Supporting History

"Modern" Buildings and the State Historical Fund

April, 2001

Now that we have made our way into a new century and a new millennium, it should come as no surprise that post-World War II resources are finally being recognized as historic. The State Historical Fund has participated in several projects that affirm the historic nature of these important properties.

In 1999 Denver: The Modern City was published as a volume in the Historic Denver Guide series sponsored by Historic Denver, Inc. and funded by the State Historical Fund. That volume, authored by Michael Paglia, Rodd L. Wheaton, and Diane Wray, featured such modern landmarks as the 1960 Hilton Hotel (now the Adam's Mark Hotel), the 1959 Daily Insurance Building at 1576 Sherman Street, and the 1969 Currigan Exhibition Hall. Forty-two buildings are featured, and the variety of styles is surprising. Although many modern landmarks have already been lost, this volume should help people to recognize the quality of what remains. The guides are available in bookstores throughout the metro area.

One of the buildings featured in Denver: The Modern City is the D.U. Civic Center Classroom Building, now known as City and County Annex I, at 1445 Cleveland Place. The State Historical Fund provided a $12,000 grant to the City and County of Denver for the preparation of a Historic Structure Assessment of that International Style building in 1999. The final report, prepared by the architectural firm of Slater Paull & Associates, Inc., states that the building was constructed in 1948-49 as a classroom for the University of Denver School of Commerce, was leased to the City and County of Denver in 1968, and was ultimately acquired by Denver in 1971. Plans are currently underway for an addition to this important historic building, which are intended to compliment rather than to upstage what has been referred to by authors Tom Noel and Barbara Norgren as Denver's best example of International Style architecture.

Also in 1999, the Fund awarded $58,500 to the Arapahoe Acres Preservation Project. Arapahoe Acres is a subdivision of 124 homes in Englewood, and was the first postwar residential subdivision to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Constructed between 1949 and 1957, the neighborhood was planned and designed by architect Ed Hawkins. The grant funded a set of design guidelines for the neighborhood, web site development, a series of educational workshops for property owners, and a small grants program to assist owners in restoring their homes.

Early last year, the Fund agreed to provide $9,000 to the Edgewood Neighborhood Organization in Lakewood for a survey of the Edgewood and Two Creeks neighborhoods. Most of the homes in these neighborhoods were built in the postwar period, and include a variety of designs including early examples of the "ranch-style" house.

There are other examples of postwar projects supported by the State Historical Fund, but they remain few and far between. Only recently have people begun to appreciate the quality of design found in many of Colorado's postwar buildings. Hopefully, as that appreciation grows, the Fund can provide assistance with more of our modern landmarks.

BY MARK WOLFE, Director, State Historical Fund