Guide Line Review

WHAT “A DAY IN DENVER”!

THE DENVER MINT offers a 30-minute Free Tour for visitors who have an interest in money and the history of coin production in Colorado.  The first U.S. Mint opened in 1863 and was an assay office located at 16th & Market Streets.

Construction of the present Mint began in 1897; the first coins were produced February 1, 1906.  During the first year of production, 167,000,000 coins were minted, including both gold and silver denominations.  Coin value was $27 million.  Also gold coins were produced for Mexico.  Total coin production of 1906 is equal to about one week’s output today.

During the tour, you can see a working Mint in action and learn of its history and interesting facts about coinage.  Informative guides discuss the process of production and answer questions regarding what is seen on the tour.      An interesting book:  The Denver Mint, 100 Years of Gangsters, Gold and Ghosts by Lisa Ray Turner & Kimberly Field.

Thank you Roger Trimmer

 
THE DENVER CITY & COUNTY BUILDING, located the West end of Civic Center Park on Bannock St., facing the Capitol, was conceived as part of the 1906 Robinson plan, taking 28 years to build and combined efforts of 39 architects.

The building facade is Beaux-Arts Neo-Classical in style, featuring two curved wings with Ionic columns, a rusticated base of Cotopaxi granite, and a carillon clock-tower topped with a golden eagle.  A monumental staircase leads up to a three-story-tall Front Entry with Corinthian columns of Stone Mountain, Georgia, granite.  Large bronze doors open into the Lobby which features Colorado travertine panels and eight 19-foot columns in the rotunda.  The Building contains Court Rooms, Mayor, City Council, and administrative offices.

The 3rd Floor Mayor’s Office is a replica of the Oval Office in the Washington, DC, White House, with the exception of being one-foot larger in diameter.  On the walls, just below the ceiling, is a blue line indicating 5,280 feet (a mile high above sea level).  Also on the 3rd Floor are display cases of gifts received by Denver thru her Sister Cities Program.     

Walls of offices of the District & County Courts clerks have 8-foot x 12-foot murals painted by Colorado artist Allen T. True.  Depicting early Colorado Justice, one is named Frontier Trail, the other, Miner’s Court.  Plans for the murals began in the 1920s, with final agreement for the work not occurring until June, 1949. 

Thank you Terryl Lofgren

The COLORADO STATE CAPITOL was build n land donated by Henry C. Brown. A proposal by architect Elijah E. Myers’ in the 1880s was selected--a beautifully designed building set upon a hill--taking 15 years to complete.  The Capitol, in Renaissance Revival style, was inspired by our National Capitol in Washington--a cruciform building four-stories tall, crowned with 24-carat gold leaf, and rising 272-feet..  The Capitol  Oversight Committee, dominated by member Otto Mears, insisted all building materials be from Colorado:  Lyons Sandstone for the foundation; Gunnison granite, the walls; white Yule Creek marble, floors and walls; rare rose onyx from Beulah, CO, wainscoating.  A cast iron dome, first painted gray, then covered by copper plates, was finally gilded with 200 ounces of 24-carat Colorado gold in 1908, commemorating Colorado’s Gold Rush Days, miners, pioneers who helped build the State.

Theresa Holst, Manager/Visitor Services, made it clear to us that the Capitol is not a museum, but a workplace where running of the State business takes place  Three types of tours are offered:  historical, Dome and Legislative.  We were shown the 3rd floor Museum “Mr. Brown’s Attic” below the Dome.  In respect to him and his gift to the people of Colorado, officials named the small museum for him.  It is devoted to Colorado’s early history, Capitol construction, the legislative process, and a children’s interactive space--a treasure house of photographs and building, and importance to the surrounding areas.  The child-oriented area is appropriate as many Colorado school children visit at least once in their lifetime.  A closed-captioned video tour, near the 3rd floor elevators, is available for visitors unable or not wishing to make the additional steep climb to the Capitol Dome. 

We climbed remaining steps to the Dome and spread around the interior platform to see the sixteen stained glass roundels decorating its base--well-known or influential people involved in early State history.  Views from the outside platform currently is not allowed due to re-pairs on the Dome area, but we could see views of the City stretched below us through the large windows.  Un-fortunately, it was not clear enough to see Denver’s Red Rocks Park at the foothills’ base or beautiful mountain peaks further West.  We saw scaffolding outside the Dome, reminding us of the renovation and repair work taking place not only for the safety of Capitol visitors and occupants who worked within, but for preservation of this magnificent structure symbolizing the State of Colorado.     

Thank you Barbara Johnson

The BYRON WHITE 10th CIRCUIT COURT of APPEALS COURTHOUSE, 18th & Stout Streets, was built between 1910-1916. An excellent example of Neo-Classical architecture, the exterior is clad in Colorado Yule Marble, the same as used for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington.  The 10th Circuit Court includes Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma, Utah and New Mexico and handles approximately 500 cases each year.  Judges are appointed by the President and may hold the position for life.  Cases are heard at five sessions during the year by three judges.  The University of Denver Law School uses the courtrooms for “moot” court cases.

The facility, built as a courthouse, also served as the main post office (in the basement) for some years before renovation in the 1990s to its present form.  Names from Pony Express days are etched on walls or pillars, Lobby murals are original to the building; carpeting is a reproduction of what was used previously. Each courtroom has a small conference room attached.  First and second floors are open to the public; the Judiciary uses the 3rd and 4th floors.  Library benches and railings are duplicates of the original.  While the Library is no longer in use, it houses 3,000 books.  An eagle is poised over the door; eagle and door surround are hand-carved.  Corridor flooring is original and has holes where the post office originally had walls.  The P.O. used this area for offices and had put two floors in where it once was, and now again, is one floor.  Marble in and out of the Building is from Colorado  Originally second floor acoustics consisted of horsehair.,  Skylights are original and are  of faux onyx--a reproduction.  The first Courtroom we entered is used for ceremonies.   A nearby courtroom has etched in each quadrant of the skylight the State Seal of each of the 10th District states--there are only three seats at the bench.

The Byron White (1917-2002) display shows his office and many photos of him with past U.S. Presidents.  White was the first Supreme Court justice from Colorado.  He excelled at everything--athletics, law school, scholar, lawyer, judge.  The throne in his office was his Supreme Court seat--each Justice can take their chair with them on retirement.

A small  Visitors  Gift  Shop  is on  the  first floor.   Jan Stys was our excellent guide.      

Thank you Nancy Brueggeman. 

THE EQUITABLE BUILDING, 730 - 17th Street, is entered from a Lobby open to the public during business hours at the Stout Street entrance.  A window exhibit gives information to this exquisite Lobby.

Henry Hyde began the Equitable Life Assurance Company about 1859.  His company became the largest in the world.  In 1890, Henry Wolcott, head of the Denver Division convinced Hyde to locate the Company’s western headquarters here.  The Equitable “E” design became a visual testament to the success and stability of the company.  The nine-story facility opened in 1892 as the tallest building in Denver--the cost:  $1.75 million.  The Building had its own electric and water system, eight hydraulic elevators, steam radiators fed from an artesian well, water closets and gas fireplaces.  It housed the “seat” of the State government during the Capitol construction.

The Building resembles High Italian Roman Style of the Medici Palace in Florence.  Interior groin vaults and pointed arches of the Lobby resemble medieval ecclesiastical architectures.  The ceiling contains over 6.1 million hand-set tiles.  Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company provided the four stained-glass windows in the Hobby.  Pikes Peak granite, Roman pressed brick and terra cotta, all manufactured in Colorado, provide exterior materials.  The interior materials are marble from Vermont and “Verde de Alpes” marble and sienna onyx from France.

The Equitable “E” is found throughout the Building--in the Tiffany windows, ceiling mosaics, bronze-covered iron banisters, door knobs and exterior carvings.  Back-to-back “E”s composes the building plan.  Fresh air and natural light is provided by windows in recessed courts.

In the Silver Crash of 1893, this pride of Denver was sold to William Barth, President of Denver Rio l& Grande Railroad for $1.3 million.  In 1926, Barth heirs sold it for $2 million.  During the Great Depression, in 1934, it was foreclosed.  The following year a fire destroyed the Law Library.  Charlotte Barth Howell purchased it in a foreclosure sale for just under a million and then sold it in 1956 for $2 million.  In the 1980s, rental costs went from $30/square foot to an oil bust price of $9/ square foot.  In 2000, the St. Charles Town Company bought and converted the building to commercial condominiums.  An owner association subscribed to a multi-million 5-year preservation plan in 2009.

This Denver Landmark has seen financial depressions, fire, and boom times.  Known early on for its beauty, it continues to be known for its interesting history and unsurpassed beauty. 

                                    
Thank you Norma Bovee. 

A DAY IN DENVER

WHAT:  Day in Denver

WHEN:  Tuesday, January 25, 2011

TIME:  9:45 am to 4:00 pm 

9:40 am - United States Mint at Denver - 320 West Colfax Avenue - meet outside at the Visitors Entrance on Cherokee Street.  There is no waiting area in the building. You must be at the tour entrance no later than 15 minutes before tour time.  Late arrivals will not be admitted. 30 minute tour and gift shop visit. 

11:00 am - City and County of Denver - 1437 Bannock - Bannock Street Entrance - meet in lobby after going through security.  30 minute self-guided tour. 

11:30 am - Civic Center Park Walking Tour - meet in front of the City and County Building.  30-45 minute guided tour by Norma and Roger.  End at Capitol.

12:00 or 12:15 to 12:45 pm - Lunch - Colorado State Capitol-meet at the lower level coffee shop. 

12:45 pm - Colorado State Capitol - 200 East Colfax - north entrance on Colfax - meet in lobby after going through security.  One hour tour.  Walk to 16th Street Mall Ride. Mall ride to Stout St. stop.  Walk east to Byron White U.S. Courthouse. 

2:25 pm - Byron White U.S. Courthouse - 1823 Stout-Stout entrance-meet in lobby after going through security.  One hour tour.   Walk to Equitable Building.

3:45 pm - Equitable Building - 730 17th Street - meet in the lobby.  15-minute self-guided tour of the lobby.

Walk to 16th street.  Mall ride back to Civic Center.