Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial - City Park

I admit, It probably would've been more appropriate for me to time this post with the Martin Luther King Jr holiday last week. Hey, better late than never, and besides, it's not like celebrating Dr. King is only allowed one day a year. When that mood strikes you to recognize the man, Denver's City Park has an impressive memorial perfect for times of reflection.

The bronze statue by artist Ed Dwight was installed in 2002, replacing another King monument that moved south to Pueblo. The statue of King stands on a tiered pedestal. Statues of four other individuals surround him. These include Frederick Douglas, Rosa Parks, Mohandas Gandhi, and Sojourner Truth.

Surrounding the pedestal on four sides are a series of tablets that detail the struggle of African Americans, key events in King's lights, and several of King's quotes.

The memorial is located in the southern part of the park, just a short jog northeast of the State of Colorado Fountain I detailed in a previous post. City Park is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd in Denver.

Sullivan Gateway

Though located a block south of Denver's City Park, the Sullivan Gateway serves as the entryway to one of the city's most beloved recreational areas. It sits on Colfax Ave and leads to the City Park Esplanade, which runs past East High School to the park. After years of deterioration due to the elements and vandalism, the gateway is once again an impressive sight in the middle of the city. 

The gateway was built in 1917. It features two curved terra cotta walls, each with 40-foot tall Doric columns featuring a sculpture atop.  The sculptures represent Colorado's history of mining and agriculture. A fountain is also a part of the gateway. The gateway is named for Dennis Sullivan, a Denver pioneer who made his fortune in the mining industry.

Due to it being located adjacent to East High School, the gateway is a popular hangout for students. In other words, it's seen a lot of hard use over the years. Thankfully, efforts in recent years have helped restore this majestic entryway to its previous glory.

Unfortunately, many visitors to City Park may miss the Sullivan Gateway, as it is slightly separated from the rest of the park. Be sure to see it for yourself at 2551 E Colfax in Denver, right next to East High School.

The State of Colorado Fountain

There are many things to do and see in Denver's City Park. Most notably, it is home of the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. You'll also find plenty of room to stretch out and relax, as well as a few sights worth paying a visit to. One of those sights is the State of Colorado Fountain, located on the southwest side of the park.

The fountain is often referred to as the Thatcher Memorial Fountain, as it was donated to the city by the founder of the Denver National Bank, Joseph Addison Thatcher. His impressive crypt can be found in Denver's Fairmont Cemetery.

The fountain has resided in City Park since 1918. It features four bronze sculptures created by artist Lorado Taft. The center figure, a woman dressed in robes, represents the State of Colorado. Surrounding her are three more sculptures representing the virtues of the state of Colorado: Love, Loyalty, and Learning.

I've never actually been able to visit the fountain during the warmer months when the water is flowing. However, this means that on my recent visit I was able to get some nice close-up photos without getting my feet wet.

City Park is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd in Denver, However, the fountain is in the southwest corner of the park, near the intersection of 17th Ave and York St.