Living Wheel Park

The town of Parker came to be due to its important location at the intersection of the Cherokee Trail and the Smokey Hill Trail. The Twenty Mile House was a spot where travelers would stop, at the intersection of what is now Parker Road and Mainstreet. And yes, in Parker it's "Mainstreet," not "Main Street." A small park, Living Wheel Park, now sits at this location. It's not a park with picnic tables or playgrounds, but there are a few items worth taking a moment to appreciate.

One of the most prominent features is a large and detailed sculpture by Ralph Crawford called Run to Twenty Mile. It depicts a stagecoach drawn by six horses bringing travelers to Twenty Mile House. 

Though I love many of the art we find around the Denver area, pieces that celebrate our region's western heritage are often among my favorites. This piece is particularly detailed. I may be wrong, but one of the individuals riding in the stagecoach sure looks like he could be Buffalo Bill Cody.

Nearby, is a sculpture called Self Made Man by Bobbie K Carlyle. It depicts a man carving himself out of stone.

The actual wheel-shaped area that gives the park its name is dedicated to honoring our nation's military. The center of the wheel features a sculpture of an eagle called Patient Warrior. The piece is by sculptor Christopher Romero.

To the west side of the wheel, another sculpture serves as a memorial to all US veterans. The plague indicates that it exists as result of an Eagle Scout project conducted by a local youth.

Living Wheel Park is located at 18995 Mainstreet in Parker.

Littleton Blvd Side Streets - Mid-Century Modern Architecture

Today we continue our look at mid-century modern architecture in Littleton with two buildings that technically aren't on Littleton Blvd, but are just a few steps down its side streets.

We begin at 5723 S Gallup Street with a building that is appropriately called The Gallup Building. It was designed by Eugene Sternberg, the architect responsible for the Courthouse Building covered in a previous post. 

Sternberg is possibly most famous for designing the mid-modern housing development Arapahoe Acres in nearby Englewood. Though not quite as dramatic as his Courthouse Building, the Gallup Building still has an eye-catching roof and windows. I also appreciate the raised and sunken entryways.

One block over, at 5804 S Datura Street, you will find the building which was originally home to the Arapahoe County Bank. The building, designed by Earl Chester Morris, now houses a different sort of bank...a food bank. The unique zig-zag roof is probably the most interesting feature of the building. Morris himself lived in Littleton and is buried in nearby Littleton Cemetery. His headstone is, like his buildings, a unique design that is easy to spot.

Lowry Air Force Base - Building 349

The Denver area has a lot of history connected to the US Military. A big part of that is the fact that Denver was home to Lowry Air Force Base from 1938 to 1994. After the base closed, the area began a gradual transformation into the neighborhood now known as Lowry. Though many of the base's structures are now gone, there are also many which have been repurposed. The largest of the structures that remain is Building 349.

The structure originally served as barracks for thousands of men training for duty during World War II. It could house over 1,800 men and had its own library, cafeteria, barbershop, portrait studio, and even a bowling alley. In 1961, the building was repurposed to become the base headquarters, which is why many still refer to it as The Headquarters Building.

Today, the building is once again a residence, though it's probably a bit more luxurious than it was during the war. It's now known as the Grand Lowry Lofts. Though the inside of Building 349 has changed drastically, the exterior still displays the features it sported when built over 80 years ago.

You can see this piece of history for yourself at 200 Rampart Way in Denver.