Tuscany Plaza - Museum of Outdoor Arts

Denver has many great museums, but one of the most unique is the Museum of Outdoor Arts. It actually exists in several different locations, and focuses largely on outdoor sculptures. That also means you don't even need a ticket! One of the locations is right in the heart of the Denver Tech Center in Greenwood Village. Marjorie Park (adjacent to Fiddler's Green Amphitheater) is the centerpiece of this branch of the museum, but right now the park is being renovated. It's closed to the public. Luckily, several of the office buildings in the area also have displays, such as Tuscany Plaza at the intersection of Greenwood Plaza Blvd and Fiddler's Green Cir.

Three works can be found at Tuscany Plaza. The most prominent is a bronze statue of Mercury; a recreation of a sculpture found in Florence Italy which dates back to 1564. He's an impressive sight, standing guard of the building which houses the international headquarters of Red Robin.

Closer to the building you will find a sculpture of two horses. Titled "Of One Heart," it was sculpted by Gorge Carlson in 1984. He was inspired to create this piece after seeing a draft horse competition at a rodeo. Given our region's western heritage, this is a very appropriate addition to this courtyard.

The final piece is titled "The Fence." This site-specific sculpture was created by Carolyn Braaksma and Andrew Dufford in 1988.  This piece, in particular, is interesting in how it interacts with the architecture of the building behind it.

You can check out all of these sculptures for yourself at 6312 S Fiddler's Green Cir in Greenwood Village.

Littleton Boulevard & Prescott Street, Mid Century Modern Architecture

We have just one unique building to look at today on our journey down Littleton Boulevard's "Mid Mod Mile." This particular building is actually still the home of its original occupant, Martin Miller Law Offices. 

This structure was designed by prominent Colorado architect Eugene Sternberg. Sternberg designed many building across Colorado, including Littleton's own Heritage High School and Arapahoe Community College, both just a stone's throw away from this buillding.

This building can be found at 1901 W Littleton Blvd, at the corner of Littleton Blvd and Prescott St.

7/20 Memorial

Unfortunately, we've had more than our share of dark days here in the Denver area. One of those days was July 20, 2012; the day of the Aurora Theater shooting. A very close friend of mine was at the theater that night to see The Dark Knight Rises. Luckily, he was not among the 13 who lost their lives, or the 70 who were wounded. In the days following the incident, a makeshift memorial sprung up near the theater. However, the need for something more permanent soon became apparent. On July 27, 2018, the permanent memorial was dedicated.

The piece titled "Ascentiate" was created by artist Douwe Blumeberg. It features 83 sculpted cranes, representing the 13 who were killed and the 70 who were wounded. Each of the cranes also contain a canister filled with items of remembrance from members of the community.

I had the opportunity to visit the memorial for the first time a few days ago. Despite the fact that it is located near a busy intersection, it is tucked away in a surprisingly peaceful and serene spot. The 7/20 Memorial is located at the intersection of Alameda and Chambers, on the grounds of the Aurora Municipal Center, just a few blocks from where the movie theater stood.

Mt Falcon Park - Castle Trail

Vacation is a very important time for my wife. She loves researching and planning all sorts of great places for us to visit. This past summer, we were supposed to go to Oregon, but, you know, COVID. We ended up doing a staycation instead, and my wife did a great job of finding places for us to visit here in Colorado, many of which we had never visited before. One day we ventured over to Jefferson County and Mt. Falcon Park. 

The park has many trails of varying lengths. My family enjoys hiking, but we are definitely short trail type of people. Luckily, the Castle Trail in the park is a pretty easy hike. There are some great views along the way, but the highlight of the journey is the ruins of the Walker "castle." Built in 1909, it was the home of millionaire John Brisben Walker. For a time, Walker was the owner of Cosmopolitan Magazine, before selling it to William Randolph Hearst in 1905. He also owned an early automobile company, the Locomobile Company of America.

I'm sure the house was quite impressive, but sadly it didn't last long. In 1918, a mere nine years after being built, the house was struck by lightning and burned to the ground. The ruins are all that remains of the "castle." The trail takes you right up to the ruins, so you can get up close to this piece of history. They are fenced off, though, so nobody hurts themselves or the historic remains. It's a nice simple hike that I definitely recommend.

Littleton Boulevard & Loutham Street, Mid Century Modern Architecture

Our adventure down Littleton's "Mid Mod Mile" continues as we look at two structures at the intersection of Littleton Blvd and Loutham St. The two buildings are very different, but both very unique.

First we have the building which sits at 1699 W Littleton Blvd, originally the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Building. Once upon a time it was a switching station for that organization. It seems like a fairly standard brick office building, but its unique entrance is what gives it character. The building was designed by Temple Buell, who designed over 300 buildings in Colorado, including one of America's first shopping malls, Denver's Cherry Creek Shopping Center. His name also graces the Buell Theater, which is one of the primary facilities of Denver's Performing Arts Complex. 

Just across Loutham Street, at 1709 W Littleton Blvd, is an unusual building that currently houses an employment agency.  It was originally a Mr. Steak restaurant, designed by architect Colin Stewart. I love the unique angled eaves of this wonderful building. I can almost picture tourists driving through Littleton while on vacation, spotting this eye-catching building, and pulling in for a steak dinner. 

That's all for now. Our journey down Littleton Blvd. will continue.

Newsboy

Way back in February (seems like a lifetime ago) I strolled around downtown Golden snapping pictures of the many sculptures along the city's main street, Washington Avenue. I've shared many of those in past posts, but there are a few I need to catch up on. 

This sculpture is titled Newsboy. Amazingly it depicts, you guessed it, a newsboy hawking papers on the street corner. This piece is by artist James Muir. You'll find it just adjacent to the Golden Visitor's center, near the bridge over Clear Creek.

Littleton Boulevard & South Datura Street, Mid Century Modern Architecture

There is a stretch of road in Littleton that is just over a mile long, but home to several unique examples of mid-century modern architecture.  Simply turn west off of Broadway onto Littleton Boulevard and follow the road until it splits at the entrance to downtown Littleton. It's a short drive, but it's more interesting to walk and take in the dozen or so unique structures. 

I've driven down Littleton Boulevard hundreds of times, but recently decided to park the car and stroll down the street to get a closer look at some of the buildings I'd just seen in passing over the years. We'll begin with a close look at several buildings that can be found at the intersection of Littleton Boulevard and South Datura Street.

The first building is not itself unique, as there were many of these buildings in various regions of the country. I just happen to think they are cool and love when I encounter ones that are still standing. My wife has always thought this was once a skating rink, and it certainly looks like it could've been, but this building was actually once a Safeway grocery store. Today it's an ARC Thrift Store. I love the rounded ceilings of these old grocery stores. There is another former Safeway with a similar style just a few miles away from this one. It currently sits empty, formerly home of a gym which closed during the forced COVID shutdowns.

Cross Datura from the ARC store and you will find the Taco House. When built this unique building housed Rich's Charco-Burgers. The yellow coat of paint is fairly new, but that drive-thru lane has been there since the joint was built. That was a pretty unique feature for a restaurant back then. There are a few other Taco House locations around Denver, but this one is certainly the most unique from an architectural standpoint.

Over on the northwest side of Littleton Boulevard, nestled between a 7 Eleven and a former IHOP, you'll find what was originally the Littleton Savings and Loan, designed by Joseph and Louise Marlow. It's recognizable by its crazy sunscreen which covers the building's second story. The sunscreen was designed by Robert Propst, who is known for creating the Action Office series of furniture, which evolved into what we know today as "cubicles." I seem to remember that when I moved here in the 90's, this feature was bright yellow, but a calmer shade of gray has since taken over. A printing company now occupies part of the building.

There are many more great things to see along Littleton's "Mid Mod Mile." Stay tuned for future posts.

Highlands Ranch Gorillas

One of Denver's southernmost suburbs is Highlands Ranch. Comparatively speaking, it's a fairly new community. Most of the homes there are less than 30 years old and the downtown district has only sprouted up in the last decade or so. Of course, it doesn't quite have the character of some of the nearby communities like Littleton or Englewood. However, downtown Highlands Ranch does have something those other towns don't...Gorillas.

Highlands Ranch Town Center North, located at the intersection of Lucent Blvd and Highlands Ranch Parkway, is a pretty standard shopping center. It's got a Target, Game Stop, Chick-fil-A,  you name it. In the parking lot, though, you will find several sculptures of gorillas. Why gorillas? It's not like they were once native to this part of Colorado, or any part of Colorado. I don't really care, though, cuz they're cool.

You will find three of the apes nearby establishments like Little Caesars Pizza and Raising Cane's. Somewhat hidden, though are three more gorillas toward the back of the shopping center, in the northwest corner. Just walk down Lucent Blvd and you will find them guarding a ditch

Lookback - Doors Open Denver

One of my family's favorite events should've been this weekend, but, you know, COVID and stuff. Doors Open Denver is an annual event hosted by the Denver Architecture Foundation. The idea is that a bunch of buildings throughout the city open their doors and the public can come in and take a look. It's a way for folks to experience both historic and more modern architecture throughout the city. My wife and kids got to experience the event for several years without me, as it always seemed to fall on a weekend when I was out of town. A few years ago, though, the event moved from spring to fall and I got to enjoy it for myself. This year, though, the event is going to be virtual, which just isn't the same. 

Since we can't go out and explore in person this year, I decided to post some of my photos from previous years.  One of the things I enjoy most about Doors Open Denver is that it is great for photographers. The event organizers even sponsor a photography contest in conjunction which each year's event. So, enjoy a few of the shots I grabbed last year. Hopefully next year we'll be back to enjoying Doors Open Denver in person.

The Colorado Governor's Mansion is usually our first stop each year for Door's Open Denver, as it is one of the most popular spots on each year's roster. The list of places open changes from year to year, but the Governor's Mansion always participates. The mansion is located at 400 E 8th Ave in Denver. Before it was the governor's mansion, the home was residence for several notable Denver families. It was originally the home of the widow and daughter of Denver real estate tycoon Walter Scott Cheesman, though he never lived there. Cheesman's daughter Gladys would marry John Evans II, grandson of the second territorial governor of Colorado, John Evans.  The couple would reside in the mansion until the birth of their first child.  Later, the mansion would be the home of Denver businessman Claude K Boettcher.  

In 1959, The Boettcher Foundation gifted the mansion to the state and it became the Governor's Mansion. Our state governor's would reside there until 2011. Now it is used primarily for special events, though there are residences in the upper floors which can be utilized by the governor from time to time.

One of the stops for last year's event was the Alliance Francaise, located at 571 Galapago St in Denver. This is an organization that promotes French culture here in the Rocky Mountain region. They offer many French language classes. Denver's branch of this organization was founded in 1897. 

A few years ago, one of the stops was the famous Rossonian Hotel, located on North Washington St in Denver's Five Points neighborhood. In fact, The Rossonian sits right at the intersection that gives Five Points its name. 

Five Point was once referred to as the Harlem of the West, and the Rossonian is one of the most important landmark's of the neighborhood. Jazz greats like Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, and many more regularly played there. 

Right now, the hotel is not exactly swinging like it once was. However, plans are afoot to restore this historic structure and bring the music back.

So, you can see why someone like me who enjoys both history and photography is a bit bummed that we have no Doors Open Denver this year. Here's hoping that next year's event will be worth the wait!

Riverside Cemetery

During my 17 weeks of being a COVID layoff I focused on doing some neglected work around the house and watching a lot of movies. After all, we weren't supposed to be going out. Once things calmed down a bit, though, I did get to venture out a bit. One afternoon I traveled up to the northside of Denver to take a look at Denver's oldest operating cemetery, Riverside.

Some may find it creepy, but I do enjoy exploring cemeteries and taking pictures. This was my first visit to Riverside, which has a very different feel than some of the city's other older cemeteries, like Fairmont. Whereas Fairmont is quite lush and green with tall trees, Riverside is very much lacking when it comes to greenery. The fact that we've been going through an extreme drought this summer certainly contributed to the very brown and dry look of the cemetery when I visited. The grounds are also surrounded by factories and railroad tracks, so it is not quite as "peaceful" as some cemeteries.

Still, there are a lot of interesting headstones and monuments, many of which have been battered by the elements over the years. One of the most notable residents is John Evans, the second governor of the Territory of Colorado. You will find the name Evans on many things in the Denver area, including Mt Evans, the largest peak due west of the city. Evans is also a controversial figure due to his role in the Sand Creek massacre, one of the darkest moments in our state's history. His grave is large and easy to spot while driving through the grounds.

I'll let the images speak for themselves. Cemeteries are among my favorite photography subjects. Riverside Cemetery is located at 5201 Brighton Blvd in Denver.

Elitch Gardens Carousel Pavilion

So, I started 2020 with a goal of getting out more and experiencing all the things the Denver region had to offer. What happens?  A global pandemic comes and makes everyone stay home for months!  Needless to say, a lot of things have happened since I last posted that have made life challenging.  Like everyone, I haven't been able to get out and do things much.  Add to the situation the fact that I was one of the many people who lost their job during this crisis.  So, I had time on my hands, but couldn't go out and do fun stuff.  Woo-hoo!  

Things are slowly creeping back towards normal. I have a new job, which is going well.  Now, every so often, we are able to get out and do things. Hopefully that means I will get back to posting here at In and Around Denver.  A few weeks ago I did venture out one afternoon and spent a few minutes checking out a historic spot in Denver, the former Elitch Gardens Carousel Pavilion, located at 3775 Tennyson Street in Denver.

It was once said that to not see Elitch Gardens was to not see Denver.  The amusement park and botanic garden opened in 1890 and stayed in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver until it closed in October of 1994 (just a few months after I mover to town). The following year, the new downtown version of the amusement park opened for business right along the Platte River. Only two elements of the original park remain today: The Historic Elitch Theater, and the pavilion which once housed the park's carousel. The theater is currently being renovated and is not looking terribly photogenic right now, but the carousel pavilion was just fine with having its picture taken.

The area that was once the home of Elitch's has been redeveloped into a neighborhood which includes both residences and shopping. The carousel pavilion sits inside a small park. It is a bit unique to walk around the area and picture people with balloons and cotton candy standing in line for the rides. I actually got to visit the original park once while my family was on vacation in Denver in the 80's. I have memories of riding the swing ride and seeing a kid undo his seatbelt and leap off as the ride was starting up. That swing ride, known as Turn of the Century, is still in operation at the current version of Elitch's.

Of course, like all amusement parks, Elitch's has not been open this year. There are plans afoot for the park to make another move in the not-too-distant future.  It currently sits on land that is due to be turned into the River Mile district in Denver. The project is still several years away from happening and nothing has been announced yet as to where Elitch's third home will be. The park owners, however, have made it clear that Elitch's will remain a part of Denver, just in a new location. As for me, while I love the thrill of riding the roller coasters, there is a certain thrill in seeing these reminders of the park's past.