns were painted and then "marbleized" using turkey feathers as paint brushes in the style of the 1880s.