Denver’s Architectural Styles
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These houses are reminiscent of the early days of American architecture, manifesting a patriotic spirit. Characterized by rectangular plans with hipped-side gables or gambrel roofs and a prominent front entry. The windows tend to be palladian, round or elliptical, often with keystones above them, gracing pediments and gables. All of these elements originated in Europe and were transformed by time and distance to become distinctly American. Both Federal and Georgian elements were incorporated in Denver’s Colonial Revival style. |
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940 & 950 Logan Two of the first examples of Colonial Revival in Denver built in 1891-1893 by Frederick J Sterner & Ernest P Varain. |
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| 400 East 8th Avenue The Governor’s MansionConsidered Denver’s best example of Colonial Revival architecture. Walter Scott Cheesman hired architects Gove & Walsh to design this formal residence, which was completed by the architects Marean & Norton (who designed the Cheesman memorial) after his death in 1908. The gardens were designed by George Kessler, who was instrumental in the development of Mayor Speer’s City Beautiful park & parkways plan. Mr. & Mrs Charles Boettcher acquired the home and later donated it as a showcase for a governor’s mansion.As each side was visible, they were all given equal importance. Unified by two story corner pilasters with Ionic capitals, as well as gabled dormers, each side manifested different design elements. Two story Ionic columns, dentiled eaves, gabled dormers and tall chimneys are all incorporated in the symmetrical facades. |
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| 770 Pennsylvania Street The Grant Humphries MansionOne of Denver’s best known Neo-Classical Landmarks, the Grant Humphries Mansion together with the Governor’s Mansion pair up as Denver’s grandest set of historical mansions. They were both donated to the Colorado Historical Society, and the Grant Humphries mansion is now a museum operated by the Historical Society. This monumental house was designed by Theodore Boal & Frederick Harnois and completed in 1902 for James B Grant. |
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| 3400 Belcaro Drive The Phipps Mansion“Denver’s Finest Residence” was designed by Fisher & Fisher in the Georgian Style for Lawrence Cowle Phipps and was completed in 1933. Upon his death, his third wife, Margaret Rogers Phipps donated the estate tot the University of Denver for a conference center. |
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| 1410 High Street Sykes-Nicholson-Moore HouseDesigned by Sterner & Varain in 1897 |
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| 2825 West 32nd Avenue St Elizabeth’s Retreat ChapelDesigned by Sterner & Varain in 1903 |
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| 1200 Williams Street The Tears McFarland HouseDesigned by Sterner & Varain in 1898. Today it is used as a community center for Capitol Hill. |
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| 1350 Logan Street Cuthbert-Dines ResidenceDesigned in 1897 by Frederick Sterner |
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2075 Ash Street This rather plain house in Park Hill is embellished by a classically inspired window. |
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2109 East 9th Avenue Designed by Gove & Walsh in 1918, this house has a rare roof balustrade. |
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| 860 Vine Street The Daniel Millet HouseSimple elegance built by Fisher & Fisher. |
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| The Diversity of the Colonial Style is demonstrated through several porches on Humboldt Island:
1070 Humboldt This house is considered to be a Colonial Revival Landmark built by the Baerreson Brothers in 1895. Note the semicircular portico and the palladian windows. |
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1075 Humboldt Designed by Frederick Sterner in 1906 for Governor William Sweet. Note the expansive front porch |
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| 1115 Humboldt The Denckla-Walker ResidenceDesigned by Harry TE Wendell in 1895 has no porch at all. |
Source: Denver the City Beautiful by Thomas J Noel & Barbara Norgren