"Columns & Coffee" Architectural Tour

Over the last year, I've attended a number of tours given by the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. First coffee, then off for a morning tour...two of my favorite things...perfect! I've gotten to see a number of buildings, venues and locations that have great architectural and historical importance to Denver. This city is so rich in history and still has quite a number of amazing structures still standing (although Denver Urban Renewal of the '80's decimated hundreds of significant structures). ICAA is a great organization that has provided me the opportunity to learn and see portions of the city that (as a newcomer) I'm not all that familiar with.

This particular tour, given on Dec. 19th, was an exploration of the Chamber Lofts and several other downtown "jewels" nearby. The tour included the fantastic and elaborately ornamented Art Deco Buerger Brothers Beauty Supply building (1929), The Ideal Building (1907), The Colorado National Bank (1915) -including the beautiful murals by Allen Tupper True- and the Chamber of Commerce "Temple to Commerce" building (1910). 

A great tour, led and organized by Tom Matthews of ICAA, partnering with Historic Denver and Colorado Preservation.

Me, doing what I seem to be doing a lot of since moving to Denver - looking up!  -- standing in front of the Equitable Building (1892)

To learn more about the ICAA or to become a member, please visit www.classicist.org , Historic Denver at www.historicdenver.org  , and Colorado Preservation, Inc. at http://coloradopreservation.org/​

You can just barely make out the mural on the back wall from this historic photo. Below is a photo of the restored mural as it appears today.

Happy Hunting Ground, 1925 - Allen Tupper True, mural in Colorado National Bank