Building for the Future

Denver is home to a number of historic architectural treasures, and at this weekend's eighth annual Doors Open Denver, you can tour over eighty of them for free. Want to travel 21 stories to the top of downtown's D&F tower, which was the country's third-tallest structure when it was built...

By Aubrey Shoe

April 12, 2012

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Denver is home to a number of historic architectural treasures, and at this weekend's eighth annual Doors Open Denver, you can tour over eighty of them for free. Want to travel 21 stories to the top of downtown's D&F tower, which was the country's third-tallest structure when it was built in 1909? It's only open to the public these two days of the year, so this is your chance. And there are other unusual opportunities that build off the program's success.

"New tours this year include Engine House No. 5, downtown Denver landmarks, a Denver public art tour, a City Park tour, a walk through Lower Highlands, Little Italy and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Clyfford Still Museum," says Carol Hiller, event manager for Doors Open Denver. There are also such returning favorites as a downtown photo tour led by Mike's Camera, a stroll through the Brown Palace Hotel, and a program dedicated to Denver After Dark.

Show up at any of the designated sites for a self-guided tour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. today and tomorrow, or sign up for an expert tour. All of the tours are free, but tickets are required for expert tours; get yours starting at 8:30 a.m. the morning of the tour at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1350 Curtis Street in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. The Platte Valley Trolley will provide free rides between destinations; for more information, visit www.denvergov.org/doorsopendenver or call 303-282-5073.
April 14-15, 2012

Become A Member

BEFORE YOU GO...
Can you help us continue to share our stories? Since the beginning, Westword has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver — and we'd like to keep it that way. Our members allow us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls.