6 - Matters from the Board, Update MemoAugust 3rd, 2005
TO: Landmazks Preservation Advisory Boazd
FROM: James Hewat
SUBJECT: Update Memo
Hiring
Chris Meschuck has accepted the half-time position as historic preservation planner.
Chris will also be working half-time as a GIS special assisting the Planning Department
with mapping. ~
Training & Retreat
Maro Zagoras is unable to conduct board training prior to her year long, round-the-world
odyssey. Staff is looking into finding other individuals to do the training. It is also time
for our annual retreat which we will plan for sometime in September.
Agenda Meetings
Staff, the Boazd chair, vice chair, and city attomey are holding regulaz agenda meetings
the day before an in preparation for monthly Board meetings.
Accessory Building Survey
Kathryn Barth and Lara Ramsay have submitted final forms and accompanying report for
the survey of accessory buildings in the Mapleton Hill historic district. They will present
their findings at either the September mid-month or regularly scheduled October Board
meeting.
Valmont Butte
The Water Resource Advisory Board reviewed and forwarded on to City Council a
positive recommendation regarding the Community Environmental Assessment Plan
(CEAP). On July 28`" the Planning Boazd reviewed the CEAP and unanimously passed
the following recommendations to City Council:
1. That all development be limited to extreme eastem azea of site.
2. Locate fire training azea in extreme east area of site and land bank middle section
(where fire training course is currently proposed).
3. Switch locations of fire training course and bio-solids recycling operation.
Each of the options was based upon the Planning Board's consideration that there are
important historic and cultural resources on the property that should be protected.
City Council will consider the proposal in a public hearing at their August 18`h, 2005
meeting.
Meeting with Residents of 700-800 blocks of 14~h Street
Staff will meet with residents of the 700-800 blocks of 14`h Street August 17`h, 2005 to
discuss the possibility of designating that area as a local historic district.
Washington School
On July 19`h, 2005, City Council voted 6-3 in favor of exercising its option to lease the
Washington School (See attached MOU), for a year. Staff will be working with Carl
Castillo of the City Manager's office as the project moves fonvard.
900 Maxwell Avenue
Staff has met on-site with the property owner who has tentatively agreed to rerriove nine
of the larger boulders and to fill-in and plant the dry stream bed feature. This proposal
will be reviewed by the design review committee.
1928 6~" Street
The applicant has met with the design review committee on several occasions to revise
plans for the restoration of the locally landmazked, Pool Blacksmith Shop. Discussions
regarding the appropriate resolution of this case have resuited in a scheme which restores
the faGade to its appearance in the c.1940 tax assessor photograph and reconstruction of
the east wall using the existing brick laid up in a lime-based mortar. Detailed plans and
specifications have been reviewed and approved by the design review committee and a
recommendation has been made to building inspections to lift the stop work order.
2443 6`h Street
Staff and attending Board members have indicated to the mediators that the City is in
favor of proceeding with the restorative justice process. Mr. Doub is currently
considering as to whether he also wishes to continue with this process.
Union Pacitic Railroad Depot update
Historic Boulder has sold the Amett-Fullen house and have temporarily relocated their
office at the depot.
Chauatauqua National Historic Landmark Application
An application for listing of the Colorado as a National Historic Landmazk has been
submitted to the United States Department of History. National Landmark designation is
the highest level of historic and cultural recognition and only a handful of properties are
so designated in the state of Colorado. Please review and (if appropriate) comment on the
attached nomination.
ARTICLES AND INFORMATION:
Memorandum of Understanding Between City of Boulder and the Boulder Valley School
District, 2005.
Colorado Chautauqua, National Historic Landmazk nomination, prepared by Martha
Vail, Ph.D., 2005
InEormaEion and articles on Religious land Use and Institutionalized persons Act, 2000
~
Attachment A
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDINd
1}~is Mamcandmn of Undas~ding CMOU') is mede this 8 day of Macch, 2005, by
and bdween the Boud ofEducatioa ("Board7 of the Boulda Velley S~ool District RE-2, a public
sclwol distcict and politicai aubdivisioa of the state of Coloiado (`School DistricC) and the City of
Bo~ildx, a Colorado muaicipal ooapoiation ead home tale city ('City~.
RECITATS
YI~IiEREAS. dte 3chool Disttict is the owner of numaons, si~ble pnnxla of rml pinpeity
and improveauats witbinthe CityWatitc~menUyuses forvarious school md oommtmitypurposes
as auThorizad by Colmado law; and
Wf~REAS, the Boaid, as pazt of its duty aad authorlry to dete~mine whi~3 schools within
the ScLool DislriG will be opaated and maiuteined, must ddecmine fmm time to time the mosc
efficicat use of ito ~ties and pcopa'ties including which educstional pro~ews ahonld be
contlnnod, modtfiad, reloceted. consolidated ~ disco~inuad ead which Eu~liriea or pcrtputies should
be leased ~, oa sue occasions, elosed and sold; md
1iVHBREAS~ on JaauAry27, 2000, theBoerd Fouoditnx~erymdinthebest intarstsofthe
School Dislact to consolidatevarious sehoolpro~ams eodto relocntoothaswithin andamongtwo
schoola ia tha south Bonlda acea: md
WHETtSAS, on Fobruary 15, 2000, ttu Gtity Council of tho Citysuthocizod the CityManager
W establish a School Issues Taslc Force to study ways to fiathet the public pmces+ reiated to my
dosusz or consolidation discussions wit6 respect to achooJs withiu tlu City ; aad
WI~REAS, as a nsdt of the Tesk Force woilc, the pa~es dde~mined tLat it was in their
mutual best inte~earn to enta intv a MOU to more cleazly de5n~ thoir esepearve mles and
respomsibilities with respact to my fuhue decisiou by Uu Board to close and sell a school facility;
and
WHEREAS, the paRies catered into thfs MOU onApril9, 2002, md now desire to extend it
for an additional period of three yeais; and
R~HFREAS, this MOU genaallY P~ovides for ecchenge of info~ation, uP to a two-year
lease ofSchool Pmperiy W t6e C:ityupon adxssionto sell suchproyatyto ap~ivat~Devdopay en
option W purchsse tha pmpeny Imud, and c~oaadin& of Development Standmds to protect hiatorie
desigrtaROn aad certein other aspaxs of designated School Propatty upon eale W a Govemmentel
Successor.
3
NOW, THfiREFORE, in considaation ofthe foregoing Recitals, it is a~reed md undersWod
as folloavs:
1.0 De6niHonofTams.
1.1 `Developer" means a noa-govemmmtal pason or entity.
1.2 "Development Steodatda' meane the provieions, attarbed and incotpoiated
Leroin as Exhibit A, fl~at mry bocome applicable ia the mmner descnbed in this MOU to School
Pmpetty that is acquired by a Govaamentei Suca.s.sor.
13 •GovanmmtalSu~~mesasapote.ntielptar,hasaofSdioolDishiareal
propctywithiathe Citythat daima mc~onvada stetearfcdesal law fiomtheapplicationof G~ty
land use ngalations. (3oveaammta( Succes~ includes, bnt is aot limited to, the stata of Colorado
and its agmaes, 4e Uuivasity of Colorado, othv stato-supportad colleges md uaivasidea,
includingcommuaityaod fimiorcolleges, iheUnited States Govemmmt and its agmqes, end othc
'pubtic eatities' as dofinad in C.R.S. § 24] 0-103(5).
1.4 •School Propat~' means all rcal paoputy owned by the School Distrid end
locabod withia the lwundaiies of the CSty. ~
2.0 Information Exchsnee. Thopmtiea aclmowledge thnt mehhas aaxss to ead dcvelops
cumin infrnmatioa &om timo to time that may bo nlwmt to tLe otha when cousiduing my school
closurd and the impects of anch a closure on sffxted naghboxhoods md other pasons. Ia the
intarst ofcoopaating in the evaluation ofavch dats and w infotm tl~e Board's da:isions coacaaing
potential elosurea, the pacties aga to acebange in5ormtflon aa followa:
2.1 School District w C'itv.
Z.l.l nQ~g.n~g. To tho exteat consisfeat with spplirsble confideatiality~d
m~rds laws, Uu ScLool Distict ahall paiodically give tl~e Ciry aceesa to enrollment informaflon
from its officisl Octoba student oomt; wmllment projections end reports incl'+~~„ without
limitetion, open cflmllmeat dete. sludent tesidmcea, aad abidmt yiekl projeetions: reports
concecnin8 ~ Pa-Pul~l c~s; and 4a~par~tiOn c~t infoamatioa
2.1.2 W}~m Potentiai ConaoHdation or Closure Is Considaed. Whea the
School Diatrict aotlctpates the potmtial consolidation ~ ctoauie of s school faciliry on Schoo]
~P~Y, it aLall considabeginning We public review piooese bythe followin88mups: the District
Adviaory Accountability Comffittea Facilities PlanninB Committor~ end othea district advisory
romciLv; aod shall dieseminabe spocific iafotmstion W aod solicit responses from the City and
affoded school oommunitiea, pareals, and neighbodwods as eaiiy in the proass as practical.
7
2.2 ~y ~ s~no~t n;~,;~.
z.2.1 ~ TheCityabeRgivetheschoolDistcictinfom~etiont}~etw71
sssist the School District in its planning efforts. 7bis w~71 include, without,liaritetion. svailable
traf5c sh~dies and P~l~+~: ~~ P~Joctiais and danoggphic studies; ra~onal needs and
oPP~~~: wbdivision and zoning or rnaming proposala:lob aWdie9 md housinB ProJa~ions;
potentisl ravisions to ffie Compiehensive Plan; and updates ooncaamg the Citya actwol excise taz
progam.
2.2.2 When Pote~Aial Clos~s Is Coosiduad. 1Le Ciry shatl reapond with
ava~lable iofomution in a timdy manna to spocific requests for infotmation $om the School
Dish~ictwhenEiepotmtial clos~ucofa facilityon School Propertyis consid~ed 'IliismaYiaclude,
without limiistio4 teaffic studi~ relatod to the affected areu, Potmtial CitY nses forthe facllity, and
dano~[apLic and plaming data related w the proposed compoeition of the existing or future
neighborhood md attendence areav effocted by the closure.
3.0 of . T6e pecties aclmow3edge that in the eveet Use School
District detamines thet a~ry 3chool Pzoneriy ie aot needed for its piaposea, eitha du~ing variow
porti~s of t6e day ~ year or for a longa tam, it may pKmit the uae of ffie School Propo~ty by
commuoity or~ni~ationa eod otha pecsons or eudidea npore such tama aad coaditions as it may
appzova Whmitd~teimineato:entorleeseSchoolPropertytoathirdpaityfarothathens~oolor
community Putpwes, such use ahall be subject to all City land uae end building md zomng plans~
codea, resolutions, and regulationa ss te~rired by C.RS. § 22-32-110(tx~•
4.0 ~NIOOf SGI~ML ~DOLtV 1VCD~VWOtinienL ~C II~S~S 61luPIO4:OLLILLW ~ YO 4aC
City in Uus Section 4.0 a6all apply only in the evwt tLe Se1wo1 D'~shiet des'vea ultimately to sell a
' Sehool Peoperiy to a Davelopa oc desires W ce11 e School PropatY to a Govanme~l S~s°r
withoutauchCiov~nenmlSuccesaorbaingsubjaxtotheDevelopmmtStmdard.x latlueveedthat
the Sc}aol DLvtrict dot~ thet it may be neoessarY or advisable te adl a School Pmpetty W a
Daelopa or to ull s Sclmol Propaty to a Governmental3ucxawr without such Qov~i
Swccessor beiog eubjax w the Development St~dards~ it ahall fitst allow the City to have a
teaeonableopportmitYW detem~inewhetheitdesireatoptrccLasetheSd~oolPmpeRyiasxordauce
with the following pmcedurea:
4.1 CitJaOotiontoLease.'IheSe~wolDistrictsbell5tstoffatolees~lheSe~oo1
pcopeRytothaCiryforatemofoneyan'CLutialTorm7• Notiaoftheoffertoleaseshallstetetho
rent aod othrr amounta to bepetdbythe Ciry to the School Distridfortbe ]nitial Toem, which ahall
be equd to the amountte9ui~ed to PsY all ooets ofoperation and maintaisne~ ofthe S~2wo] Ptopaty
('oP~~ ~7 Plua {i) the amouat of all teatals deriived by iLe City, lesa oprrational costs,
should it dctamineto subleave anyportionsofthe School PmpertyforotLathan(Sty-pamitted fi~e
~e by local commumtY u~Profit BronP4 md (ii) tor any portiom of tho School Prope~ty tLat ere
not subinsed btrt ae occupird or usod by t6e ~ty for City offices ot fiuu:tions, s fair mnta! to be
agreed upcmbytha paetiee priorto theuaeofettch Poriione of tLe School PmperCyby the Ciry. The
~
Citys6allLsve sixtydaye from the raxipt ofthe Sc}mol DistricYsnoticeto inmm aotifythe School
District in writing whetha it dects to proccod with the leasiag of du School Pmpecty on the tums
contaiaed in the offa • If the City feils to give writtm aotiee of its sooeptence witL'm aixty days
folloqris-g its receipt of tLe offa w laiso, theatbe Cit~a option onthet School Pmpesty sbsll expire,
aod the Sdwol Dishict may thereaRer freely lease and/or aell md hansfc its interest in the School
Property W a Developa ~ w a Govemmmtal Sticeessor. If tbe City providw notice of its
a~x,e~aa of t6e offer to lease withinthe sixh'~YP~~+ thm the School Propary eLatl be leased
to the City, aod tlu pazties may proceed es pmvided 'm Pan~aph 4.2 below. The City agees that
uoless it obtains the Board's prior writtm camsmt, it wIll aot subtease aod, if it purchaves a Schoot
PrapeRypursuant to Pmagnph4.Zbdow, will notlweoraell mySchoal Properiyw enypublic or
privete school thet provides oducstioml prog~ama for aay chik4zn p~e-school throngh grade 12.
4.2 Cit~s~gon to P~vc6ase.
4.2.1 D~aingthelnitialTetmoftheCitysleasingofaSchoolProperty,the
City may detumine that it desires to pwr•hase such propaty. In @~at evw; the Ciry shall gve
writtea aatice prior w the expaation of the Initial Tum ofits intcnt to piuchase and the (ease shall
thcrebybe extended famadditioaal ou~~artemi ('CamtinuationTe~m') fromtbeexpi~aiionofthe
Initid Texm. Reut aad other mmonats dne to the School Districx from the C~ty during the
Contiauation Tam shaII be the seme as the Initial Tean increa4ed by thePvxntege chenge ie the
Unitcd Ststes Buresu of Isbor Statistiex Co~ Pda Index for Denvet Boulde, ell items, all
urban consumees. or ite successor index ('Infletion').
4.2.2 WithinthiRydaysoft6eSc1wolDistrict'sssceiptofthaCity~snotice
of intent to purchase, the pa~ties shell ~ttaopt to ag~ee npon the Pm~ass Fnx for tha S~ool
Properiy. lf tluy have bem unable to agcee within wch thiRy daY period, the prioe shall be
a~tablisbed in the followIng maoaa:
4.2.2.1 EschpertysLallselectsqualifiedMAlReelEstateApncaisa
withinsixrydaysoftheScLo6lDistrid'sroceiptoftLeCity:u~knttopuichasa Thetwoappnisas
sdected shatl amtaaIIyselxtathirdqudified MA1 Real EstateA~aisa. 'Ihetiaoe apptsieasshall
inaepmdmtlY aPPraise the mbjed School Pmperty besed npon iffi l~dghest aad best nae epplYmS
applicable p~ovisions wd principlo of Colaado law. Tha piachsse paix for tha subjeot School
Properiy s6a1! be We value ddaminad by the middle appreisnl. Each party shall pay for its own
appisisal aod onahalf of tLe third appcaisal. TLe appnicel p+ocesa shall tie completod aod a price
detuminedhaamdawithin 120 days aðe axpi:ationofthe30-daypaiodadfonhiaP~agapL
4.2.2, which may be onx actmdal bY either paty faz an additional tLictY dsys if aecesa°rY ~°
complete the ap~uaissls. TLe City+s option to puret~eae (wbjax to appropriation) shall e~cpire at the
ead of the 120-day time period, a~ fhe 150day time paiod, whichevec is applicable, and abamt s
written exaoiseofffieoptionpriorto such date, theSchool Dishidthereatiamayfreelyhaasfecits
intceatinthe Se1wo1 Propatyto aDeveloperor, subjedto thepmvisioavofPaiagca~l-4.2.3be1ow.
to e Oovanmwtel Sux~or.
~
4.2.2.2 A closiog shall b~ held prior m du expiretion of the
ContinuatioaTermesaetforthinPaag~aph4.2.1 abovo,aubjaxtotheappmpiiationoffiu-dsbythe
CityPriorto thedosing. Intheev~thed~ingdoesnotoxurwithiaeixtydepsofthecompletion
of the appaaisel pmce~ss in Pua~ 4.2.2.1, the 3chool Dishid may elec3 to have the middle
ePPr~,selupdattdoothedateofdosing 7bewstofanysuchupdatingshallbeshaznde9uallYbpthe
pacties. DurinB ~Y P~od prior to clocmg and afta du expintioa of the Continastion Tam, the
City abell oontinue to pay rmt Eor the School PropeRy at the tate atd amo~ ducin8 the
Continnatioa Tamn, edjusted by Inflation. If the City faila to cloae for eny teeaon othe than the
Sc3iool Diatricrs inab~ityto ddivamaahantable title subjed W maimbranas existin6 at the date
ofthis MOU, thm the City'e lase aod option ahell terminate md the School District thaeafter maY
froely hansfe its intaest in the School Property to a Dovelopa ~, sabjoct ta the provisions of
paragsph 4~.3 below, W a(3ovaamental Snccessor.
. 4.2.23 In the ovent the City exerases its option but fails w ctose, as
provided in Paragraph 4.2.2.2, then, widda 30 days aRer thetamination of the GYt~s lease, the City
shall reimbu:se the School Dishict for auy azaouats paid by Uu School District for fl~o appraisals.
4.2.3 Wid-reepedWMapldoaElanentazYS~O1,UnivasityHillSchool,
Whitfia School, and any otlxr Selwol PrapaRy having a govanmeotal laodmark or historic
dnvignationthethasbaa votimtac~yioitiatedbytheBoazd ead approvedbythe $oard and fhe GSty.
inthe eveat the City does aot acacise its option. es Pmvided'mParagraph 4.22.1, or feils to ciose.
as provided in Pacag~aph 4.2.2.2, the laodmadc staudards that were appticalde as of the date of
deaiputiou ahell navatheless epply as followe. In the event the SeLoo1 Distnctdetamiaa w aell a
Schooi Property to a Govaameatal Sucassor affc having given the City the option to lease and
p~e es providod above in Sodias 4.0 and the City has mt exacised its option, the School
n;smd.uau ~ive ~e cirynoa~ea~ saforc~baow ~a s~aons.o;pmviaoa,lww~Q,thatEziubitA
sLall be modified eo as to includo ~ly puagaph (i). 7iistotic ~sesetvation'
5.0 SaleofSchoolDiaaictPro~a'tvtusGoverrnmentslSwo~t.llw~uocodiaGSUndar
this Sxtion 5.0 ahall apply in fl~e eveat tho ScLool Diatrid desiroa to aell a Sclwol Propaty to a
Governmmtal3uccesgorwithoutgivinStheCitytheoption W la~eaod putchase u providad abova
in Section 4.0. Ia the evmt Uu School Uistrict detelmina tn ae11 +- ScLool ProPm4Y to a
Governmental 9u~ssor without pving fhe City thc option to lease aud pwrl~e av ptovided above
in Section 4.0, tLe School Distrid sh~ll include the tams of tLis MOU in any contract ofpurchase
aad sale with the Gov~meaW Su~eor and s6all give the Ciry a wpy of snch conhact at least
SftemdsYe Pcia*to closinganyealewiflitheGovaammtal Suca~or. Upon receiptofauchnotioe.
the City, Fr1a~ to sud~ cloeing, mayded to have the Development Standatds set forth ia Exhtbit A
•PPjY W theSchool Property. IftheCiryeo elaxa, the City mayreco~d or~rirethe S~oolDishid
to cecord the Developmamt Stendmds pcior to the closing es W tha subjed School Proparcy. If the
(~ty does not da:t to heve the Developmeat Staadards apply to tha wbjxt School Propaty, the
Development Standacds W~all not apply m the subjcet Sdwol Propedy and tLe School District may
firdy oonvey aucit prope~'ly W the Govamnental Sncx~ssor ~vithout trsticfion.
~
6.0 ~~}+s Covaiants. In considecation of tho School D'utrid's promises hasin, the City
shnll not, withart theprior oonsmtofthaBoerd of the School Diatrid appoved at a pablic mocting,
te-zoae,landmad~, da+igoete orothawise initiate, undeitalceorcausethe impo~tiaaofeiryland uae
or dev~lopmeat limitatio~ or iestrictions npcm ~y School Pmpaty ditting the tcm of thia MOU.
7.0 _T~y. Tlu teim of thie MOU ehall be ihree yeats Som tfie last deta of sigiatum on
the sismtwe page. No latathan sia montLs paior to the expiration ofthe thud year of the teim, the
(Sry Coundl of t~ City aod the Boerd shell formally coaeida whetha W extend the term of tlris
MOU for an ~ddidow~l throe yeacs bcyond the thm cu~sait acpi~tion date. Upon a vote by both
partios,thisMOUahellbewactmdod. ThiasameprocxssahellbeSoDowedtbassRamh7theterm
of the MOU is not exteadod and oxpires. ]n the absmx of fotmal considuation by either party by
ao laur than six months ptior to the expiration of the MOU, the MOU shall be deemed tn have not
been extwded
8.0 jv~iscallaneous. ,
8.1 Amendment This MOU may be amendat at any time upon mutual wrium
agrammt of the pazties.
8.2 NoTh'vdPertvAeaeSciariea. ThisMOUsLellnotbedeanedorcon.sUuedto
oonfc upon any pason ot eatity, otha tLaa the parfies heteW, any right or interest, including,
without lamting tye gatasliry of fhe foregoin& ~Y ~ P~Y beneficiary stetus or any rigLt m
enforce acry pmvisioa of this MOU.
8.3 Notica Any aodce req~med by thi~ MOU aLel] be in wziting aad atiall be
given by hend~elivery or arti5ad mail, retum reaiPt re9acaled, aod sddnssod W tlu followiag:
Superinteadcat of Schools
Boalda Vdtey School Disuict RE-2
6500 Arapahoe
P. O. Hox 901 I
Boulder, Colo:sdo 80301
City of Boulder
OtSce ofthe City Managa
P. O. Box 791
Bodder, Colotadn 80306
Ciry of Bodder
Officx oftha CiryAttomey
P.O. Bo:791
Boulder. Colarado 80306
~
Notice pvea by Lwd-ddivery shalt be effective immodietely aed ndice by ms~ ehell be effective
thra (3) daye stt~r it ia deposited in the United Statea mail ooixeady addrassed with sufficieat
posp~ge for delivery,
8.4 Entire A~eement 71us MOU supersedes all ptior diacussioos, neg~iations.
sud agreements of the parties, oral or written, with respect to tha subjoct mattas covaod hcsin.
SS Diapute Reaolutioa With respa~,t to this MOU or any lease or conuact
c~tamplatrd by it, both perties ebaII in ~ood faith use theirbest afforte to nsolve disputes that may
~iae bydiroctooaniltation, faa7itated di~cusaiamsormedietion, ifpoanblqbefom ~mmoncanart
of litigetioa: Pmvlded, howeva, such pmcedures sbsll ~t be a condition procedeot to the 51ing of
liCgation in orda to protect a~aiast the application of any statute of limitations.
. 6.6 Rocordin¢. TLis MOU s6e11 ~t be rocorded in the rxords of tho Boulder
County Clak and Racorder un2ess end nntil the School District provides notice to the City as
provided in Section 5.0.
6.7 Unenforcesbility of Portions of MOU. ff any pordon of this MOLJ is held to
be unenforaablo or nalawful by e court of law, the pariics haeDo intcad tl~et the r~ainder of tLis
MOU shall not be sffected thereby but sbell ~temein in force and effeck Howeva, this MOU
conteins obligationsbyonepaRywith oocrespondingobligationstobepefomialbyU-eother, mdto
the croeta-t thet one pacty shell be found to be anable to pcfocm, tho othea sha11 be re]ieved from
peafoimence.
8.8 $~a C. 06~a thm u expresely sd focth in Uris MOU, nathathe City
nor the School Dictcict concadea supavooing authority of tho otha ova aay matcar.
IN WITNFSS WHEREOF, the puties have sec their Laads on the date and yeac fust above
vvtitte.n.
CTfY OF BOULDER
B ~
Frank BTUno, Ciry
ATTEST:
Ciry Clak
9
APproved as
City
BOULDER VALI.BY SCHOOL DISTRICT R~2
By. ~i/i ~ CJ~ii.~~.i,
Julie P lips, Pcrsidatt
Board ofEducabon
ATPEST:
S~o..~~~c~.~-
5andra M. &cha, Seaetary to tho Board ~
Approved as W fomt:
`, ^ ' .
AtDOCncy for 1 Dishid
l~
Estnbit A
MEMORANAUM OF UNDERSfANDINCi
Bauldc Vsllay Scl~ol Disteict R&2 aod d-o Ciry of Boulder
Much ~, 2005
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO GOVERNMENTAL SUCCESSORS
'Ituae Devdopment Stenduds are appmved, effxtive as of the ~ day of Merch, 2005,
by the Boac~d of Fducatioa ("Boerd'~ of iha Soulda Valley Schoot Distrid R£r2, a body coiporate
and polidcal subdivision of the state of Coloredo ("School DistricP~. Subject W ffie terms,
condidona md limitations set forthheroin and in We Memoran~um ofiJ~standing, datod as ofthe
• day of MarcL, 2005 ("MOV`j, between tix School Dishid end tho City of Boulder, a
Colotado municipal o~tpocation end home rule city ("City'~, these Development Stnadazds shall
apply W School Pmperry Waiis acquired by s Govunmentet Successor (as defined in tb;e MOin and
are for thc sole and exclusive bena5t ofthe City md for ao other party, nor saycesidcntnor citizcn
of the City, nar any petson owmag rral or pe~sonel Pmp«ty within the Cit~+s bo~mda~ies, nor aay
pecsons or mtides wLatsoever. All of the capitalized words or terms ha+ein shalt Lave the samc
meaning as de5ned ia thn MOU.
Forgood considaationaod subjoctto thetumsherein sndin theMOU,fhoBoardcovrneats
thaR these Developmeat 3tandards shall be in fome and effect until released by the City as to any
School PmpatY ac9uired bY aGovaamaital Sucecssar when higgaal and ramded 'm eccotdance
with the MOU:
(1} H;areric Preaarva6on With res~pect W Mapteton Elementary School (ioc~usioa in aListoric
dishict, aubject W le~ta. dated Augost 16, 1982, fivm the Office of the City Auomey
comcaning ihe teatmeat of the Sdwol Dislrid uada etace law~, Universiry H~71 Seheol,
Whittiac ScLoo1. end myother Schaoi ProperryhaviogagovemnnentsllaodmarlcorListoric
desi~ati~ thet hav bew volimtar7y initistod by the Boerd and appcovod by Uu Boerd ~d
the City, t6e Governmantal Succe~wr shall be bonnd by the ]andeoadc standezds tLat were
applicable as oftha date ofdesignation
(2) Standade end Codas. Tha Govemme~tal3nocessor sball davdop tLe School Property to
mtionsl buildiag, fin. dxkical, mxhmicat and plvmbing codd advPtcII bY the
pevemmeotsl Sucoesaor. 'Che C3ovesammtal Suxessor shall cousult with the City
coacaain8 its standards and codea. Ralizing thet developmmt and wnstrw~on will be
undafskm upon (iovanmmtet Suoassor te~. it is unde~atood lhat the Gov~nmwfel
Succe~sa's plaaning and developmrnt prooass. ntha dmn ihe Citys, shall be the proxss
. usod 1-Y the C3ovaffiental Succeseor for planning, developing, and conswction oa the
School Propaty. Nerw facillties cwnattuctad on the 5chool Propeity. if it ia within a flood
connol mne, sLsll mat the nquiraneats of both the Urban DninaBe and Flood Control
Distrid and the Fedcal Emergency Management AgmoY.
~~
(3) 1~. The Governmental Suxesaor hes tLe right to develop the ScLool Property for ita
pw~poses as authorizad by law. The City Managa will be notifie8 by the Govaimnmtal
Succesaor of p~oposed projects.
(4) ite T6e Govemmmtal3ucce~or shall create its own master plm or site plan for the
School Property.
(5) Fieieht Limit ~e height limit sd in Boulda ~ity Chatter Sati~ 84 ahatl apply to the
School Pmpa~ry acquirod by the GovanmmW Suacessor.
(6} Health and SafetvStandafd.t All in~eC4ons ofbw7ding4 caffihucted onthe 5chool Property
shall be oonductad by a qualified inspector (who may be s Govemmental Successor
employx) authoiized by the Govuamwtel Suxeswr W~nduct such iuspxtions. T'he
Governmental Successor may request inspection by the City.
(~ Plan Submittal. Tho plans for bu-'lding to be conshuctal on the School Propaty, together
with my sitq azcbitect~ua~. mBineaiag, utility ~d landscspe plsns of the Gove:nmentai
Successor with respect to a School Property shall be fiunished w the Ctity for review and
wmmmf. Post-oonstrudion doc~mmeats shall be fiunished to the City> upon the ~ty~s
request, for healtli and safety response informetion
(8) iab'li . By these Developmmt Slendards, tlu City assumes no duty w oversee the
development of the land, and neithc party asswnes anY IiabilitY for aaY aexions ofthc other
P~Y•
(9) Scox• No ieferenca sfisil be dcawn wncxrniug iss~s not specifically des!! with or
diawased in this doc~enk Otha tbea es czpreasly set fotth 3n these Davelopmeat
Sfandards,neithertheChyaatheCiovanmmtal Succeeaozooncedes supaveainSeutl~oritY
of the od-a ovei saymatter.
(10) Tg~. T6eteemoftlrcseDavdc~neot3pndatdsshalloanmauxuponfhednteoftncordinB
in the rabrds of tLe Bodda County Clark aod Rcca~de and ahall expire. unloss eoona
terminated es hordn provided, aa tho date that is 25 ymts aftc the dete of rabcdisig.
(11) Amendmet-t TheGoverammmlSucceasoraodtheCitymaybyamendmenttatmioatetheso
Development Standatds with mspxc to the School Pmperty.
(12) IntanrdaRon. All te~s ofthia da.~rat shaU be eeverable. 'I7~e wmds "will" and "shell"
ahall both be'interpzet~d ae mandeWry. mt ditectiva
~~
IN WII'iQESS WFIEREOF, the Boatd has approved these Devekpment Studmds to be
executed and its aesl attached ~s of the date and year first above writtea
Aaest:
sy: ,~a-~n~w..~nn ~.~~.~.
5mdra M. Eicha. Seaetary
so~taa van~y s~woi n;~a;a xE-2
Br• ~
Julie~ Ps, President
/3
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK NOMINATION
NPS Form 10.900 USDI/NPS NR}iP Regisuation Fmm (Rev. 8$6) OMB No 1024-0016
Page 1
Unned Stata Depamnrnt ofthe Intaior, Nanonal Park Sernce Nanooal Re~nsler of H~AOnc PWces Re~stroaon Form
1. NAME OF PROPERTY
$istoric Name: The Colorado Chautauqua
Other Name/Site Number: Texas-Colorado Chautauqua
Chautauqua Pazk
Texado Pazk
2. LOCATION
Street & Number:~900 Baseline Road
City/Town: Boulder
Not for publication: N/A
Vicinity: N/A
State: CO County: Boulder Code: 013 Zip Code: 80302
3. CLASSIFICATION
Ownership of Property
Private:
Public-Local: X
Public-State:
Public-Federal:
Category of Property
Building(s):
District: X
Site:
Structure:
Object:
Number of Resources within Property
Contributing Noncontributing
87 20 buildings
7 3 sites
7 5 structures
1 7 objects
102 35 Total
Number of Contributing Resources Previously Listed in the National Register: 72
Name of Related Multiple Property Listing:
~~
NPS Fortn 10.900 USDUNP$ NRF~ Repatrenon Fam (Rev. 8-86) ONID No 1023-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 2
Umtad Statu Drynrtmpn ofthe lo[mw, Naboml Park $emtt Nma~ui Reg~sta of Hutonc Places Reg~straaon Form
4. STATE/FEDERAL AGENCY CERTIFICATION
As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify
that this nomination _ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standazds for
registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional
requiremenu set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property _ meeu _ does not meet the
National Register Criteria. .
Signature of Certifying Official
State or Federal Agency and Bureau
In my opinion, the property , meets
Date
does not meet the National Register criteria.
Signature of Commenting or Other Official Date
State or Federal Agency and Bureau
5. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE CERTIFICATION
I hereby certify that this property is:
Entered in the National Register
Determined eligibl
Determined not eligible for the National Register
^Removed from the National Register
^Other (explain):
Signature of Keeper
Date of Action
~~
NPS Fmm 14900 USDI/NPS NRF~ Re~swnon Fmm (Rev. &86) OMB No 1024-OUI B
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 3
Umced State Deparmeot of the Intena, Nanooal Pmk Servim Naoooal Reg~sta of H~storic Places Reg~unnon Form
6. FUNCTION OR USE
Historic: Education
Recreation and Culture
Domestic
Sub: Education-related
Auditorium
Outdoor Recreation
Single Dwelling
Multiple Dwelling
Hotel
Current: Education Sub: Education-related
Recreation and Culture Auditorium
Outdoor Recreation
Domestic Single Dwelling
Multiple Dwelling
Hotel
7. DESCRIPTION
Architectural Classification:
Materials: Wood, stone, stucco, concrete
Foundation: Wood piers, stone, concrete
Walls: Wood, stucco
Roof: Composition
Describe Present and Historic Physical Appearance.
Summaty
The Colorado Chautauqua is located in southwest Boulder, at the foot of Green Mountain. Chautauqua's
grounds, cottages, and public buildings comprise the Chautauqua Pazk Historic District, an azea of 40 acres
bordered on 3 sides by City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Pazks land. The historic district has a
spectacular natural setting at the base of the Flatirons, some of the dramatic massive rock uplifts along the
foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The roughly triangulaz site slopes upward from north to south, and the built
environment of the district follows the topography, with public spaces located on the flatter land at the north of
the pazk and quieter, residential azeas in the hilly south. The district contains five lazge public buildings, more
than 100 residential cottages, and several landscaped open spaces. Chautauqua's streets, platted in 1898, are
narrow; some are alleys. The cottages are almost uniformly quite small and yazds are riny. Interspersed green
or garden spaces lend the site its distinctive camp-like feeling.
In addition to flvs high degree of integrity of location, design, and setting, the district evidences meticulous
attention to workmanship, and materials. Of 137 identified resources, 102 retain sufficient integrity to
contribute to the 1898-1930 period of significance.~ Although many of the buildings have seen exterior
' T'he National Register of•Historic Places nomination for this property identified 72 contributing resources in 1978. (The Chautauqua
Auditorium was placed on the National Register in 1974.) It is believed that some structures and buildings were not counted in that
inventory. W ith the growth of the Colorado Chautauqua Assceiation's historic preservazion progam, a good number of buildings and
structures were returned to the'v historic condition and are now considered contributing resources.
~~
NPS Frnm 10.900 USDVNPS NRHP ReAs~atwn Fam (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHA[JTAUQUA Page 4
Umted States Depmimeot of We lnterior, Nanonal Pmlc Serntt Nmaosl Reg~sta of }Ls~onc Pixa Registrat~on Form
alteration in the last century (usually by the enclosure of porches or by small additions), most of these changes
took place during the period of significance, and aze compatible with the original appearance. The Chautauqua
Park Historic District was created by the City of Boulder in 1978, bestowing legal pmtection to Chautauqua's
buildings. In 1989, the city's Landmazks Preservation Advisory Boazd and the Coloiado Chautauqua
Association collaborated to devise and adopt design guidelines that further protect the historical character of
Chautauqua.
These guidelines summarize the character-defining qualities of the park: stone gutters and swales, red-colored
Lyons stonework, retaining walls in random rubble or ashlar pattern, one-story rectangulaz wood frame cottages
with front porches and horizontal or vertical siding, simple gabled or hipped roofs of moderate pitch, double-
hung windows with plain surrounds. A prescribed paint palette of historic colors "contributes to the feeling of a
large camp, iather than a collection of individual properties."Z The Colorado Chautauqua Association
undertakes all maintenance and rehabilitation according to a formal preservation plan. Historic Boulder, Inc.,
the Colorado Historical Society, and the Nadonal Trust for Historic Preservation have recognized Chautauqua's
preservation progtam with honors and awazds. In 2003 a thorough study of the natural and designed landscape
was undertaken to fully document the history of Chautauqua Pazk and to guide future.preservation efforts. 1'his
study resulted in the 2004 Chautauqua Park Flistoric District Cultural Landscape Assessment and Plan, which
is the first thorough analysis of a chautauqua site.
In addition, the Chautauqua Movement lives on at the Colorado Chautauqua. The Colorado Chautauqua
Association or its predecessor, the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua Association, and the City of Boulder have
managed the site in partnership since 1898. The City owns the land, the Auditorium, Dining Hall, and
Academic Hall and leases them to the Colorado Chautauqua Association, which maintains all structures and
grounds, except for the Chautauqua Green. Every yeat, thousands attend musical performances and silent films,
heaz lectures, attend classes, hike or climb the Flatirons, and enjoy cottage life. Today's chautauquans listen,
learn, and recreate in a built, designed, and natural environment lazgely unchanged since 1930. As a result, the
integrity of the site's historical feeling and associations has been maintained to a remarkable degree.
The Chautauqua movement prescribed that chautauquas be located in rural or semi-rural spots, in order to
provide restfiil, healthy, and inspiring surroundings for the chautauquans.3 In March of 1898, the City of
Boulder purchased the Bachelder Ranch and adjoining Austin-Russell tract, a total of 171 acres, to provide a
suitable location for a chautauqua. The Bachelder ranch property included a ranch house, several outbuildings,
apple orchazds, fields of alfaifa, a small reservoir, a well and windmill. The Austin-Russell tract, which
extended to the foot of Green Mountain, was held in reserve for future growth of the assembly and has remained
undeveloped open space.
The Bachelder property was immediately platted for streets and tent sites. As at many independent
chautauquas, whose organizers wanted to masimize housing revenue, the plan is basically a grid modified to
accommodate the site's topography. The 1898 plat indicated 10 streets running east-west and two running
north-south on a site with a significant change in elevation, rising nearly 200 feet from north to south. Streets
were named after states (Colorado and Texas), officials of the Coloraclo and Southern Railroad (Trumbull and
Keeler), officers of other Chautauquas (Topping), and Boulder municipal leaders (Ricketts).
2 Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board, Chautauqua Design Guidelines (Boulder, CO: City of Boulder Deparhnent of Community
Planning and Development, 1989): 25.
} Mdrew Reiser, The Chautauqua Moment: Protestants, Progressives, and the Culture of Modern Liberatism (New York: Columbia
University Press, 2003), 221, 229.
~~
NPS Fortn 10.900 USDUNPS NRHP Regtstn~wo Fam (Rev. 6~86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 5
Umted Shtes Depenment of ihe Iotmor, Nanonal Pa~k Serv~m Netiwal Register of Hrstonc Places R<g~stranon Fotm
Construction of the Auditorium began on May 12, 1898 and the contractor's bid for the Dining Hall was
accepted on May 19. Both were completed by opening day, July 4. The Association erected large tents to
house classrooms and cultural programming. And 150 canvas tents on wooden piatforms, most measuring only
12 by 14 feet lined the streets to house the first visitors to Chautauqua. A brochure promoting the opening .
season of the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua proclaimed, "The Assembly grounds are chazmingly located, just-at
the base of the mountains, and when beautified by a landscape gazdener and the addition of handsome buildings
will prove a beautiful home for this new institution."~
Placement of structures, sites, and circulation routes deviates little from the 1898 plat designating sites for
public buildings and temporary structures, gazdens and walkways, and tent sites. Permanent structures replaced
tents between 1899 and World Waz One. Streets-some with stone gutters, a few with nazrow slate walks, and
most with lineaz rows of shade trees-follow the original road patterns. The near absence of sidewalks
reinforces a rural, camp feeling, rather than lending an urban or suburban atmosphere. In the 1940s, the
University of Colorado winterized many of the cottages, to relieve the housing crisis caused by masses of
students enrolling on the GI Bill. Chautauqua Pazk became a year-round neighborhood, but was not materially
transformed. Roads were paved in the late 1940s. A reservoir located at the southern tip of the property was
filled with gravel and dirt in 1941 and paved in 1955. Three alleys, constructed in the 1940s to accommodate
pazking and paved according to the 2004 plan, serve as service routes. Colorado Chautauqua Association
signage, both historic and modern, incorporates character-defining design elements, although municipal street
and directional signs do not.
The 2004 Cultural Landscape Assessment and Pian reports, "The arrangement• and scale of the cottages in the
Chautauqua Pazk historic district resembles the arrangement and feeling of the eazly residential tents. The front
facades of the cottages and community buildings face the street. Individual cottages are of a consistent scale,
aze similar in architectural character, and are placed away from the street edge along a fairly uniform setback of
15 feet frpm the road edge...Intenvoven within the dense grid of cottages, which are generally one-story
structures, aze a number of public spaces and buildings. Chautauqua Park's camp-like character is partly
derived from the openness of the cottage landscapes. The lack of fencing and property line plantings expands
the perception of public space within the neighborhood. The streets and setback azeas aze for the most part
uninterrupted by driveways and landscaping. The alleys in Chautauqua Pazk follow a similar pattern and
landscape composition. Although clearly more utilitarian in their use they are composed in the camp-like
manner." 5
The relationship between the Colorado Chautauqua and its surrounding foothills environment is essential to its
historical integrity.b In 1911, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. praised the setting of Chautauqua's designed and
geometrical grounds against the mountain scenery. Olmsted recommended maintaining formal landscapes for
the daily life of the chautauqua in a setting of "wild" lands that provided aesthetic and recreational value.~
Views and view sheds, while encompassing a century of foliation and the growth of the City of Boulder, also
maintain a high degree of historical integrity. This footiulls setting remains a chazacter-defining feature of the
Colorado Chautauqua.
Baseline Road
Baseline Road, the 40`~ pazallel of north latitude, forms the northem edge of the historic district. An octagonal
ticket office/ gatehouse at the northeast corner of the assemlily grounds was erected for the fust season, in 1898.
° The Tezas-Colorado Chautauquan, (Fort Worth, TX: 1898).
S Mundus Bishop Design, Chautauqua Park Historic Districf Cultnra! Landscape Assessment and Plan (Denver, CO: 2004), 77.
6 Chaulauqua Park Historic Distrrct Cultural Landscape Assessment and Plan, 33.
' Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. lmprovement of Boulder, Colorado: Report to the City Improvement Association (Boulder, CO: 1911).
/ S(
NPS Form 10.900 USDVNPS NRk~ Re~snanon Fam (Rev 8-86) OSrffi No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAIJTAUQUA Page 6
Un¢ed Stues Depa~mt ofthe Inimor, NmoNl Patic Semce NsCOnel Reg1ster of Hrstanc Places Reg~strabon Form
Anxious to collect every possible admission fee of fifty cents, Chautauqua's managers also erected a scalloped
picket and post fence extending west and south of the ticket booth the first season. 'This barrier continued
around the platted grounds as a wire fence. The gerimeter fence was removed when regular security patrols and
a 10 PM curfew were instituted in 1910. By 1912 the ticket booth was relocated to the northeast azea of the
giounds, by the Tennis Court, and refitted as an outhouse.
Baseline Road is sepazated from Chautauqua by a change in grade that varies from a low stone wall to a steep
slope. The edge is covered by thick vegetation and contains four features, all historically significant, in good
condition, and in their original location.
Shelter House (1917)
Adjacent to the original buggy enuance, this rustic small stone structure was a prominent feature of a 1917
enhancement of the northem border of the grounds. The present structure replaced a 1911 stone entrance gate
and ticket booth that also sheltered passengers on the streetcar line running between Chautauqua and downtown
Boulder from 1899 to 1926.
The rectangulaz shelter has one story, stone rubble walls, and stone rubble quoins at each corner. On the north
elevation these columns are stepped out to focro short retaining walls to the east and north. The norfh elevation
also incorporates a stone rubble bench. A concrete seat tops the bench, replacing the original wood plank. The
roof is hipped and dual-pitched with azchitectural composition shingles; overhanging eaves have exposed raRers
with shaped ends. The single entrance is open on the west elevation. Original twelve-light fixed windows
were removed in the 1930s, although the wood frames are intact. The shelter's interior has a concrete floor. The
interior walls are stepped out to create benches, with concrete seats replacing original wood planks.
Three concrete steps ascend from Baseline Road to a concrete terrace bordering the shelter to the north and
west. This leads to a concrete walkway following the mute of the original buggy drive and a long-gone 1899
wooden boazdwalk on the east side of the Chautauyua Green. Removal of the windows and replacement of
wood bench seats do not significantly affect the integrity of the structure, which continues to orient visitors to
the rustic, resort character of the historic district. The original function as passenger depot is retained; the
shelter currently serves as a bus stop.
Entrance Gate (1~I17) '
Historic Name: King's Gate
This easternmost entraz~ce to the Chautauqua grounds was its principle vehicle access until 1912. The current
feature was built as part of an improvement scheme after the vehicle entrance was shifted to the west. Two
eight-foot stone towers flank the walkway leading from Baseline Road to the interior of the pazk. Rubble stone
walls form shallow azcs to the east and west of the towers; rock-bordered planting areas lie to the north of the
walls. Low rock walls e~ctend from the stone towers along both sides of the walkway a short distance to the
south. Original decorative stone caps aze missing; otherwise, the structure retains a high degree of historical
integrity.
Lincoln Street Steps (1917)
Historic Name: Queen's Gate
Conforming to the rustic style of the streetcaz shelter and entrance gates, this shallow set of double steps divided
by a stone retaining wall is rarely used as a pedestrian entrance to the Chautauqua Green. T'he original
appeazance of the steps is intact, although vegetation and snow seasonally obscure the steps from Baseline
Road.
NPS Pofm 10.900 USDUNPS NRFiP Repatlmioo Fam (Rev 8-86) OI~ No. 1024-001 B
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 7
Umted Suta Depaiammt of the Intenor, NWO~ui Parlc Service NataW Reg~~ster of Hutmic Places Reg~stratwn Fmm
Main Entrance (1912)
The vehiculaz entrance to Chautauqua was moved to this locarion, where Kinnikinic Road meets Baseline Road,
in 1912 to relieve traffic congestion caused by arriving trolleys, buggies, and automobiles. The principle
historic features are a pair of arcing rubble stone walls. Conforming red-brown stone slab bench, low massed
shrubs, omamental trees, and a wooden two-post entrance sign were installed in the 1990s, and the main
features and chazacter of the historical entrance are largely intact.8
Chautauqua Green (1910)
Historic Name: Tennis Pazk
T'he Chautauqua Green is one of the most important elements of the historic district, contributes to it historical
significance, and is Boulder's oldest pubiic pazk. Its current size is approximately 10 acres, consisting of a large
oval meadow defined by a loop road with angled and parallel parking spaces. The Green served as pasturage
when the pmperty was a ranch. It was used by eazly chautauquans as a horse and carriage pazking lot. In 1901,
the Boulder Improvement Association hired landscape architect W.W. Parce to complete a plan for Chautauqua.
The plan was adopted in 1904 and included the Chautauqua Crreen, or "Tennis Pazk" encircled by a loop drive.
T'he pazk dtive has been modified in two ways. The primary loop road remains aligned to the 1904 plan; in
1987 the road was modified to add green space, and two rounded interior comers were eliminated, which
somewhat negatively impacted the historic elliptical shape of the Green. Also in 1987, the road was narrowed
to provide more pazking spaces, and a section of stone gutter on the east side of the Green was reconstructed.
This gutter has a steep side slope and, while built of sandstone pieces set in concrete, is not compatible with the
historic gutters.
Lazge, mature trees date from the original development of the site, and cleazly reflect design intent to define the
space and direct views into and across the Green. Several of these trees, planted along the walkway from the
Shelter House, remain to offer shade and respite to pedes~ians. Reproduction lamp posts, installed in 1998, line
the walk and are also located elsewhere--on the Di~ing Hall terrace, in the Centennial Garden, by the
Auditorium, and by the Community House. A brass plaque attached to a boulder in the northwest corner of the
Green serves the Rock Miners Memorial. This monument was installed in 1954 to honor generations of azea
miners who held singleyack competitions at Chautauqua's annual Fourth of July celebration. Boulders through
out the district aze mazked with drill holes from these competitions. A small rose gazden was planted neaz the
Miners monument in 1981. In 2002, a Peace Gazden was planted in the southeast comer of the green, opposite
the Dining Hall.
The oval space of the Green is still strongly defined by the site topography, roads, and plantings and retains its
historical integrity.9 The azea suaounding the Green, iu landscape edge, is very similaz in form and character
to its historic condition. Landscape buffers shield the noncontributing but architecturally compatible Ranger
Cottage from the Green.
Arbor (1908)
The walkway from Baseline Road has a fairly steep grade and this rustic arbor was built as a resting stop for
those arriving by trolley. The lower portion of the structure consists of a pair of massive semi-circular rubble
stone walls. Each wall supports five squared piers that taper in width. The stone base is capped with an oval
pergola of peeled logs. The interior features stone benches. The azbor retains its historic appearance and is in
superior condition, with the log beams and rafters forming the pergola roof having been replaced in1990.
e Chautauqua Park Historic District Cultural Landscape Assessment and Plan, 51.
' Chnulauqua Park Hismric District Cultural Landscape A^ssessment and Plan, 56.
~//
NPS Form 10.900 USDUNPS NRI{P Repstration Fam (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 8
Unrted Stata Deputmmt of iM INaia, Nanuna~ PeAc Sema Natiaul Regista of F1~onc Plues Reg~so-at~on Form
Playground(1913)
Originally a comal for buggy horses, and designated as a baseball field by the Colorado Chautauqua Association
in 1903, the playground was developed by the City of Boulder in 1913. A wading pool was added in 1915, but
abandoned during the Depression. The location of the playground and many of its landscape features have not
changed since 1913. Foc safety reasons, contemporary equipment repiaced historic playground equipment, most
recently in 1995. A noncontributing child-size replica of the Chautauqua Auditorium (1998) functions as a
playhouse. In 1964, tennis courts were installed to the east of the playground, and the lower parking lot was
graded.
Chautauqua Dining Hall (1898)
The Denver construction firm of W.M. Windham began work on the Chautauqua Dining Hall May 17, 1898 and
the building was ready for business by July 4. The Dining Hall was built at a wst of $11,000 and was stipulated
by the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua Associadon as one of the essential faciliUes to be provided by the City of
Boulder for the first Chautauqua season. Since atl residents lived in tents the first season, and some continued
to do so until WWI, cooking in domestic units posed a fire hazazd. Even when cottages began to dot the
assembly grounds, most were small one-room sleeping cabins with no pmvision for food preparation. From its
establishment, the Dining Hall has been run as a concession; its first proprietor was Oliver Toussaint 3ackson,
who later established the first resort for Colorado's A&ican Aaterican community at Dee~eld, Weld County.
Overlooking the Chautauqua Green, the Dining Hall is a lazge, side-gabled one-and a half story wood frame
structure with a T plan and wood pier foundation. The roof is wood shingled. The main story walls are clad in
horizontal five-inch siding, with pilasters on each comer. Vertical siding covers the ground half story. 1'he
kitchen wing has a shed roof, with single ply built up roofing with gravel ware course. The side gables are wood
shingled. Centered on the north fapade, a front-gabled poreh features two square columns and two squared
pilasters. The gable is decorated with an oculus window within a bracketed, pedimented cornice. A wooden
flagpole mounts the gable. Two square, hipped roof towers shingled in wood flank the center porch to the west
and east. The upper third of each tower is open on four sides with wooden railings and a trio of round columns
at each comer. A small, one over one double hung window with azchi4ave trim punctuates the north elevation
of each tower at the main floor level. These towers were deemed structurally unsound and removed in 1928.
They were recreated during a 1982-1984 rehabilitation of the Dining Hall, during which the wooden roof and
foundation piers were reinforced.
In its first years of operation, the Dining Hall also served as a resting stop for Chautauqua visitors walking from
the buggy pazking azea and pedestrian entrance to the Auditorium; a porch with a wooden shed roof was added
to the east side of the building. A similaz wooden awning was present on the south side. In 190Q these
temporary constructions were replaced with an L-shaped porch with shed roof along on the west half of the
north elevation and twathirds of the east side. Round, wooden columns support the porch and a wood railing
runs its length. A skirt of wood lattice, applied in the 1982-1984 rehabilitation of the Dining Hali, screens the
north side of the lower half story, which contains storage azeas, rest rooms, and offices. The site of the building
slopes and the central entrance, with its double, glazed doors surmounted with a transom window, is accessed
by a flight of wooden stairs with wooden milings. A hinged gate on iu south end provides a second entrance to
the L-shaped porch. Service entrances to the kitchen are located on the south side of the Dining Hall, as is a
glazed and paneled, wheelchair accessible door to the main dining room, which occupies the western third of
the building. Main story windows are two over two lights, double hung with wooden pediments and dentils.
The ground half story has square, four light windows.
A red-tinted concrete terrace, built in 1987, on the north serves as the Dining Hall's waiting azea and sometime
outdoor cafe. Red stone steps provide access to the terrace from Ctematis Drive. Retaining walls of red-brown
~~
NPS Form 10.900 USDUNPS NRi~ Regtmat~on Fmm (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 102a-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA ' Page 9
Unircd $tates DepeMment ofthe Intmq Nationd Park Sernce Nmaml Re~s1a of HWmc Places Reg~mmon Form
random ashlar masonry with sandstone planters frame the steps and extend the width of the terrace to the east
and west. A service alley leads to an asphalt parking lot on the south side of the building. The concrete path in
the greenway leading from the Shelter House to the Auditorium runs along the east side of the Dining Hall,
foliowing the route of the 1899 boazd walk. From 1898 untii1941, a square wooden bandstand was located just
south of the Dining Hall, bordering the greenway. In 1899, a 22-foot square, wooden art gallery was erected in
this greenway, adjacent to the Bandstand. 1'he Art Hall was relocated south of the Academic Hall in 1903.
The Dining Hall retains its historical status as a focal point of the Green. Significant elements-the square and
shingled towers, pediment, and oculus window-parallel the design of the Auditorium and introduce the visitor
to the districts interior.
Storage Buildings (1908)
Two small, one-story rectangular side gable stone buildings located to the southwest of the Dining Hall
originally served as restrooms; the north was for men and the south for women. When public restrooms were
installed in the lower level of the Dining Hall in 1986, the bwidings were converted to storage sheds for
landscaping equipment and supplies. The buildings are identical. Stone rubble walls con~tructed of various
sized stones aze slighdy battered. Roofs aze shingled with wood and have overhanging eaves and exposed
beams on gable ends. Gable ends have vertical siding with louvered vents. Each building has a center slab door
on the south elevation.
Clematis Drive
Clematis Drive follows the east-west arrangement of roads initiated by the 1898 plat of the Texas-Colorado
Chautauqua. Texas Avenue, as the road was known until 1918, first appears on a Sanborn fire insurance map in
1900. It began west of the Dining Hall and ternilnated at the street platted as Dunaway Avenue and now known
as Kinnikinic. In 1900 the road was joined to a new north-south road, Colorado Avenue. Historic photographs
indicate that Clematis Drive had a narrow detached walkway, of unknown materials, at this time. In 1910 the
road was extended east to the newly built Sumac Drive to form the loop road azound the Chautauqua Green.
Six residences line Clematis Drive, all oriented north to the Green. Angle pazking spaces aze arranged on the
north side of the street and a temporary pedestrian walkway is installed on the north side each summer to
provide safe passage for pedestrians.
Cottage Number 100 (1899)
Historic Names: Office, GiR Cottage
This rectangulaz structure was built after the first season to accommodate the office of the Chautauqua
Secretary. It has a front gable wood-shingled roof with overhanging eaves and a wood ridge cap with curved
ends. The walis are covered in horizontal siding with comer boazds. The north gable is clad with vertical
boards and decorated with a garland molding; the south gable has horizontal siding with louvered vent. An off-
center door on the north elevation is paneled and glazed and features a lazge single light surrounded by small
colored lights. A transom above the door is composed of a narrow band of small lights. The sash and transom
window to right of the door echoes the entry with a narrow band of lights. The east and west elevations have
similar transoms above I/1 double hung windows with wood surrounds and architrave trim; the south elevation
has a 6!6 double hung window. A pent roof protects a paneled and glazed door on the south elevation.
Classical columns atop square bases support an under eave porch on the north elevation. The columns flare into
decorative spandrels below the eaves. A wooden center staircase and railings lead to the porch.
A wooden platform sheltered by a canvas awning was erected between the Office and the Dining Hall in 1899;
it served as an informal dining space untij it was demoiished about 1905. The building itself served as the
Chautauqua Office until 1944, when its interior was remodeled to provide rental housing. In 1987 the building
~'~
NPS Fo'm 10.900 USDUNPS NRIiP Registretwn Fmm (Rev 8-66) OFID No. 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAI3TAUQUA Page 10
Unrted Sta~a Deparmront afNe Inivior, Natlonal Park $emce NWrnW Re@sta of HWOric Places R<gstratron Form
was rehabilitated, and the decorative molding on the front gable was recreated. The cottage then functioned as a
rental unit in the off-season and was used as a gift shop during the summer. In 2002, Cottage 100 became the
office of the Colorado Music Festival.
Cottage Number 102 (1899)
Historic Names: Bide-A-Wee, Bradford Cottage
A Texan family who wanted sturdier accommodations than those offered by the canvas tents built this cottage
the fall after Chautauqua's first season. It is a one-story hipped roof square dwelling with overhanging eaves.
A wood pier foundation supports the structure. A wrap-around, screened-in porch with shed and gabled roofs
was added within a yeaz or two of construction to the fagade and east elevation. The porch has post supports
low panel walls, lattice skirting, and wooden stairs and rail. Walls are covered in horiwntal siding with comer
boazds. The off center door is located on the fa~ade. Windows are four-over-four double-hung. A brick
ch4mney is present on the east wall. A shed-roofed addiUon was built on the south side of the cottage in 1917.
With its spacious porches and rambling affect, this cottage typifies early dwellings at Chautauqua.
Cottage Number 106 (1899)
This one-story front gable rectangulaz dwelling features overhanging, open comice eaves. The foundation is
composed of wood piers. Walls and gables ends are clad with horizontal siding; the walls are trimmed with
comer boazds. An L-shaped, shed roofed addition was built on the east and south elevations in 1920. This
porch has iow walls clad with horizontal siding. The front porch has a shed roof supported by square posts as
well as a balustrade and wooden stairs. The door is centered on the north elevation. Windows on the cottage aze
twelve-over-one light double hung with wood sutmunds; the addition has single-light awning windows.
Cottage Number 108 (1899)
A duplex until converted to a single dwelling in 1920, Cottage 108 is a one-and-a-half story side gable
rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging eaves. T'he roof is composition shingled. Walls are shingled on lower
part and have horizontal siding on upper part. The raised foundation is stone. Gables ends are shingled a-~d
three one-over-one light double hung windows were installed during a 1983 renovation. Other windows are
double hung one-over-one with decorative shutters A shed roofed screened-in porch on east sheiters the off
center door. 1'he porch is accessed by concrete stairs with stone walls and stone caps on east. When the cottage
was converted to a single dwelling, entrances on the north elevation were removed, but this conversion did not
diminish the structure's integrity, and it retains the defining feahues of a Chautauqua cottage.
Cottage Number 110 (1919)
Historic Name: Bonnie View Cottage
Cottage 110 was built on the site of the demolished Denison Teachers Cottage (1901). It is a two-story side
gabled rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. Stuccced walls and gable ends with half-
timbering lend the cottage elements of the Craftsman style. It has a raised concrete foundation that is stuccoed.
The entrance is on the east elevation, accessed by stone steps and covered with a shed roof. A one-story, shed
roof enclosed porch, added in 1956, spans the north elevation. The porch has stuccoed walis and a band of
double hung windows. Two gabled dormers flank a central shed roofed dormer on the north elevation. The
dormers have stuccoed walls with half-tunbering. All windows aze six-over-six double hung with wood
surrounds.
Cottage Number 114 (1913)
Historic Name: Armstrong Cottage
This one-story side gabled roof rectangulaz dwelling features widely overhanging open cornice eaves. The
bungalow-style cottage lias walls clad with shingles of wide and narrow exposures. Gable ends are shingled
~~
NPS Fomi 10.900 USDUNPS NRF~ Repatrat~on Form (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 11
United Sptes Depnnmrnt ofthe Immm, NaCOOai Palc Service N~tlooel ReBUa oCHislaic Plua Reg~sbanon Form
and contain paired four-light windows. A projecting front gabled porch has an exposed truss, boazd balustrade,
wooden deck, stairs, and railing. The center door has vertical geometric glazing. Six-light windows with wood
surrounds on three sides of the struchue. The cottage has a stone foundation with a wood water table of wide
and narrow horizontal siding. In 1917, the east side of the porch was enclosed. In 1987, a sun porch with a
band of single-light windows was added under the eaves on the west elevation. The cottage represents the
Craftsman influences found in many cottages built at Chautauqua from approximately 1912 through the 1920s.
Gaillardia Lane
Gaillardia Lane was graded through the site of the Bachelder Ranch orchazd about 1915. The orchazd still
contained the ranch bam, windmill, and pump, which were condemned and demolished in the late 1940s. The
lane was originally a graveled east-west through street between Chautauqua and Colorado avenues. In the late
1940s when the pazk's roads were first paved, Gailiazdia became a cul-de-sac, ending just behind the old ranch
house. A narrow gravel path runs east from the end of the street to the Centenniai Gazden.
Chautauqua experienced peak attendance in the years after Worid Waz One, and the Association built a series of
near-identical cottages on both sides of Gaillazdia in 1919. Each of these cottages is in excellent condition and
retains historic integrity. Two noncontributing buildings aze also located on Gaillardia Lane: Cottage 216, a
Craftsman style bungalow moved from its original site neaz the University to the Chautauqua grounds in 1954;
and Number 214-216, a duplex dating from the 1930s that was moved from central Boulder to the site of the
Bachelder bam in 1955. Although the dates of relocation render the cottages noncontributing resources, both
structures exhibit the character-defining features of Chautauqua architecture
Cottage Number 211(1919)
This one-story, rectangulaz, side gable roof dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves has a concrete block
foundation. Its walls and gable ends are clad with horizontal siding and trimmed with comer boazds. Louvered
vents are located in the gable ends. Multi-light, single light, double-hung, and slide-by windows with wood
surrounds are paired. The shed roof porch on south fa~ade is screened and supported by simple wood posts.
The center door is paneled and glazed. A narrow flagstone patio between the house and the street was installed
in 1989.
Cottage Number 213 (1919)
This is a one-story side gable roof rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves and a concrete
block foundation. Its walls and gable ends aze clad in horizontal siding and trimmed with comer boards.
Louvered vents aze located in the gable ends. The center door is paneled and glazed. Windows are one-over-one
light double hung on the south fa~ade and multi-light on remaining elevations. All windows have wood
surrounds. The shed roof porch on south fa~ade is screened. A nazrow stone patio between the house and the
street was installed in 1989.
Cottage Number 215 (1919)
This is a one-story side gable roof rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves and a concrete
block foundation. Its walls and gable ends aze clad with horizontal siding and trimmed with comer boards.
Louvered vents are located in the gable ends. The south fa,ade has one over one double-hung windows, while
the west elevation features widows with multiple lights. The east elevation has a six over one double hung
window. A shed roof porch on south fagade is screened and has walls covered with vertical siding. The center
door is paneled and glazed. A narrow concrete patio between the house and the street was installed in the 1970s.
~
rmsfo~,,,~avoo USDUNPSlIRHPRepsw~onFam(Rr.~ 8-86) on+sr+o ioz<mia
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 12
United Swea Depe~ent ofthe Immm, Nanonal Pmlc Samce Natiwal
Regisia of Histonc Piaces Reg~stratron Form
Cottage Number 217 (1919)
This is a one-story side gable roof rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves and a concrete
block foundation. Its wails and gable ends are clad with horizontal siding and trimmed with comer boazds.
Louvered vents aze located in the gable ends. The south fapade has one over one double-hung windows, while
the west elevation features widows with multiple lights. The east elevation has a six over one double hung
window. A shed roof porch on south fa~ade is screened and has walls covered with vertical siding. The center
door is paneled and glazed. A concrete patio was installed between the house and the street in the 1970s.
Cottage Number 219 (1922)
Slightly different from its neighbors, Cottage 219 is one-story rectangular hipped roof dwelling with
overhanging, open comice eaves with shaped rafter ends. In 1944, the structure was raised on a new concrete
foundation. Walls aze covered with horizontal siding. A full-width hipped mof enclosed porch spans the south
fapade of Cottage 214. The center door is paneled and glazed. Aluminum, single pane sliding windows detract
only minimally from the cottage's histdric appeazance. A small shed roofed entry porch on east elevation has
wooden stairs. A~stone patio was installed between the house and the street in 1989.
Cortage Number 221 (1916)
Historic Name: Hoasier Bungalow
A group of teachers from Hammond, IN had this cottage built in the northwest corner of ihe Bachelder orchazd.
It is a one-story side gabled L-plan dwelling with a wood pier foundation. Typical of Chautauqua cottages of its
era, the strucriue features overhanging, open comice eaves. Walls are dad with shingles. Horizontal siding
covers the gable ends. An under eave porch was added to in 1420 and enclosed in 1985. In 1454, a flat roofed
addition was made at the northwest corner of building. The door on the south faqade is off-center. All windows
aze double hung with one-over-one lights and wood surrounds. A painted brick chimney is located neaz west
end. In 1992, a flagstone patio was installed in front of the house. In 1996, stonework and plantings were
landscaped on to the east and north.
Conage Number 212-214 (c. 1930, noncontributing)
This cottage was moved to the Chautauqua Pazk from Euclid Street in 1955 to provide additional rental housing.
It is a rectangular, one-and-a-half story side gabled duplex dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves.
Walls are shingled and the foundation is concrete block. T'he gable ends aze stuccoed with half-timbering, with
small three-light windows, and louvered vents. A shed roofed, porch with horizontal siding below screens runs
the full width of the north fa~ade. Wooden stairs and railings access inset entrances on east and west ends. A
shed-roofed dormer on the south elevation has simple double hung windows. Other windows are also double
hung, with multiple Lights. Two small shed roof projections extend to the rear on the east and west.
Cottage Number 216 (c. 1932, noncontributing)
This reetangular, one-story front gabled roof dwelling with widely overhanging, open cornice eaves and false
beams was moved to Chautauqua Park in 1954 from Broadway to serve as additional rental housing. Gable ends
are stuccoed and half-timbered. Walls are stuccoed above sill course and shingled below. The concrete block
foundation is covered with horizontal siding. A gabled porch, screened-in, projects on three-quarters of the
north fapade. The entry is on the east side of tbis porch. The off-center door from the porch to the house has a
tapered wood surround. A bay window projects on the east elevation. Windows aze one-over-one and multiple
light double hung and awning; some have tapered surrounds.
Cottage Number 218 (1919)
This is one-story, rectangulaz side gable roof dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The wood pier
foundation is skirted with wide horizontal boards forming a water table. Walls and gable ends are clad with
~
NPS Fo~m 10.9W USDllNPS NRHI' AepsOtanon Fmm (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-001 B
THE COLORADO CHAiTI'AUQUA Page 13
Umted SWes Depa~rnt otthe INrna, Nananal Pa~k Sema Nmonel Reg~ater of Histaie Places Regimanon Fam
horizontal siding and trimmed with comer boards. Louvered vents are located in the gable ends. Multi-light
windows, some double-hung and some slide-by, with wood surrounds aze paired. The shed roof porch on north
fapade is screened and has wooden vertical siding, stairs and railing. The center door is paneled and glazed. A
flagstone walk, with two shallow flights of steps, leads to the porch.
Cottage Number 220 (1919)
This is a one-story side gable roof rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves and a concrete
block foundation covered with wide horizontal siding. Its walls and gable ends are clad with horizontal siding
and trimmed with comer boards. Louvered vents are located in the gable ends. The west fa~ade has one over
one double hung windows, while the north and east sides have six over one double hung windows. A shed roof
porch on north faqade is screened and has walls covered with vertical siding. The center door is paneled and
glazed. A concrete walkway and wooden stairs lead to the porch.
Cottage Number 222 (1924)
This is a rectangular, one-story, side gabled roof dwelling. It has overhanging, open comice eaves. The wood
pier foundation is covered with wide horizontal siding starting at water table. Walls and gable ends are clad in
horizontal siding with comer boards. The gable ends have louvered vents. The under eave enclosed porch is
screened and is accessed by a wooden staircase that has a railing. The tapered wood surround on the center
entrance is echoed on some of the wood swrounds on the one-over-one light double hung windows.
Kinnikinic Road
This street is identified on the 1898 plat of the Chautauqua grounds as Dunaway Avenue, and platted north
south to terminate at Texas Avenue. By the time its first cottages were built, before the opening of the second
season, it was called Chautauqua Avenue and linked with the street known now as Goldenrod Drive. By 1908,
possibly when pazk streets were first graveled in 1907, the street was extended to connect with the westem
section of the drive encircling the horse and buggy pasture. Historic photographs indicate that Kinnikinic Road
had a narrow, detached walk of unknown material during this time. When the vehicle entrance to the pazk was
shifted west in 1912, Chautauqua Avenue extended farther to the northwest and intersected with Baseline Road.
Rustic stone gutters line Kinnikinic, likely built when the street was graveled in 1907. 10
By Chautauqua's second season, managers faced a housing crisis. Tent accommodations had proved to be
drafty and flimsy and visitors demanded better accommodations. Along Chautauqua Avenue, and on other
streets, small wood cabins were rapidly constructed. Measuring 12x14 feet, many of these cabins were almost
certainly built right on the wooden tent platforms. Some cabins had only three walls, with a tent annex to
increase living space. These cabins would be replaced by successive waves of cottage building throughout the
grounds in 1901, 1910, and 1919; some of the cottages may have incorporated the older cabins
Other ways were sought to remedy the housing shortage. Association and city officials made special
concessions to investors who would build permanent cottages for rental to the summer visitors. Cottage 14,
built by the Rev. Bruce Kinney, and Cottage 20, built by Miss Emily Kem, were probably built as such
investments. One supporter azgued, "Better to have 5 cottages costing $100 than one costing $500."~ ~ Other
cottages, such as Mariposa, were moved to the Assembly grounds from downtown Boulder. And one cottage,
Gwenthean, was built to serve as a model for future Chautauqua cottages.
10Chautauqua Park Historic Disbict Cultvral Landscape Assessment and Plan, 15.
~~Quoted in Mary Galey, The G~and Assembty: The Story ojLife at the Colorado Chautauqun (Boulder, CO: First Flatiron Press,
1981), 38. ~
NPS Fofm 10.900 USDUNPS NRFiP Reg~smt~on Fpm (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA Page 14
Uniled SWa Depvtment ofthe Intvior, NatlwW Pazk Sernm NWmW R<pstcofH~slone Places Reg~suaoon Fmm
In the winter of 1900, the Association announced a contest. Prizes would be awazded to teachers competing by
city, town, or school district to build the best cottage. Eligible cottages had to cost at least $200 to build and
needed to be finished by 3une 30, 1901. A prize of $150 plus 18-year land lease, free tuition to summer school,
and admission to all concerts, lectures, and entertainments lured teachers from Ft. Worth, Houston, Paris,
Hillsboro, T'X and from Nebraska to construct neaz-identical cottages on Kinnikinic. One of these, the Houston
Cottage, is still ovmed and used by the Houston Teachers Cottage Association.
Three later cottages-35, 16, 18, and 20-were built after the period of significance. Designed by Boulder
azchitect John Blanchard in the Craftsman style, the four cottages are compatible with the historic district and
display the character-defining features of the district.
Cottage Number 13A (1900)
Historic Name: Idlewilde
Cottage 13 A is a one-story, pyramidal, hipped roof with two pitches and overhanging open cornice eaves.
Walls are of horizontal siding. The original wood pier foundation was replaced with concrete block in 1941.
Until 1967, an under eave porch surrounded the cottage on all four elevations. The west, north, and south
portions of this porch were enclosed; the porch is accessed by wooden stairs and railing on the east faqade.
During the 1967 rehabilitation, a small shed mof addition was made on the north end of the cottage. The center
door is paneled. Windows are double hung with wooden brick surrounds; some aze paired.
Cottage Number ]3B (1971, noncontributing)
Built to replace a 1900 cottage measuring just 20' x 20' this rectangulaz, one-and-a-half story front gable
dwelling has overhanging enclosed eaves. Walls are covered with wide horizontal siding. Gable ends have
horizontal siding, paired windows, and louvered vents. A shed-roofed porch on the east fa~ade features wide
horizontal siding under the screens and vertical siding along porch foundation; the porch entry is at its south end
and is accessed by wood stairs and railing. The off-center door to the house is paneled and glazed with a lattice
light. A small wood deck with wood railing is centered on the west elevation second floor. A panel under
multi-light door gives enuance to the upper story. All windows are one-over-one light and double hung, with
simple wood surrounds.
Cottage Number 14 (1899)
This rectangulaz, one-story hipped roof dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves was built in 1899 as an
investment pmperty. 1'he foundation is wood pier covered in horizontal siding. In 1917, Rabbi Joseph Blatt
bought the cottage and it served as his summer home until 1956. The first yeaz of Blatt's ownership, shed
roofed additions were built to the west, north, and south. The porch on the east fa~ade was enclosed that year as
well. Walls are clad with wide horizontal siding and vertical siding. The integrity of the building is somewhat
diminished by modem exterior features. A center paneled and glazed door is accessed by a flight of concrete
steps with uon railing leading to a stoop constructed of red sandstone laid in a random astilaz pattem. In the
1980s plate glass and other nonhistoric windows were installed in each elevation. Still, the cottage retains most
character-defining features of Chautauqua cottages. The azea to the west of the cottage is terraced with
sandstone slabs and planted with indigenous succulents.
Cottage Number 16 (1941, noncontributing)
Built to replace small, eazly cabins 15 and 16, this cottage was designed by prominent area azchitect John
Blanchard. This is a rectangulaz, side gabled one-and-a-half story Craftsman dwelling with overhanging eaves.
Walls and gable ends aze shingled. The raised foundation is concrete. Three shingled, gabled dormers with
exposed rafters and six-light windows are located on the east faqade. Windows are paired one-over-one light
double hung windows with wood surrounds. A narrow wood sill course runs azound the house. The off-center
~~
NPS Pmm 70.900 USDUNPS NRI~ Repslrazwn Fmm (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1024-0016
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA Page 15
Umted Smes Depa~mt ofthe Werim, Nanonal Puk Semu Natlaml Regista ofH Waic Places Reg~stranon Form
door is louvered screen, flanked with sidelights. A shed hood with uiangulaz braces pmtects it. Concrete stairs
with pipe railing lead to a concrete stoop. In the 1960s, a flat roofed addition with a double gabled second story
was constructed on the west elevation. This second story has aluminum horizontal sliding windows.
Cottage Number 18 (1941, noncontributing)
John Blanchard also designed cottage 18 in the Craftsman style. It is a rectangulaz, side gabled two-story
dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The raised foundation is painted concrete. Walls and gable
ends aze shingled. The gable ends have louvered vents. An original one-story flat roofed projection on north
end of west elevation has gabled second story. The south end of west elevation has projecting shed roof
enclosed addition, built in the 1960s, to the same proportions as the north wing. First story windows are paired
one-over-one light double hung windows with wood surrounds, shared sill course, and shed roofed hoods
supported by triangulaz braces. Ail windows have white aluminum storm windows. The entrance is a center
slab door, accessed by brick stairs with brick walls surmounted with pipe railing.
Cottage Number 19 (1900)
This is a rectangulaz, one-story front gabled roof dwelling with overhanging eaves. The wood pier foundation
is covered with horizontal siding. Walls and gable ends aze clad with horizontal siding. The walls have tapered
comer boazds and wooden belt course above vertical wooden siding. The shed-roofed porch on the east faqade
is screened and has tapered wood post supports, a solid wood balustrade, and narrow and wide horizontal siding
below the porch deck. The porch entrance is on its south end, and accessed by wooden stairs and railing. The
off-center door is paneled and glazed. To its north is a multiple-over-single light window with tapered wood
surround; other windows aze four- light, in swing casement windows. A shed mofed, screened porch on the
west elevation has vertical siding below screens.
Cottage Number 20 (1941, noncontributing)
In 1941, the owners followed those of cottages 16 and 18, in hiring azchitect John Blanchazd. Cottage 20 is a
rectangulaz, side gabled two-story dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The foundation is stone and
the walls aze shingled. A small, one story gabled wing projects on the west elevation. Windows are one-over-
one light, double hung, and have with wood surrounds. The south elevation has a full-length shed roofed
screen porch with an off center, paneled and glazed door. The north elevation features a full-height stone
chimney with sloped shoulders. There is a stone retaining wall below the south and west elevations.
Cottage Number 21 (1901)
This is a rectangulaz, one-story front gabled dwelling with widely overhanging, open comice eaves. The
foundation of the east part of the house is wood piers, covered by vertical siding. An addition on the west
elevation sits on a concrete slab. Walls and gable ends ate clad in horizontal siding. Gable ends have louvered
vents. The center door has a wood surround. In 1928, the original half hip roof on the east portion of the house
was replaced with a pent roof sheltering a porch; a small addition and screen porch were also built on the south
elevation. In 1970, the 1928 addition was removed, additions were constructed on the south and west
elevations, and under eave screened porches were built on the east and west elevations. Wood stairs and railing
lead to the primary entrance, on the east porch. A six-over-six liglit window and a four-over-four light window,
both with simple wood casing are on the east fa~ade. Remaining windows aze single light and double hung.
Cottage Number 22 (1915)
Cottage 22 is a rectangular, one-story front gabled roof dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The
east foundation is of wood piers covered with vertical siding, while the west is a concrete slab. The upper
portion of the walls is covered in horizontal siding, with vertical siding below the sill line. Gable ends are
covered in horizontal siding. The full width, under eave porch on the east faqade is screened, with vertical
~~
NPS Fofm 10.900 USDUNP$ NR}IP RepaVahoo Fmca (Rev. &86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAi1TAUQUA Page 16
United Swtes Depntmmt ofthe Lnmrn, Nauonal Pa~k Semu Narioml Regista of Historic Places Rcg~stranon Fmm
siding below screens. The north elevation has a shed-roofed porch, screened with vertical siding below the
screens; this may be an early addition. Windows are one-over-one light and double hung. T'he windows on the
faqade have tapering wood surrounds.
Cottage Number 23 (c. 1890)
Historic Name: Mariposa '
T'his is one-story front gabled roof rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging open comice eaves was built about
1890 and moved to its present site in 1899. Walls are clad in narrow horizontal siding rounded on the bottom
edge and have corner boazds. The foundation is raised concrete. An octagonal turret at the northeast comer is
embellished with a wooden finial and decorative molding above the windows. The east fa~ade also features a
shed roofed porch with square posts supported by arched brackets, and a stick balustrade and railing. Windows
aze one-over=one and double hung. In the 1940s, several additions were made to the building, including a shed-
roof addition on the west end of the north elevation. This addition has an under eave porch with vertical siding
below screens. In 1974, the front and side porches were enclosed. In 1995, the &ont porch was restored, and
the rooflines on tkie additions corrected to pitch of original structure.
Cottage Number 24 (1899)
Historic Name: Badger Cottage
Cottage 24 is a one-story front gabled roof dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. T'he raised
foundation is wood piers. The wa11s aze horizontal siding, and have corner boazds. Tt~e cross gable roofed
porch on the east fapade is enclosed with screens; vertical siding covers porch walls below the windows.
Wooden stairs and rails provide access to the porch's center door. In 1928 a shed-roofed addition was made on
the north elevation and a side gabled addidon was made on the reaz, west elevation.
Cottage Number 25 (1919)
This rectangulaz, one-story side gabled roof dwelling has overhanging, open comice eaves. 'I'he foundation is
of wood piers with a wood water table. Walis and gable ends are clad in horizontal siding, and the walls have
corner boatds. The east fagade features a full width, under eave porch with screens and vertical siding below
the screens. The porch is accessed by wood stairs and rails. 1'he center entrance has a paneled and glazed door.
Windows aze multiple-light and double hung; they have simple wood surrounds. A flagstone patio buiit in the
1990s occupies the space between the house and the stteet
Cottage Number 26 (1919)
Cottage 26 is a rectangulaz, one-story side gabled mof dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The
wood pier foundation is covered with wide wood siding. Walls and gable ends are clad with horizontal siding;
the walls have corner boazds. The full-width under eave porch on the east fa~ade is screened with plywood
panels below screens and accessed by wooden stairs and railing. 1'he center door is paneled and glazed.
Windows aze multiple-light and double hung with wood surrounds.
Cottage Number 27 (1919)
This is a rectangulaz, one-story side gabled roof dwelling with overhanging eaves. The foundation is wood
piers, covered with wide horizontal siding. Walls and gables ends are covered with horizontal siding. Gables
have louvered vents. An under eave, full-width porch on the east fa~ade is screened, with veftical siding below
the screens. The center entrance to the porch is accessed by wooden stairs and railings. The center entrance to
the house is paneled and glazed. Windows are multiple-light and double hung with wood surrounds. The east
elevation features a flagstone patio, built in the 1990s.
~
NPS Fo~m 10.900 USDVNPS NRHP Regutranon Fam (Rev &86) OMB No 1014-(1018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 17
Umted Sutts Depertment of the Intmw, NaGOnal Pa~k Semce Wtooal Repsrc* of HWOnc Placa Regiso-at~on Form
Conage Number 29 (1899)
Historic Name: Gwenthean Cottage
Theodosia Ammons designed this cottage as her home, her laboratory, and her classroom. Ammons was a
professor at the Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College, the state's land grant college in Fort Collins.
The founder of its Department of Domestic Science, Ammons served as the principal of Chautauqua's School
of Domestic Economy. She named her home after the daughters in her family: Gwendolin, Theodosia, and
Anne. It was intended to demonsuate the latest technology in housekeeping. Ammons taught classes in the
cottage and in four tent classrooms erected around the cottage. She also wrote articles for women's magazines
and lectured widely on "Economical Living as Demons~ated in a Model Cottage."
Very few innovations in domestic economy have been added to the cottage since it was built, and many of its
fiunishings aze original. Gwenthean Cottage is one of the most significant buildings at the Colorado
Chautauqua: it is the work of an eazly female architect, represents the development of the academic field of
human ecology, and serves as a museum of Victorian domestic innovation.
Gwenthean Cottage is a pyramidal and hipped mofed frame dwelling with a cross shaped plan. Wide
overhanging eaves with open comices shelter wide porches on the east, north and south elevations. This
wrapazound porch has square columns supporting the roof, and a narrow-spaced to prevent children from
injuring themselves-wood railing balustrade. The porch gate, of the same narrow railing as the balustrade,
slides between grooves in columns flanking the opening. The gate was designed to be childproof. The porch
deck is sloped to shed rain. Walls aze clad in horizontal siding. Below the porch, a stone foundation is screened
with lattice. A wide central wooden staircase, constructed of widening rectangulaz risers in a ziggurat pattem,
leads to the porch. Above the steps, original 1899 painted lettering titles the house "Gwenthean Cottage." An
off-center, paneled glazed door with simple wood trim opens from the porch into the cottage. A secondary
entrance on the west elevation is glazed and paneled and has a simple hood. Lazge, one-over-one light double
hung windows are present on each elevation. There is a simple brick chimney on the west elevation.
A member of Ammons family, which still owns the cottage, remembers the porch as "the world's biggest
playpen." Canvas curtains could be installed on special hooks on the north and east portions of the porch to
provide sex-segregated open-air sleeping space. The south porch functioned as a dining room, and there is a
wood pass-through to the kitchen on the south wall.
This labot saving device is repeated in the interior with a pass-through from the kitchen to the dining room, one
of the cottage's five rooms. The interior has 804 square feet of living space: parlor, dining room, two
bedrooms, bath, and kitchen. The bathroom has its original fixtures, and was the first private bath at
Chautauqua. The kitchen, has a lazge, well-designed pantry and some original fixtures, including a wood-
buming stove. Each room, other than the dining room, has a lazge closet. The dining room has a built-in buffet.
Wood floors were installed to be easy to clean, and to be covered with simple rag rugs, rather than the omate
and dusty carpets favored by many Victorians.1z Grooved paneling on the interior walls and ceiling were
designed to shed dust; the paneling retains its original finish.
Cottage Nuneber 30 (1901)
Historic Name: Ft. Worth Cottage
Cottage 30 is an L-shaped, one-story hipped roof dwelling with a lupped roof projection to the wesi with
overhanging, closed comice eaves. The foundation is wood piers covered with horizontal siding. Walls are
clad in alternating wide and narrow horizontal siding. A hipped roof projection on the west is original; it was a
~Z Sarah Leavitt, From Catherine Beecher to Martha Stewart: A Cultural Hrstory ofDomestic Advice (Chapel Hill, NC: The
University of North Cazolina Press, 2002), 85.
~
NPS Fo'm I0.900 USDllNP$ NR}{P Regutrahon Fam (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 18
Unitcd Siues Depam~rnt of the Lrtaia, Nabooal Pak Serna Natioael Repsta of H~storic Places Regisuanon Porm
screened sleeping porch but was enclosed in the 1940s with single light double hung windows. The east fa~ade
features a shed-roofed porch with wood railing, stairs. The off-center entrance is a paneled and glazed door
with a simple wood surround. Windows are one-over-one light and double hung with wood surrounds.
Cottage Number 31 (1901)
Historic Name: Paris Teachers Cottage, Garlandia
This is a rectangular, one-story hipped roof dwelling with overhanging open comice eaves. The foundation is
wood piers that aze covered in wide horizontal siding. Walls aze clad in altemating wide and narrow horizontal
siding. The under eave gorch on the east faqade and north elevations was added in 1915. In 1921, a fuli-width
shed roofed addition was made to the west elevation. This addition was replaced in 1941 and extended by six
feet in 1992; it is clad in horizontal siding and has a secondazy entry with a shed hood. In 1992, the porch was
enclosed one-over-one light, double hung windows, alutninum on the east and vinyl on the norfh. The porch is
accessed by wooden stairs and railing. The central glazed and paneled door is recent. Windows are one-over-
one light and double hung and four-light casement. The south window on the fagade has omamental molding.
A small gazebo, originally a small carport attached to the 1921 addition and moved to its present site when ihat
addition was demolished, is situated on northwest comer of lot.
Cottage Number 32 (1901)
Historic Name: Mirror Cottage, Hillsboro Teachers Cottage
Cottage 32 is a rectangulaz, one-siory hipped mof dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The
foundation is stone. Walls are clad in altemating wide and narrow horizontal siding. A shed-roofed porch at the
northeast corner was enclosed in 1964. This porch has a stone base with concrete cap, wide horizontal siding
above the stone and sliding single-light aluminum windows. A 1964 gabled addition on the west elevation also
has aluminum horizontal sliding windows. All other windows aze one-over-one light and double hung, with
wood surrounds and architrave trim.
Cottage Number 33 (1901)
Historic Name: Houston Teachers Cottage ~
This is a one-story hipped roof rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The foundation is
wood piers, covered with a wide wooden water tabie. Walls are covered with bands of wide and narrow
horizontal siding that flares at water table. Below the off-center door are a wooden stoop and stairs. Windows
aze two-over-two light and double hung, with wooden frames. The original open porch on the east fa~ade was
enciosed in the 1970s, when an addition was aiso made to the west elevation. The windows on the porch and
addition have aluminum frames.
Cottage Number 34 (1917)
Historic Names: Nebraska Teachers Cottage, Stoner Cottage
Cottage 34 is a one-and-a-half story side gabled mof rectangular dwelling with overhanging closed comice
eaves. Horizontal siding covers the wood pier foundation. Walls and gable ends are clad in horizontal siding.
The north elevation has an original one-story, side-gabled projection. Shed roofed dormers on the east faqade
and west elevation have vertical siding; two multiple-light windows flank central plate glass window. The fuli-
width shed roofed porch was enclosed in 1960 with sliding glass windows replacing screen; the lower walls of
the porch aze clad in horizontal siding, The center door is paneled and glazed. Windows aze one-over-one
light, double hung and multiple-light awning windows.
~/
NPS Fo`m 10.900 USDI/NPS NRFB RCgutrWan Fwm (Rev. &86) OMB No 1034-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 19
Umicd Sbtes Deparmient ofihe lntmm, Nanoml Park Serv~a NMOmI RegWC af F1~stonc Plams Reg~mantln Form
Cottage Number 35 (1931, noncontributing)
Historic Names: Suits Me, Out and In
1'his cottage was built on the site of the 1902 Brownwood, TX Teachers Cottage. It was designed in 1931, in
the Craftsman style, by John Blanchard. It is a side gabled one-and-a-half story rectangulaz dwelling with
widely overtianging open cornice eaves. The foundation is raised stone. The gable ends have horizontal siding,
paired windows and braces. Walls aze clad with horizontal siding with corner boazds. A shed dormer with
exposed rafters on the east fa~ade is shingled, and contains three, four-light casement windows. The center door
is paneled and glazed, with a wood surround. There is a band of three six-light casement windows next to the
door. A shed roofed porch on the fapade with a stone wall, wood posts, and concrete trim is reached by
concrete stairs with stone walls. A shed roof porch was built on the west elevation in 1953. This was enclosed
in 1965 with single light double hung windows. Original windows include six-light and eight-light casement
windows and three-over-one double-hung windows with wood surrounds. There is a rubble stone chimney on
the west elevation. An oval flagstone patio on the west side of the house was built in the 1990s.
Ranger Cottage (1987, noncontribudng)
The Ranger Cottage was built by the City of Boulder to pmvide offices and interpretive space for its Mountain
Pazks and Open Space division. While in keeping with the character of Chautauqua's buildings, its recent
construction renders it a nonconhibuting resource. The Ranger Cottage is a square frame building with a
hipped roof with overhanging eaves on the north and east elevations. A hipped mof cupola with three light
sashed windows on all four sides caps the roof. Horizontal siding covers the building and it has a concrete
foundation screened with lattice. An L-shaped under eave porch is accessed by a central wood staircase with
wood railings on the faqade, a similaz staircase on the east elevation, and a ramp (2002) on the west elevation.
A recessed, glazed and paneled door is set in the northeast corner of the building, with a sliding glass window
on the southeast wall of the recess providing access to the rangers. The north wall has a trio of single-light
sashed windows; the other walls have paired single-light sashed windows. A lazge parking lot, built to service
visitors to Chautauqua and to its surrounding open space, lies to the north of the Ranger Cottage.
Morning Glory Drive
Morning Glory Drive was indicated as Fulton Avenue on the 1898 plat of the assembly grounds. By the next
year, its name had changed to Dallas Avenue and simple 12 x 14 foot wooden cabins were lining the road.
Rocky Mountain Joe Sturtevant built his photography studio, The Woodbine, at the intersection of Dallas and
Colorado Avenues, and Dallas Avenue was becoming a well-traveled route between the Auditorium and the
cottages on the west side of the grounds. In 1900, the road was given a more substantial prospect with the
construction of Wild Rose Cottage and of the lazge building housing the summer school. Renamed Moming
Glory in 1918, the road serves as one of the principle east-west streets in the pazk.
Cottage Number 302 (c. 1900)
Historic Name: Wild Rose Cottage
This is a one-story dwelling with a T shaped plan and a cross-gabled roof. The foundation is concrete block.
Walls aze clad with narrow vertical siding above sill level and shingled below sill level. All three gabled ends
have decorative rafters. The gables aze shingled and have louvered vents. A hipped roof porch on the north
fapade has narrow vertical siding below screens and is accessed by wooden stairs and railing. The center door is
paneled and glazed. Windows six-over-one light double hung.
Wild Rose Gazebo
To the west of Cottage 302 is a rectangulaz gazebo with a wood shingled hipped roof, wood lattice walls, and
benches. The construction date of this struchue is unknown, but it is indicated as being in its present location on
a 1928 Sanborn fire insurance map. ~~
NPS Form 10-9f10 USDUNPS NRHP Regiatla~on Fam (Rev &86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAi3QUA Page 20
Unned Smla Depvfmmt ofthe Imena, Nabonal Puk Semx National Regiwer of Wstoric Places Reg~manon Fam
Cottage Nurrrber 304 (1928)
Cottage 304 is a rare exception to uniform placement of cottages along the streets of Chautauqua Park. Rather,
it is well set back &om Moming Glory Avenue, between Cottages 302 and 306, west of Cottage 300. It is a
one-story side gabled roof rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging open comice eaves. Vertical siding covers
the wood pier foundation. Walls and gable ends covered with vertical siding; the walls have simple comer
boazds. Gable ends are omamented with triangulaz braces and tall geometric windows. Other windows are
single light and double hung. The north fagade features a shed-mofed porch with diagonal siding below
screens. The off-center door is paneled and glazed. A stone chimney is located on the east elevation.
Cottage Number 306 (1914)
Historic Name: Morning Glory
Cottage 306 is a one-story, fmnt gabled roof rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The
foundation is wood piers. Walls axe covered with horizontal siding and have comer boards. Gable ends aze
shingled and decorated with triangular braces. An under eave porch at northeast corner has screens above
vertical siding. This porch was added, along with a room on the east, in 1929. The off-center door is paneled
and glazed. Windows on fa~ade aze six-over-one light, and double hung with simple wood surrounds. Other
windows include 2 drop-pocket windows, multiple light horizontal sliding windows, and single light double
hung windows. There is a stone chimney on the south elevation.
Cottage Number 309 (1924}
This is a one-story side-gabled roof rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The wood pier
foundation is covered with horizontal siding. Walls and gable ends aze clad in horizontal siding; the walls have
simple comer boazds. An under eave porch on the south fapade is screened with horizontal siding below
screens. Tlie off-center door is paneled and glazed. All windows have one-over-one lights and are double
hung, with wood surrounds. A shed-roofed projection on east elevation, possibly an original porch enclosed,
has a band of one-over-one light, double hung windows above horizontal siding. A 1942 shed roofed addition
on the north elevation has awning windows. A secondary entrance, which is paneled and glazed, on the east
elevation is accessed by stairs leading to a wooden deck, built in 1983, on the northeast corner.
Cottage Number 310 (1926, noncontributing)
This one-and-a-half story side gabled rectangular dwelling with widely overhanging, open cornice eaves was
designed by Boulder architect John Blanchatd. The foundation is raised stone and wali and gable ends are
shingled. The off-center door is paneled, glazed, and flanked by six-over-six double hung windows. Triangular
braces support a shed hood over the door. Below the entrance sits a concrete stoop and stairs with stone side
walls and pipe railing. Windows aze six-over-six light and double hung, with wood sunounds; the upper story
gable has paired multipie-light windows. A front gable addition in 1970 created a second floor on the west
elevation; this addition is not complementary to the scale of other structures in the district and mars the
historical integrity of the structure.
Cottage Num6er 311 (1899)
Cottage 311 was originally one of the bathhouses located to the southeast of the Auditorium and was moved to
its present site in 1910. It is a one-story side gabled roof rectangular dwelling. Walls and gable ends are clad
with horizontal siding; the walls are trimmed with comer boards. The gables have overhanging, open cornice
eaves and louvered vents. The foundation is wood piers covered with plywood; the north foundation is poured
concrete. A hip roofedporch, flush with the eaves and screens runs ihe length of the south faqade and extends
azound to the west and east elevations. The east and west porch walls are enclosed with awning windows and
horizontal siding. A shed roof addition on the north elevation was constructed in 1956. •
J/
NP$ Fortn 10.900 USDUNPS NRFiP ReBatrm~on Frnm (Rev 6-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 21
Umted $tmes Depa~mrnt of the INena, Nmonal Pa~k Sernce Nmonal Regirta oi Hmoric Plaus Regiwauon Fmm
Cottage Number 313 (1910)
T'his is a one-story front gabled roof rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The raised
wood pier foundation is covered with vertical siding. Walls and gable ends are covered with vertical siding.
The gable ends have louvered vents. A circa 1930, hip roof addition was made to the south fa~ade and west
and north elevations. The faqade has screens over vertical siding, while the west and north sides have single
light double hung windows over vertical siding. The center enUrance is paneled and glazed. A small shed
roofed open porch is located on the north elevation. "The east elevation features a stone chimney with concrete
cap. .
Cottage Number 314 (1923)
Cottage 314 replaced an 1899 cabin and was modeled on Cottage 29, having a center core surrounded on three
sides with under eave porches. It is a one-story side gabled mof square dwelling with widely overhanging, open
cornice eaves. The foundation is of wood piers covered in vertical siding. Walls aze of vertical siding. The
gable ends are clad in vertical siding and have louvered vents. The north fa~ade has an under eave full-width
porch screened with vertical siding below the screens, and accessed by wooden stairs and rails. Triangular
braces support a gabled hood over the porch entrance. The center entrance is flanked by sliding sash windows.
Windows on the east and west elevations were altered in 1987 when a sided-gabled addition was made to the
south. A stone chimney on south elevation is original.
Cottage Number 316 (1928)
John Blanchard designed this one-and-a-half story front gabled rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open
cornice eaves. The foundation is stone. Walls and gable ends are shingled. 'The north fa~ade has a front
gabled porch with shingles on walls under screens. Battered stone piers support the porch, which is skirted with
vertical siding. The center paneled and glazed door is accessed by concrete steps with stone walls and pipe
railing. The west elevation has a stone chimney. An under eave porch on south elevation was enclosed in the
1960s with horizontal sliding windows. There is a stone patio at rear, as well as a small, detached front gabled
garage with shingled walls and gables. The garage was erected at the same time as the cottage.
Community House (1918)
The Community House was built on the site of The Woodbine (1900), a log cabin that housed the studio of
Joseph Bevier Sturtevant. Known as Rocky Mountain Joe, Sturtevant was a pioneer of Colorado photography
and in 1899 was appointed "Official Chautauqua Photographer." Sturtevant hung out a shingle encouraging
visiting teachers and families to "Have Your Face Tuck: 15 for 15 Cts." He also widely photographed the
activities of early Assemblies and his photographs remain important docutnentation of Chautauqua's eazly
grounds and s~tructures. In 1913, The Woodbine was remodeled to house Coloradds first Montessori school.
The school existed only briefly, and The Woodbine was razed and replaced by a flowerbed by 1916.
As populaz educational, cultural, and recreational activities replaced teacher education as a main focus of
Chautauqua's programming, more families began to make the grounds their summer home. Chautauqua's
cottages were small, usually containing one or two sleeping moms, with little space for family or social
entertaining. Beginning in 1913, fundraising and planning were undertaken to pmvide a communal social space
for chautauquans. The building would contain library shelving, rainy day playrooms for children, a large
assembly room to accommodate 150, separate meeting rooms for men and women, an apartment for the
Chautauqua Hostess, a dormitory for four guls, and a clubroom for the Rocky Mountain Climbers Club.
Boulder architect Arthut A. Saunders designed the Communiry House, with a plan that met all of the
chautauquans' desires. 2~
~/
NPS Fofm 10.900 USDVNPS NRFiP Repnnrion Fwm (RCV. e-B6) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 22
Umted Stua Depanmrnt ofthe Lnen~, Nahond Park Sema Nmwel R
eg~ster of Hutonc Places Registranon Porm
The stolid Craftsman style building still contains Saunders' interior and exterior features and still serves as
Chautauqua's living room, hosting social and recreational activities yeaz-round. A large, two-story cenhal
room features narrow pine flooring, stained built-in shelving, and arts and craft style wood molding throughout.
A brick fueplace, now fitted with a gas fire, is centered on the room's west well. To the west of this great room
aze two rectangular rooms; the south was intended as a men's club room and is separated from the central room
by large paneled folding doors. The north room, the women's club mom, was remodeled to provide kitchen
space and a wheel-chair accessible restroom in 199'7. Both clubrooms have lazge brick fireplaces, linked with a
central flue to the fueplace in the great room.
The great room has a surrounding balcony with wooden balustrade and railing, at the second story level,
accessed by wood stairs and railing. Two storage spaces are located on the east side of the balcony, on either
side of a paneled and glazed door leading to an exterior terrace. The west side of the balcony provides access to
the Hostess Apartment, two rooms that now house the Chautauqua archives, as well as to a dormitory apartment
containing a bedroom, a storage room, and a lavatory. 'The ground floor of the Community House contains
three large rooms; a restroom, and a small utility room, accessed through a hallway reached by a flight of
wooden stairs at the northeast comer of the great room. Originally housing the Rocky Mountain Climbers Club
room and a"Rainy Day Room" for children's activities, the entire ground floor, with the exception of the
Climbers Club room, was remodeled in 2000 to restore it to its original use as social and creative space. Floors
are concrete and all interior spaces feature stained wood moldings around window and door openings. T'he west
room is fitted as an art studio, with washable paint walls and floor. The center room has a massive fireplace of
fieldstone with a wood manUe. The east room, the Rocky Mountain Climbers Club room, features a similar
fireplace, as well as rudimentary kitchen fixtures. .
The Community House is a two-story frame building with a raised rubble stone foundation. The roof is hipped
with an in eave gable on each of the four elevations and two massive stone chimneys. The roof was reinforced
twice, first in the early 1980s and again in 1447 when, during construction that equipped the Community House
for winter use, steel and micro laminate beam supports were instailed. The mof has composition shingles and
overhanging, open comice eaves. Walls aze clad with rough stucco over diagonal sheathing. Most of the
windows aze double hung, 4 over 4light upper sash and a single light lower sash. There are also four 4 over 4
light horizontally sliding sash windows, two on the north elevation and two on the south. All double hung
windows aze covered on the exterior with a wood framed combination storm\screen unit with meeting rail to
match. Under the lazge east dormer is a terrace with a low wall above the porch. The south elevation features a
gable over the entrance to the under eave porch which runs the width of the east elevation. The south elevation
also has a hipped dormer over a 2-'/~-story bay window.
Ttie east porch has battered stucco piers atop stone bases and triangulaz bases, vamished beadboazd ceiling,
wood floor, and concrete stairs with stone walls. It is accessed by a flight of concrete steps with a wood railing.
In 1997 a motorized wheelchair lift was installed on the west side of the stairs. Entry from the porch is through
two sets of paneled and glazed double doors. Additional entrances are located on the west elevation, a lower
entrance to the garden level rooms, and an upper service entrance that is accessed by a flight of wood stairs with
wooden railing. Two entrances on the north elevation also provide access to the lower level. The east entrance
has a shed-roofed hood; this is the entrance to the Rocky Mountain Climbers Club room, indicated by a hand
painted sign dating from the 1930s. All secondary entrances have paneled and glazed doors.
A small stone terrace was built on the east of the Community House in 1997. It is furnished with planters and
wooden benches during the summer. To the north of the temace stands a 1915 sundial that was originally
located in the Flower Gazden and moved to the Community House grounds in 1997.
'J~
NPS Fotm 10-900 USDUNPS NRF~ ReBisuatlon Fotm (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 23
Umted States Departmrn~ ofthe In[mm, Nariooal Park Sernce Nadmal Re@sbr of Wstonc Places Reg~stranon Form
Centennial Garden (1907, restored 1998)
Historic Name: Flower Garden
Prior to its design as a formal gazden in 1907, this area was divided by a dirt road that serviced the Bachelder
ranch house. In the early years of Chautauqua, the site contained an ice cream and lemonade pavilion and lazge
tents used for educational and cultural programming. The original plan for the gazden, possibly by W.W. Pazce,
included the bandstand, which stood in its northeast comer until it was demolished in 1941.
The gazden was an omate labyrinth of looping circular paths sepazated by flowerbeds. The garden sloped down
to the public restrooms behind the Dining Hall. Blue spruce trees that were planted in the 1907
"improvements" now tower over the gazden. .
By the 1960s, the garden was overgrown and in disrepair. The Colorado Chautauqua Association, citing fiscal
shortages, fired the groundskeepers and no planting or maintenance was undertaken for more than 25 yeazs. In
1982, a lane called Gazden Place (which had been known as Colorado Avenue from 1900 to 1918) running
between Clematis Drive and Morning Glory Drive was replaced by a flagstone path. But the garden itself
became an informal dog pazk.
For Chautauqua's centeiu-ial, the garden was restored to iu historic design and function. The Centennial
Gazden is now a favorite spot for quiet contemplation and pre-concert picnics. The design follows the historic
plan of the space, with winding brick paths sepazated by flowerbeds and shrubs. In the center of the.Centennial
Gazden, river rocks and wildflowers surround a non-contributing fountain fashioned from a boulder. Rustic
wooden benches aze seasonally placed beneath the original evergreens, which aze highlighted by in-ground
uplights. A wooden post and lattice fence was installed at the north edge of the garden in 2002, to screen the
gazden from service areas behind the Dining Hall.
Cottage Number 200 (1882)
Historic Names: Bachelder Ranch House, SuperintendenYs House, Keeper's Dwelling
The Bachelder Ranch House is the oldest structure in Chautauqua Pazk and, while the cottage has undergone
alteration in the last century, it conveys the historic sense of the original structure. It is a one-story hipped roof
rectangulaz dwelling with slightly overhanging, closed comice eaves. The foundation is stone. A center, flush
entry with concrete stoop and steps is located on the east facade Stucco was applied to the stone walls in the
1920s. About the same time a shed-roofed gazage addition of concrete block with double-hinged doors was
made to the west elevation on the north side. There is a small shed-roofed screen porch on south elevation.
Windows are one-over-one light and six-over-one light, and aze double hung with brick stills. The central brick
chimney has a metal cap. Low rock retaining walls with landscaping were installed on the east side of the
house in the 1970s, the same time a fenced vegetable gazden was planted on the north.
Academic Hall (1900)
Historic Names: School House, Office, Administration Building
Two supporters of the Colorado Chautauqua Summer School financed the construction, and retained ownership,
of this structure in 1900. The school was the first university-level summer school in Colorado. In its first
decade, enrollment each summer was as high as 600 students. In 1905, the University of Colorado began to
provide summer courses for credit, and many teachers attending the Assembly would walk to campus for
classes there. The owners of the Academic Hall sold the building to the City in 1905 for $1250, and Colorado
Chautauqua Association managers predicted that the University would soon spare the Association the expensive
privilege of providing post-secondary classes. The Chautauqua Journal reported, "Many patrons of the
Chautauqua aze desirous of eliminating technical branches of instruction and substituting lectures of a popular
3~
NPS Form 169110 USDUNPS NRHP Re~stracwn Fam (Rev. 6-86) OMB No 1024-0018
TIiE COLORADO CHAIJI'AUQUA Page 24
Umted Statcs Depanmeot of the Inreria, Nahonel Puk Semm Nanaoal Regumr of H~stw¢ Places Regimat~on Form
educational character.ii3 Still, attendance at the Chautauqua Summer School exceeded that at the university
until 1915. The Academic Hall then continued to offer "populaz" non-credit Chautauqua Institute classes and a
Lyceum series. Fducafional and club progrnms continued in the Academic Hall undl the 1930s. The Colorado
Chautauqua Association offices were relocated from Cottage 100 to the Academic Ha31 in 1944.
The Academic Hall is a two-story rectangulaz frame school building with hipped roof, closed cornice,'
overhanging flared eaves, and composition azchitectural shingle roofing. Walls are beveled horizontal siding
with comer boazds. Central entrances on north and south elevations have double, vertical paneled doors and
transoms with geometric tracery. Each entrance is flanked on both sides by a double hung window with
geometric tracery on both upper and lower sashes. All other windows are two over two ligltts with wood casings
and crown moldings under the drip caps. All windows aze covered on the exterior with wood framed
combination storm~screen units with a horizontai rail matching the window meeting rail. The north entrance has
wooden stairs, railing with square balusters, and landing.
The interior is lazgely intact, and remains a document of Chautauqua's educational tradition. interior walls and
ceilings are horizontal paneling; the lower rooms and upper east rooms aiso have original paint on wood panel
blackboards with chalk rails. All interior floors aze varnished pine boazds. A simple wood stairway, with
wooden railing ascends to the second floor. The Academic Hall originally had four classrooms on ihe first
floor, two on each side of a wide hailway. There were two classrooms on the east side of the upper floor and an
open lecture space on the west. The moms on the east side of the second floor have partitions that slide into the
stud space, to create a lazger lecture space meant to accommodate 200 students.
When the Academic Hall became the Colorado Chautauqua Association office building, the lower classrooms
were divided by Qartitions to create offices, and water lines were connected. A bank of brass gost-office boxes
for residents was installed on the west wall of the lower hallway. In the early 1980s, a bathroom was installed in
the lower northeast classroom. In 1991 and 1992, the building was insulated for winter use; some siding was
replaced as insulation was installed. Storm/screen.units were attached to each window, and the bathroom was
relocated to the lower southeast classroom. In 1999, partitions were installed in the upper west classroom to
provide further office space.
Enrollment in the Colorado Chautauqua Summer School surpassed the capacity of the Academic Hall until
about 1910. On the grassy azeas east and west of the stcucture, students would attend classes in lazge tents
furnished with wooden bookshelves and desks. From 1900 to 1906, the northwest lawn of the Academic hall
contained Boulder's first fountain, a rustic six-foot concrete and field stone obelisk with a circular brick pool. In
the fust seasons, a Press Tent stood on the east lawn, indicating the mass cultural appeal of chautauqua
programs. The lawns of the Academic building now have simple, mck-enclosed planting beds; there is a
boulder with a brass memorial plaque dating from the 1970s on the northwest lawn. At the Moming Glory
curbside on the northwest lawn stand a mailbox and a newspaper box. Red sandstone walks to the north and
south entrances were installed in 1975. Two stone benches flanking the south entrance were built in 1992.
Chautauqua Auditorium (1898)
An assembly space, open to the elements in emulation of the outdoor prayer circles of Methodist camp
meetings, is the defining feature of a chautauqua. Grand edifices such as the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood
(1909, Defiu-iak Springs, FL) of the Florida Chautauqua Association and humble pavilions like the Taylorviile
Chautauqua Auditorium (1916, Manners Park, IL) are ftequently the only surviving evidences of the vast
Chautauqua Movement. Often called tabernacles, these structures reflect the movemenYs descent from
Methodist camp meetings.
"Quoted in Galey, 78.
3~
NPS Fofm 10.900 USDUNPS NRHP Re@Net~on Fwm (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA Page 25
United Smas Deputment oft6e ]mmm. Nanonel Park Serna Nauoml Reguta of Wstaric PWas Re@stranon Fortn
So important was a tabernacle that construction of a hall capable of seating 6,000 was second only to the
provision of land for the assembly when organizers negoUated with City officials to bring the assembly to
Boulder. The Auditorium site, on a high point at the east edge of the grounds, broadcast the importance of the
new Chautauqua. An early bulletin announced, "It is situated on a commanding eminence at the base of the
mountains overlooking the plains, and may be seen for a distance of twenty-five miles: '
Boulder voters approved a bond issue financing the purchase of land and construction on Apri15, 1898. The
first promotional brochure for the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua, published by the Gulf & Southem Railroad
within days of the bond issue, reported that, "The architect has submitted plans for the tabemacle." The Denver
firm of Kidder and Rice proposed a grand wooden hall, with imposing towers and open azcade on its fapade.
The style is typical of resort architecture, but its massing and shingle towers suggest the influence of H.H.
Richazdson, in whose Boston shuiio Franklin Kidder had apprenticed.
Construction began on May 12. McCallister Lumber Company had the winning bid--$6,700, plus a$20 a day
bonus for each day before June 30`" if the Auditorium was completed by that deadline. Seventy-five workers
raced to frame the structure, and demcks were bmught by railroad from Denver to lift the six 3-ton eighty-foot
trusses to the fifty-six foot height called for in the plans.
The structure is large wood frame, pitched truss one-story auditorium with an uregular plan, front gable roof,
and shallow eaves. 'The main part of the structure has no foundation; posts rest on stone slab footings. The roof
is of composition roll; the original roofing was an eazly type of asphalt roll. The topography of the site rises to
the east, and the grade of the structure follows this slope. Polygonal, shed-roofed wings project beneath a
louver vented clerestory to the north and south. A wood flagpole is attached to the mof just above the eaves at
each angle. Kidder and Rice designed these wings to be porch-like, and open to the air. Each of three sides on
both wings had four squaze columns supporting suspended skirts of vertical siding. First season speakers,
performers, and visitors complained loudly about the choking gray dust that swirled through the Auditorium on
windy days. According to one chautauquan, "visibility was as poor as in a London fog. At some platform
performances a wet handkerchief held over the mouth was a necessity.s14 Before the 1899 season, panels that
slide upward on ropes and pulleys were installed on the middle sections of the wings. Hinged double doors
were fitted on the east and west ends of the wings.
The east fagade has seven bays. The central bay wall has narrow horizontal siding. It contains an arcade with
two square columns on squaze bases and two square pilasters framing the three openings. A simple wood drip
cap with hood moldings surmounts the entrances. Over the architrave three slighted elongated rounded azches
sepazated by decorative pilasters form window openings. A rectangulaz panel of vertical siding is framed with
additional molding. The upper third of the bay is delineated by a belt course of decorate molding below and
above three nine-light ocular windows. The pediment in the gable has dentil molding. A four-light ocular
window is centered in this pediment. It has decorative molding at the cazdinal points.
The central bay is flanked to the north and south by a pair of square hipped roof towers, with exposed rafter tails
and walls of vertical siding and shingles. The towers are stepped back from the central bay. The lower section
of each tower has an opening framed with pitasters and crowned with a hood molding. The middle section
contains a lancet window opening framed in wood below a flat atch with keystone molding. Oculaz windows
with four lights aze located on the north side of the north tower and south side of the south tower. T'he
uppermost sections of the towers are shingled with double arches openings on all sides. The east side of each
tower has a decorative balconet below the arches. The apex of both tower roofs has a wooden flagpole.
14Quoted in Galey, 30.
38
Nrs Fm,~ ia9oo usDUNrs riw~x~uwn~ Fam ~. e-es~ OMID No. 1021-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA Page 26
United $tates Depe~ent ofthe Intmw. Nanonal Pak Setvim Natiooal Regista of H~onc Places Reg~str>tion Fmm
Symmetrical bays to the north and south are stepped back at a slight angle from the towers. These bays are the
east walls of the wings and have vertical siding. Photographs of the Auditorium in its first season of use show
these bays as completely open, and unfinished. By 1900, the bays had been finished to the Kidder and Rice
design and were fitted with doors to keep out wind, dust, and light. Each bay has two wide openings with wood
surrounds and a molding drip cap. As in the central bay, the rain caps are just below a rounded arched opening.
The azches are more semi-circulaz than in the cenual bay. Between the openings is a tapering classical pilaster
with square base and simple capital. T'he upper section of each bay pmjects slightly and has a decorative fascia
just below the eave. A wood flagpole is located at the middle of the eave on each bay.
The central five bays are flanked by a pair of shorter square pyramidal roofed towers angled slightly from the
wing bays, parallel with the taller towers. Walls have vertical siding. An opening with a simple wood surround
is located on the lower north side of each tower. Vertical rectangular window openings aze louvered and
surmounted with a classical pediment molding on the south side of the south tower and north side of north
tower. The upperinost sections of these towers are open on four sides, with a colonnade of round columns
supporting the roof. A decorative pilaster applied to the vertical siding of the upper sectiqn connects visually
with the middle column on each side. Wood flagpoles aze attached at the apex of both tower roofs.
The central bay and outer tower openings were fitted with hinged double doors in 1900. Panels that slide up on
ropes and pulleys were installed that year on the other eight openings on the faqade. Wood panels were
installed in tall window openings on the inner tower and the rectangulaz windows on the outer towers.
A stage wing with foundation of coursed rubble stone projects on the west of the suditorium. The wing has a
half-hipped roof to which are attached four wood flagpoles, one at each angle and at the apex. Walls are clad
with wide vertical siding. The stage walls have a horizontal molding delineating upper and lower sections, as if
to imply two stories. Four-section horizontal window openings were built on the upper section of ali three
elevations. Similar two-section openings to provide light and ventilation to the performers' green room under
the stage and to the bleacher seats on the stage were centered below on the lower tevels of the northwest and
southwest elevations of the stage. These openings were originally covered with canvas curtains to prevent
backlighting and glare. In 1899, six over six light double hung windows were installed in the openings. After
1906, wood panels were instailed in all the stage wing window openings, but the wood surrounds are still
visible. A central hinged double door on the lower west elevation services the stage. This door was flanked by
two-section window openings, while the upper level had four-section window openings. A door was cut into
the south wall of the Auditorium in 1905 to provide performer access.
"['he eazly setting of the Auditorium consisted of indigenous grasses, social paths, and large boulders. The
sUucture seemed to emerge naturally from its landscape. As the Chautauqua grounds were developed, civic and
Association leaders desired a more formal setting for the city's most prominent building. A promenade was
built around the east, west, and north elevations in 1906, creating a terrace of Iawns and stone paving. The
southem side of the Auditorium remained a grassy lawn. The promenade is a massive and rustic structure,
constructed of mugh rut sandstone with a hammered sandstone cap. It extends out as a half circle on the
Auditorium's east fa~ade, with its main entrance, a short flight of stone steps, opposite the ceniral bay. An iron
fence with thin vertical rails is set on top of the promenade. The north section of the terrace had massive rustic
stone stairways and piers with wood steps on its north and west sides. The north stairway was restored in 1982,
but the west stair was removed in the 1920s. In the 1970s, an engraved memorial boulder and a rustic wooden
bench were placed in a seciuded comer of the north temace.
3~
NPS Falm 10.900 USDVNPS NRHP Reputimwn Fam (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 27
Uoned Smo Depv~ment ofthe Inuna, Nauooal Puk Semu Nariaoil Regista ot Wstanc Places Re~nstranon Form
In the 1940s, the main entrance to the Auditorium was shiRed to the doors on the west end of the south wing.
In 1968, a concrete walkway was installed that linked the south entrance to the 1906 promenade. A terrace of
cut sandstone laid in a random pattem was built in this area in 1987. A retaining wall of sandstone pieces laid
in ashlaz pattem separates the temace from a grassy lawn to the east. Concrete steps flanked by sandstone•
retaining walls ascend to the sidewalk and street. This terrace is fumished with noncontributing wooden and
stone slab benches, a stone drinking fountain, and stone pylon with a National Register of Historic Places
mazker.
In 1912, 12`~' Street was graded as a carriage road entering the park to the northeast of the auditorium.. It
continued to the south and west, and intersected with the eastem section of Chautauqua Avenue (now
Goldenrod Drive). A section of road was then built to north, connecting to the drive around the Green creating
a loop drive azound the Auditorium. The northern section of this loop was retumed to lawn in the 1950s and a
1981 landscaping pmject replaced the wood sfeps to the north terrace with concrete and created planting spaces
along the stairs. The western secrion of the loop was demolished in the 1980s and a concrete walkway was built
linking the Auditorium to the Dining Hall and the Green. A semicirculaz dirt pazking lot to the northeast of the
Auditorium is a remnant of the carriage road. In 2001, the semicirculaz Chazles Sawtelle Memorial, a concrete
terrace inlaid with guitar picks on which sits a semi-circulaz wooden bench, was installed on the north lawn of
the Auditorium.
Several outbuildings have serviced the Auditorium. Although the Auditorium was provided with electric
lighting at construction, the building has never been plumbed. In 1899, a bathhouse and two public restrooms
were built in the ravine east of the Auditorium. The latrines were demolished when public restrooms were
installed in the Dining Hall, and the bathhouse moved to Moming Glory Drive and converted to a dwelling. A
six-sided ticket booth, built in 1980 and pattemed after the 1898 ticket booth, is located to west of the stage
wing. Twin six-sided concession stands, built in 1979, aze located on the south temace and north lawn. All
three frame structures aze clad in horizontal siding, shingled with wood, lack foundations, have simple window
openings with wood shutters, and aze entered by wood slab doors.
By the 1970s, after yeazs of deferred maintenance, the Auditorium was in extremely poor condition. The
original mauve paint had been replaced by a khaki shade that led summer moviegoers to nickname it "The Pea
Green." The roof leaked, and concert patrons would often sit beneath umbrellas on rainy nights. Even the
wooden flagpoles had been removed in the 1930s. The manager of Boulder's pazks recommended demolition.
Preservationists were roused to action, and the Auditorium was placed on the National Register of Historic
Places in 1974. A local architectural firm undertook an historic structure assessment, and this formed the basis
for the 1979 rehabilitation. Compromised stone footings were replaced or reinforced with concrete. The
Auditorium was reroofed with roll roofing to emulate the original materials. Warped and rotted sections of the
pine siding and sliding panels were replaced, and steel cable wind braces were installed on the north and south
walls to stabilize the building in high winds. To celebrate Chautauqua's centennial, the Auditorium's many
flagpoles were reconstructed in 1998. The exterior and grounds of the Auditoriutn retain their historic integrity
and are in excellent condition.
The interior of the structure has wimessed only minimal modifications. It remains lofty and open, with only the
square, unfinished timber supports interrupting the space. The house was originally fiunished with rows of
benches with wood seats and backs. When William Jennings Bryan spoke at Chautauqua in 1905, L.C.
Paddock editorialized in the Boulder Daily Camera, "'The benches are unthinkably hard. Bryan is the only man
who ever rendered them tolerable to the spine, and if he came o8en we doubt if the hardness that is native to
two-inch pine would entirely be dissipated.s15 In 1917 the center section benches were replaced with 600 "opera
~SQuo[ed in Sylvia Pettem, Chautauqua Centennia/ (Bou/du, Colorodo): A Hundred Years oj'Programs (L.ongmont, CO: Book Lode,
. ~
NP$ Fam 10900 USDUNPS NRI~ Regianetion Fam (Rev 8-86) OIvtB No I024-OOIB
THE COLORADO CHALTTAUQUA Page 28
Uwted Sptes Depenmrn[ of ihe Inlenrn, Nffioml Puk Service N~6ooal Regutc of Hmoric Plxcs RegisRanon Fortn
chairs." In 1941 and 1950, seats salvaged from Boulder's Wluttier School and &om the Loveland Theater,
respectively, replaced many of the remaining benches. More seating salvaged from old theaters and refurbished
with paint and cushioned seats replaced worn previous seating in 1991-1992. Rows of original benches aze still
located in the northeast rear portion of the Auditorium. The floor of the structure was gradually graded and
paved with concrete from 1900-1950. A concrete technical pit with metal railings was installed in 2000. A
1905 projection booth stands at the reaz of the house. It is reached by wood stairs with railings. Early film
projectors had bright, hot, and hazardous buibs. The booth is made of inetal and has a vent to the exterior. The
projector openings in the booth have metal shuttets that were attached to the ceiling by thin strings; if a fire
occurred, the strings would bum and the shutters slam close to contain the fire.
The Auditorium was built to accommodate 6,000 and 500 patrons were seated on banks of risers built on the
stage. The bleachers were removed and replaced with dressing moms at stage left and right in 1905. The risers
were discovered to have served as structwal support for the stage wing during a 2004 rehabilitation effort to
coaect outwazd bowing of the walls; steel reinforcement were installed to remedy the problem.
The stage was constructed with a fir beadwood acoustic shell rising to the windows, in keeping with a design
touted in an eazly brochure as having "the pmper proportions for good acoustics." This shell was extended to
the roof in the 1980s, and wooden acoustica3 panels were added at the same time. In 1905, center steps to the
curved stage were removed and new steps built to stage right. The stage was re-floored in 1993 recycling
materials from a demolished Denver warehouse; the dimensions of the original tongue and groove fir flooring
were matched exacfly. In 2Q00, the stage right dressing room door was widened to accommodate wheelchair
users. A thin partiGon of horizontal paneling was added in the 1970s to the right of the south entrance to
regulate audience flow and reduce nat-ual light when the doors are opened during daytime programs.
Picnic Shelter (c. 1922)
Historic names: Chautauqua Picnic Pavilion, Arbor
A wooden picnic arbor was constructed on this site by 1901. In 1915, the City of Boulder built two rustic stone
fireplaces adjacent to that shelter. The present structure was built to replace the original about 1922. The
shelter is a long, rectangulat structure with shallow, gable roof and open walis. Square timbers with diagonal
bracing define five bays on the long axis and two on the short axis and support the roof above a concrete slab
floor. Gable ends feature narrow vertical boazds separated by open spaces. Large squared stones are located at
the northeast and northwest comers of the structure. Interior contains several wooden picnic tables. A pazking
azea is located on the east side of the building.
Waterwise Garden (1898, redesigned 1993)
Historic Name: Alamo Plaza, The Pazk
The 1898 plat of the Chautauqua grounds provided for a small green, Alamo Plaza, on this site. The roughly
triangular park instead became a utilitarian space, occupied by progtam and residential tents and a buggy
pazking lot. In 1403, the Art Hall, previously located between the Dining Hall and the Auditorium, was moved
to this site, and became the headquarters for the Chautauqua Hostess, a chaperone for single women visitors.
Close to the Hostess's quarters a large tent dormitory, the Girls Camp, was erected each summer until a
permanent building to house young women in 1913. During this decade, the space was formalized as a grassy
lawn for recreation, and known as The Pazk.
In 1906, wire settees were purchased to fumish seating, and several of these benches still grace the lawn. A
1948 beautification scheme further formalized the garden. The 1973 alumiaum flagpole set in a rustic stone
base commemorates Chautauqua's 75~' anniversary. In 1993, Senator Tim Wuth and his wife, Wren Wirth,
2000>, i3. /~~
7
NPS Fa'm 16900 f1SDUNPS Nlt}iP RegiWetion Fam (Rev 8-86) OMB No. 1024-(1018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 29
Unned Smtes Departmmt ott6e IWerim, Natlonal Park Sernce Nmodl Re@sla of Hismric Platts Re~strabon Fmm
organized the gift of a teaching gazden to Chautauqua. The gazden is now defined by Wild Rose Road to the
west, Goldenrod Drive on the east, and the Academic Hall pazking azea- preserving one function of the
original space--on the north. The gazden, which retains its historic use and sense of space, features a rock
fountain along with regional plants, flowers, and herbs that conserve water.
Goldenrod Drive
Goldenrod Drive is not indicated on the 1898 plat of the assembly grounds, except as the eastern border of the
camp. However, perhaps because of the lower drive's proximity to the Auditorium and Dining Hall, some of
the first wooden cabins and cottages were built along the east edge of the grounds. On a 1900 Sanbom fire
insurance map, the road is cleazly mazked as a continuation of Chautauqua Avenue (now Kinnikinic Road).
Goldenrod runs south from the Auditorium and ends just past Lupine Lane in a cul-de-sac, with wooden stairs
leading to the reservoir site. The street is lined with rustic stone gutters, likely instailed at the same time as
those on Kinnikiuic Drive. Older gravel walks, of uncertain date, were replaced with flagstone in 1948. Like
Wildrose Road, Goldenrod Drive serves as a border of the central core of the pazk.
Cottage Number 1(1925)
Cottage 1 is located on the site of a cottage that had been moved from downtown Boalder to the assembly
grounds in 1899. The cottage is the eazliest work of azchitect John Blanchard at Chautauqua. It is a
rectangulaz, front gabled one-and-a-half story dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves with large
triangular braces. The raised stone foundaUOn is sloped to accommodate the site and a gazage with double-
hinged wood doors is located at the east basement level. Walls are shingled above the.sill line and horizontal
siding below. Gable ends aze shingled. The north elevation has a center entrance, below a shed hood with
braces, and flanked by paired three-over-one light, double hung windows. A shingled shed-roofed dormer on
the west elevation contains three, multiple-light windows. The west elevation feahues multiple-light casement
windows and a stone chimney. The east elevation has a full length, projecting shed- mofed porch, enclosed
with vertical, single-light windows. There is also a wood deck and railing on the south half of the east elevation.
Cottage Number 2 (1899)
Historic Name: Alamo Cottage
1'his rectangular, one-story gable on hip roof dwelling is one of the earliest cottages at Chautauqua. For several
summers, until a permanent addition was made in 1906, Alamo Cottage had a tent annex to its south. The
cottage's overhanging, open comice eaves have shaped rafter ends. Its foundation is stone. The walls are ciad
in horizontal siding. The west fa~ade contains the shingled gable, which has a horizontal, three-light window.
The off-center door is paneled and glazed. The north elevation contains a brick chimney. The originally open
porch on the north end of Ihe fa~ade is supported by classical columns and accessed by wood stairs and railings.
In 1951, this porch was screened and horizontal siding was applied under the screens. A wide, shed-roofed
addition was constructed on the east elevation in 1906. Windows have two-over-two or six-over-six lights and
aze double hung with wood sashes.
Cottage Number 3 (1928)
This is a rectangulaz, one-story side gabled roof dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The foundation
is wood piers covered in horizontal siding. Walls and gable ends are covered with horizontal siding. The off-
center door is paneled and glazed. An under eave porch on the west fa~ade is screened with horizontal siding
under the screens. Below the screen entrance to the porch is a wood stoop. A full width shed roofed addition on
the east elevation, probably constructed in the 1940s, has single- light double hung and awning windows. Other
windows are one-over-one light, double hung and have tapering wood surrounds. 'The north elevation contains
two horizontal casement windows. ~`y
~/O
NPS Fo`m 10.90U USDI/NPS NRk~ Repanatw¢ Fum (Rev. &86) OM8 No. 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 30
UpnM States DeparhoeN of the Iwmar, Nabonil Park ServiU 13momal Registc of }Lswnc Places Re~so-anon Form
Cottage Number 3A (1928)
This simple cottage, though built in the 1920s, is reminiscent of the 20' x 20' wooden cabin it replaced. It is a
rectangulaz, one-story front gabled roof dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The foundation is
wood piers covered in horizontal siding. Walls are clad in horizontal siding and trimmed with corner boards.
The off-center door is paneled and glazed. T'he west fa~ade features a hipped roof porch that is screened, with
horizontal siding on the lower walls. Beneath the entrance to the porch is a wooden stoop. Windows have one-
over-one lights, ate double hung, and have tapering wood surrounds. A shed-roofed 1940 addition extends
across the east elevation and has single light double hung and awning windows.
Cottage Number 4 (1916)
Historic Name: Tehosa Lodge
This is a one-story, rectangular dwelling with side gabied roof featuring overhanging, open comice eaves. The
foundation is on wood piers covered with wide horizontal siding. W alls have horizontal siding above the sill
line and wider horizontal siding below the sill line. Gable ends are shingled. The west facade features an under
eave porch with wide horizontal siding below screens. Stone stairs with an iron railing access the porch. Center
paneled and glazed double-hinged doors serve as the prirnary entrance to the house. A gabled addition on the
south elevation and a fiill length, shed-roofed addition on the east were constructed in 1453. Windows aze
mostly single-light and double hung windows, with a few in swing casements and stationary glazed openings.
The north elevation features a stone chimney and wood stairs, railing, and landing accessing a secondary
entrance.
Cottage Number 5 (1928)
Designed in 1928 by John Blanchazd on the site of two 1899 cottages that were demolished, this rectangulaz,
side gabled one-and-a-half story dwelling has overhanging, open coaiice eaves. The raised foundation is stone.
Walls are shingled above a narrow boazd sill course with horizontal siding below. Gable ends aze shingled and
have decorative braces. A wide shed- mofed dormer on the west elevation is shingled, has exposed rafters, and
contains three, four-over one light, double hung windows. Other windows are four-over-one lights with wood
surrounds. The center door is paneled and glazed. It enters the house from shed-roofed screen porch on the
west fa~ade. Red sandstone steps access this porch. 1'he north elevation features a tall stone chimney, a
projecting full width shed roofed porch, and a wide shed-roofed and shingled dormer.
Cottage Number 6 (c. 1901)
Historic Names: Corsicana Teachers Cottage, Mission Cottage, Cantwell Cottage
This rectangular, one-story pyramidal roof dwelling has overhanging boxed eaves. Wide horizontal siding
covers the wood pier foundation. Walls aze clad with horizontal siding and trimmed with comer boazds. The
cottage was built as a duplex, converted to a single dwelling about 1925. Two paneled doors aze located on the
north and south ends of the west fapade. A wide, shed-roofed porch on the faqade is screened with vertical
wood siding under screens and a center screen door; the east elevation features an identical porch. Windows aze
six over six light and double hung. Small horizontal windows on the south and east elevations were added in
the 1920's.
Cottage Number 7 (1906)
Historic Name: Nano's Nook, Coulehan Cottage
Cottage 7 is a one-story cross gabled T-shaped dwelling with overhanging, flazed and boxed eaves. The wood
pier foundation is covered with plywood. Walls and gable ends have horizontal siding. The center door is
paneled and glazed. Windows are one-over-one light, and double hung. In 1919, a shed-roofed porch on the
west far,ade, which wrags azound to the north elevation, was added. This porch was enclosed in 1983 with
y3
NPS Fo~m 10.900 USDUNPS NRHP Registrabon Fmm (Rev 8-66) OMB No 102a-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 31
Umced S~maes Depertmrnt of the Inunm, Nalwoal Puk Semce Nauoiul Reps~er of N~uonc Pkus Reg~strmwn Form
bands of one-over-one light, double-hung windows above vertical siding. An addition was made to the east
elevation at the same time.
Cottage Number 8 (1900)
Historic Names: Chula Vista, Dixie-Paul
This is a rectangular, one-story hipped roof dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves and shaped rafter
ends. The foundation is wood piers, covered with a wooden water table. Walls are clad in horizontal siding. A
shed-roofed porch on the west fa~ade is screened with vertical boazds below the screens. Beneath the center,
screened porch entrance is a concrete stoop with wrought iron railings. Two paneled and glazed doors serve as
entrances to the house, which subdivided as a dupiex from 1906 to 1922. Shed roofed additions were made on
the south elevation in 1935 and to the north elevation in 1945. On the north addition, original screens have
recently been replaced with aluminum storm~screen windows. Windows are one-over-one light, two-over-two
light, or four-over-four light; all windows aze double hung.
Cottage Number 10 (c. 1890)
Cottage 10 was built in town and moved to its present site in 1899 to provide permanent housing for chautauqua
visitors. It is a rectangulaz, one-and-a-half story front gable dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves.
The foundation is stone. Walls aze covered with narrow horizontal siding and trimmed with comer boazds;
gable ends are shingled. The off-center paneled and glazed door on the west faqade has a decorative molding
surround and a transom window of small rectangulaz lights around a lazge light. A concrete stoop with low
stone walls with concrete caps leads to the entrance. A central three-sided bay projects on the fapade. It has a
hipped roof, frieze, and two one-over-one light, double hung windows. An addition was made to the south in
1928. A shed-roofed dormer on this addition has geometric windows on its walls. All other windows aze one-
over-one light, double hung, with plain wood casings. An enclosed porch on the east elevation was built in
2001. A stone chimney on the south elevation-not original to the structure-was removed in 2004.
Cottage Number l1 (1926)
Historic Name: Chautanich
This Craftsman style rectangulaz, side gabled one-and-a-half story dwelling was designed by John Blanchard on
the site of two eazlier wooden cabins. It features overhanging, open comice eaves, walls of horizontal siding
trimmed with comer boazds, and a wood water table. Gable ends are shingled. The raised foundation is stone.
Two gabled dormers on the west have shingled wails, exposed rafters, and one-over-one light, double hung
windows. The main entry is an off-center paneled and glazed door on the west fa~ade. This door is protected
with a shed-roofed hood supported by braces. Concrete stairs with stone walls with concrete trim lead to the
entry. The east elevation has a shed-roofed dormer on a full width shed mofed, 1949 addition. Windows aze
three over-one-light and double hung. The north elevation features a band of one-over-one double hung
windows and a full-height stone chimney. An attached carport is original, and located to the north of the main
building.
Cottage Number 12 (1923)
With its fa~ade on the northeast, this one story side gabled dwelling has overhanging, open cornice eaves. The
foundation is stone and wood piers. Wails aze of wide vertical siding above the sill line and horizontal siding
below. Gable ends aze shingled. The shed-roofed porch on faqade has wide horizontal siding below screens
and is accessed by wood stairs and railing. A shed-roofed addirion was built on the full width of the southwest
elevation in 1942 and features a massive, tapering stone chimney. All elevations contain four-light casement
windows. In 2000 a flagstone terrace with stone retaining walls was built off the southeast comer of the house,
which is accessed by a secondary paneled and glazed door. •
Y~
NPS Fmm 10.900 USDIMPS NR}iP Re~mat~pn Form (Rev &86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA Page 32
Uated Stztu Dq~umwu[ oftLe 1Mma, Natiuoal Puk Semce Naliotul Reg~sta of FUsSm~c Ptxes Reg~straz~on Form
Cottage Number 13 (192'~
Cottage 13 was ereated by joining two 1849 wood cabins. It is a square, one-story, side gabled roof dwel]ing
with overhanging, open comice eaves. Horizontal siding covers the wood pier foundation. Walls and gables aze
clad in horizontal siding; the gables have louvered vents. Under eave screen porches on the west fa~ade and east
elevation have horizontal siding below screens. Both porches have center entries. The faqade has a paneled and
glazed center door, as does the east elevation. All windows are one-over-one light and double hung windows.
There is a stone chimney at the center of the roof.
Cottage Number 603 (1924)
'This one-story, rectangular dwelling has a side gabled roof, and overhanging, open comice eaves. The raised
foundation is concrete. Walls aze clad with horizontal siding. An Under eave porch on the east fapades is
screened az1d has solid balustrades clad with horizontal siding. The east porch is accessed by wooden steps and
railing. The center door is glazed and paneleil. Windows are double hung with one-over-one lights and tapered
surrounds.
Wildrose Road
This road is indicated as Baker Avenue on the1898 plat, and was known as Colorado Avenue from 1900 to
1918. Originally extending from the open space in front of the Dining Hall, it served as a principle north-south
route through the grounds. It now begins at Morning Glory Drive and serves as one of the main arteries of the
central core of Chautauqua, with the Missions House and Waterwise Gazdens as its principle features.
Cottage Number 300 (1428)
Cottage 300 is a rectangulaz, one-story front gabled dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. Wide
horizontal siding covers the wooden pier foundation. Walls sind gable ends are clad in horizontal siding. An
under eave porch on the east fa~,ade has horizontal siding below screens. 'fhe off-center screen door is accessed
by wooden stairs and railing. The off center entrance to the house is a paneled and glazed door with a tapered
wooden surround. Windows aze six-over-one light and double hung with wood swmunds, some tapered.
Cottage Number 401(1900)
Historic Names: WCTU Rest Cottage, Rest Cottage
The Women's Christian Temperance Union had its origins in a meeting held in 1874 at Chautauqua, NY. The
WCTU spread with the Chautauqua Movement and Union activities were common at independent chautauqua
assemblies. Though the enduring connection between the WC1'CJ and the Chautauqua Movement was always
informal, it was also unsurprising. Both movements aimed at the educational, culriu~al, and moral uplift of the
American people. During the 1899 Assembly, the Colorado WCTU rented a tent in which to hold meetings and
lectures. The tent, like most of the temporary suuctures on the grounds, proved to be unsatisfactory. WCTU
members raised $489 to build a permanent headquarters at the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua: The Rest Cottage
was dedicated in 1900, with the reading of a temperance poem commissioned for the occasion, "And with civic
valor buming/Mart and hamlet, hill and plain/Shall we free deaz Colorado/From the liquor traffic's stain."
The Rest Cottage served as a meeting place for WCTU members and as a center for the dissemination of the
WCTU message to chautauquans. With its broad porch and brick fireplace, the cottage also provided a respite
for women on hot, sunny momings and cold, rainy afternoons. In 1910, an addition with bedrooms and a
sleeping porch was added that provided ovemight accommodations for WCN members until the 1950s. In
1961, the Colorado Chautauqua Association pUrchased the cottage, and remodeled it to provide yeaz-round
housing. The sleeping porch was enclosed and the original apgearance of the Rest Cottage was almost totally
obscured. In 1999, the Colorado Chautauqua Associadon undertook an historic structure assessment and
successfully retumed the cottage to its 1910 floor p~ d appearance.
NPS Fmm 10.90(1 USDVNPS NRF~ Reg~stra~on Fam (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 33
Umted Swes Depmtmmt ofthe IMmw. Na~wnal Puk Semce Narioml ReBs1a of Hiamic Pleces Reg~maaon Fmm
The Rest Cottage is a one-story rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, closed comice eaves. The roof is
gabled in front and hipped on the west half of the building. The cottage has a concrete block foundation. Walls
aze clad in narrow horizontal siding with rounded edges. The front gable has vertical siding, a louvered vent,
and a small pent lip extending above the roof of the porch. A hipped mof open porch with wood deck accessed
by flagstone steps is located on the south end of the faqade. This porch contains a recessed center entry with a
door featuring four vertical panels. All windows are 2 over 2 double hung with crown moldings. There is a
brick chimney on the west elevation. The 1910 side gabled addition on the north has a hipped roof scceen porch
with squaze wood balusters and railing. An entry to the cottage from this porch is paneled and glazed.
Missions House (1911)
Historic Names: Missions, Wild Rose Lodge
In 1906, a group of women interested in foreign and domestic missionary work proposed to present a course of
lectures on missions during the next Chautauqua Assembly. The 19071ectures were well subscribed and that
yeaz the School of Missions was established and affiliated with the national Council of Women for Home
Missions. The School was an important part of the rapidly expanding network of women's organizations in
general and the influential sub-group of organizations working to expand professional opportunities for women
in church work. Participants lived in rental cottages and attended classes in the Academic Hall and lazge
program tents. In 1910, the School expanded to provide insuuction for young women, and the girls were
housed in the Girls Camp.
Officials of the School asked the Colorado Chautauqua Association to build a permanent home for its activities
and participants. In 1911, Hazel House was razed to make way for construction of the Missions House. The
School of Missions was held in late June, and the Colorado Chautauqua Association used the lodge for rental
accommodations during the Assembly, which ran from July 4 through eazly August. T'his amangement
continued until 1956, when the School moved to Estes Pazk. Over the next decades, the structure became known
as Wild Rose Lodge and its interior was repeatedly altered to provide more guest rooms. Two additions
containing bathrooms were added to the east faqade, jutting out onto the porch. In 1999, the Colorado
Chautauqua Association engaged consultants to conduct an historic structure assessment, and the exterior of the
lodge was winterized and restored to its original appearance in 2000.
Missions House is a one-and-a-half story, side gable wood frame Arts and Crafts style building. It has a raised
stone foundation, stone chimney, and open comice, overhanging eaves with composition roofing. The walls aze
covered with beveled horizontai siding up to the shared sill course of the first story windows and horizontal
siding up to the eaves. Gables are shingled. The wide shed roofed dormer on the east elevation has 3 pairs of
top hinged, out swinging 2 over 2light windows. The wide shed mofed in eave dormer on the west elevation
has two shared sill course, 6-light horizontally sliding sash windows, the same as the first floor on three
elevations except the east. The east elevation features a pair of multi-light, box-head windows on the full width
under eave screened porch. All windows (except two boxed-head) have wood framed combination storm~screen
units. The porch has vertical siding undemeath the screens. The central entrance has glazed and paneled double
doors. The porch is accessed by wide concrete stairs with stone side walls and pipe railings leading to double
screened doors. Over the porch entrance is a carved wooden sign reading "Missions House" that dates from the
1940s. A secondary entrance to the porch, a screened door accessed by a wooden ramp, is located on the south
elevation.
Cottage Number S01 (1901)
Historic Name: San Antonio Teachers Cottage
This rectangular, one story dwelling has a side gabled roof with overhanging, open cornice eaves and a pent
NPS Form 10.900 USDI/NPS NRFB Re~wa~an Fmm (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 34
Umted SWU Departmmt otthe Imaim, Nmonal Park Semce
e@sta of Hrstanc PWces Registrenon Fwm
Nmoml R
roof below the gables on the north and south elevations. The foundation, of wood piers, is covered with vertical
siding. Walls are clad with horizontal siding; the gables are shingled. The east facade has a shed-mofed porch
with vertical siding below screens; it is accessed by a flight of wood stairs with a wood railing. The entry door
is off-center, glazed and paneled. This cottage was a duplex until 1970 when the originai 2"d entry door was
removed and the opening covered with horizontal siding. On the west elevation is a 1980 addition with a gable
roo£ The east, south, and north elevations have four-over-four double hung windows, while the west addition
has single-light double hung windows. All windows have simple wood surrounds.
Cottage Number 502 (1900)
Historic Name: Brolin Cottage, Brown Palace
This rectangular, one-and-a-half story, side gabled dwelling was built to house visiting lecturers and
Chautauqua faculty. Its foundation is concrete block. Walls and gable ends are clad with horizontal siding and
have corner boazds. There is a shed dormer on the east elevation, clad with horizontal siding. The east
elevation has a shed-roofed 1970 addition. The porch on the east elevation is original; a hip roof addition to the
porch on the nortfi elevation was constructed in 1970. The porch is screened, with vertical grooved plywood
under the screens and vertical siding under the porch deck. The off-center enhy on the east elevation is a full
flush wood door. Windows aze one-over-one light and doubie hung, with simple wood surrounds. "The north
gable end has paired windows.
Cottage Number 601 (1901)
Historic Name: Mazshall Teachers Cottage
Cottage 601 is a one-story, cross-hipped roof square dwelling with overhanging and flared, open comice eaves.
The foundation is concrete. Walls aze clad with horizontal siding. A full-width, shed-roofed porch with vertical
siding under screens is located on the west facade. The entrance has a gabled hood and concrete stoop. The
center entrance is paneled and glazed. The north elevation features a 1919 shed-roofed sleeping porch; the
entrance to this porch was relocated to the east about 1928. Two shed-roofed additions were made to the west
elevation in 1958. All windows have one-over-one lights and are double hung in simple wood casings.
Primrose Road
Primrose Road is indicated on the 1898 plat of the assembly grounds as Texas Avenue, and on 1900 and 1918
Sanborn fire insurance maps as A Street. Although several public buildings-the Preservation Office and
Columbine Lodge-aze located on Primrose Road, it displays the same quiet, residential aspect of other interior
streets within the historic district.
Small, neazly identical cottages were built by the Colorado Chautauqua Association in two phases in 1910 and
in 1928 to replace earlier wooden cabins and provide superior accommodations. In 1919, responding a long-
voiced desire for a hotel to lodge single chautauquans, the Association built a large lodge on Primrose Road. In
the mid-1980s, small sandstone terraces were built between each of the cottages and the street.
Corrage Number 4a5 {1928)
Cottage 405 is a one-story front gabled roof rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves.
Horizontal boards cover the wood pier foundation. Horizontal siding covers walls and gable ends; the walls are
trimmed with corner boards. There is a hipped roof porch with a center entrance on the south far,ade; porch
walls are horizontal siding under screens. The off-center entry to the cottage is a paneled and glazed door. All
windows are one-over-one Light, and double hung with simple wood surrounds.
y 7
NPS Folm 10.900 USDIMPS NRHP Re~stratan Fmm (Rev 8-86) . OMB No 1024-001 B
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 35
Umted Stues Depa~mient ofthe Lrtmrn, Nanonal Pvk Sema Nahooal ReBSta of Hutonc Pleces Reg~svauon Fmm
Cottage Number 407 (1928)
This is a one-story, front gable roofed rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. Horizontal
siding covers the wood pier foundation. Walls are clad with horizontal siding and trimmed with comer boazds.
The upper gable ends contain louvered vents. The shed -roofed poreh on the south fa~ade has post supports and
a solid balustrade of horizontal siding beneath screens. The entrance to the porch is at its center; the entrance to
the cottage is an off-center paneled and glazed door. All windows aze one-over-one light, and double hung with
simple wood surrounds.
Cottage Number 409 (1910) ~
Cottage 409 is a one-story hipped roof rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. Walis are
clad with horizontal siding and trimmed with corner boards. Vertical boazd siding covers the wood pier
foundation, which has a wooden water table. The under eave porch on the south fapade is has screens above a
solid balustrade with vertical board siding below. The screened door entrance to the porch is centered. The
entrance to the cottage is an off-center paneled and glazed door. All windows are one-over-one light, with the
exception of a pair of six-over-one light windows, and aze double hung with sunple wood surrounds.
Cottage Number 411 (1910)
T'his is a one-story side gabled roof rectangular dwelling witfi overhanging, open cornice eaves. The wood pier
foundation is covered with vertical siding. Walls above the sill line aze covered with horizontal siding and with
wide and narrow horizontal siding below the sill. Gable ends are ciad in horizontal siding and contain louvered
vents. The shed-roof porch on the south fa~ade has vertical siding below screens and an off-center entrance.
The off-center door to the cottage is paneled and glazed. In 1995, these entrances were widened, and their
thresholds lowered, to make the cottage accessible to guests using wheelchairs. All windows are four-over-one
light and double hung with wood surrounds.
Cottage Number 413 (1910)
Cottage 413 is a one-story side gabled rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The wood
pier foundation is covered with vertical siding. Walls and gable ends are clad with altemating wide and narrow
horizontal siding; gable ends contain louvered vents. An under eave porch on the south fa~ade has an off-center
entrance and its wall aze vertical siding below screens. The off-center door to the cottage is paneled and glazed.
Double hung multiple-over-single light windows have decorative lintels.
Cottage Number 415 (1928)
This is a one-story front gabled roof rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The wood pier
foundation is covered with vertical siding. Walls and gable ends aze covered with horizontal siding; the walls
aze trimmed with comer boazds. An under eave porch on the south fa~ade has horizontal siding below screens.
The porch entry is off-center, as is the paneled and glazed door to the cottage. Windows aze double-hung, have
one-over-one lights, and aze trimmed with tapered surrounds.
Cottage Number 417 (1928)
Cottage 417 is a one-story front gabled rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eave. The wood
pier foundation covered with vertical siding. Walls and gable ends are covered with horizontal siding; the walls
are trimmed with comer boards. An under eave porch on the south fa~ade has horizontal siding below screens.
The porch entry is off-center, as is the paneled and glazed door to the cottage. Windows aze double-hung, have
one-over-one lights, and are trimmed with tapered surrounds.
~~
NPS Form 10.900 USDVNPS NR}~ Reg~~manon FarN (Rev 8-86) OhID No 1024-001$
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 36
Unned Stazes pep,artment of the Intmm, Narronal Park Sen+a Nmooel Reg~ster of fi~storic Plua Reg~strat~on Form
Preservation ~ce (1913)
Historic Names: Girls Camp, Primrose Apartments
The 1912 Chautauqua Bulletin reported that the Young Women's Missionary Society of Colorado, associated
with the School of Missions, was building an assembly hall and dorm for 36 guls to the west of Missions
House. The building was used as wazehouse in the 1930s and 1940s. In the 1950s, the building was divided
into three apartments to meet the demand for student housing. Since the late 1980s, the Colorado Chautauqua
Association preseivation program and housekeeping departments have been located here.
7'his one-story rectangulaz gable on hip roof building has overhanging open comice eaves. The structure has a
stone foundation. Walls are covered with horizontal siding and have comer boazds. Gables have vertical siding
with louvered vents. A hip roof enclosed porch (originally screen) nms the length of the north elevation. In ihe
1950s, a shed roof porch entry was added on the south elevation. The centered main north entrance has wood
stairs and rails flanked by rustic stone walls. The secondary entrances on the east and west elevations have
wooden decks, balustrades, and railings. Windows are one-over-one double hung, most paired on a shared sill.
All entry doors are glazed and paneled. A flagstone path, built in 2002, on the east side of the building leads to
the service alley behind the Preservation Office. Central trash dumpsters-a bear precaution~nclosed with
wood fencing are located in this alley.
Columbine Lodge (1919)
Historic name: The Lodge
Single travelers and cottagers' out-of-town guests had long presented a housing problem for Chautauqua's
managers. Until the-Lodge was opened, just after World Waz One, many such visitors often took hotel rooms in
Boulder, or rented rooms in town. With the Lodge, Chautauqua essentially had a hotel, and was able to better
serve growing numbers of motoring tourists who wished to experience the Assembly for a few days or a week,
rather than rent a cottage for the entire season.
This is a lazge two-story rectangulaz gable on hip ro.of hotel building with overhanging open comice eaves. The
gables aze small, with louvered vents, and centered on the east and west ends. The foundation is raised stone.
Walls are of rough, pebbledash stucco with vertical boazd siding under first floor deck between stone piers. A
projecting front gabled two-story porch is centered on the north fagade. The porch is open on the lower story,
with stick balustrade and rail, wood floor and wood stairs; one-over-one, double hung windows flank the center
door. The upper story is screened as a sleeping porch. A hipped roof porch protecting a secondary entrance on
the south elevauon has Y-shaped post supports and decorative braces. Ail windows are paired, one-over-one
light, double hung with wood surrounds and wood framed screen/storm units. There is a small, shed-roofed
hood on the east elevation at basement level.
Aster Lane (on some maps spelled "Astor")
Indicated on the 1898 plat of the assembly grounds as Colorado Avenue, and on 1900 and 1918 Sanborn fire
insurance maps as B Street, Aster Lane is a quiet residential street, with little through kaf~ic. All but three of
the cottages on Aster Lane were built in 1910, as the Colorado Chautauqua Association constructed a series of
near-identical dwellings to accommodate burgeoning summer attendance at the chautauqua assembly.
Cottage Number 503 (1910)
Historic Name: Cottage E
Cottage 503 is a one-story side gabled roof rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The
raised wood pier foundation is covered with vertical boazd skirting. Walls and gables ends aze clad with
alternating wide and narrow horizontal siding. An under eave porch on the south fapade has an off-center
entrance and narrow vertical siding below screens. An off-center paneled and giazed door opens into the house
NPS Fortn 10.900 USDI/NPS NR}iP Regislntion Fam (Rev 8-86) OhID No 10240018
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA Page 37
Umted Sntes Depanmmt of the Imaim. NaYOnal Puk Semx N~ood Repsla of Histonc Piaces Reg~stranon Fam
from the porch. There is a single-light window to right of this door. Windows are double hung and aze one-
over-one light and nine-over-one light; windows on the east and west elevations have narrow decorative
surrounds with verfical members extending beyond the top of the window. The north elevation has a secondary
paneled and glazed entrance door, accessed by a wood stairway and railing.
Cottage Number 505 (1910)
Historic Name: Cottage D
This is a one-story hipped roof rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The raised wood
pier foundation is covered with vertical board skirting. Watls are clad with horizontal siding. The under eave
porch on the south faqade has narrow vertical siding below screens and an off-center entrance. An off-center
paneled and glazed door leads from the cottage onto the porch. There is a single-light window to right of this
door. Double hung windows are either one-over-one light or nine-over-one light. A small flagstone patio
between the cottage and the street was built in the early 1990s.
Cottage Number 506 (1910)
Historic Name: Cottage H
This is a one-story hipped roof rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The raised wood
pier foundation has a wood water table. Walls are clad with horizontal siding. The under eave porch on the
north fagade has narrow vertical siding below screens and an off-center entrance. An off-center paneled and
glazed door leads from the cottage onto the porch. There is a single-light window to right of this door. Double-
hung, one-over-one light and six-over-one light windows have simple wood surrounds.
Cottage Number 507 (1910)
Historic Name: Cottage C
Cottage 507 is a one-story, side gable roofed rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The
wood pier foundation is raised in on the north where the site slopes and is covered with vertical siding. Walls
aze clad with horizontal siding of altemating wide and narrow lap. The under eave porch on the south fa~ade
has walls of screen with vertical siding below and an off-center entrance. An off-center, paneled and glazed
door leads from the porch into the cottage. Double-hung, one-over-one light and six-over-one light windows
have simple wood surrounds. T'he north elevation has a secondary paneled and glazed entrance door, accessed
by a wood stairway and railing. A small flagstone patio between the cottage and the street was built in the eazly
1990s.
Cottage Number 508 (1910)
Historic Name: Cottage G •
This is a one-story, side gable roofed rectangular dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. Its wood pier
foundation is covered with vertical siding. Walls aze clad with horizontal siding of altemating wide and narrow
lap. Gables are vented. The under eave porch on the north fa~ade is screened and accessed by wooden stairs
and railings leading to an off-center screen door. An off-center, paneled and glazed door leads from the porch
into the cottage. Double-hung, one-over-one light and six-over-one light windows have simple wood
surrounds.
Cottage Number 509 (1910)
Historic Name: Cottage B
Cottage 509 is a one-story, side gable roofed rectangulaz dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The
wood pier foundation is raised on the north, where the site slopes and is covered with vertical siding. Walls are
clad with horizontal siding. An under eave porch on the south fa~ade has vertical siding below screens and an
off-center screen door. An off-center, paneled and glazed door leads &om the porch into the cottage. Double-
~
NPS Fam 14900 USDUNPS NRF~ Reg~strahoo Fam (Rev. e-86) OMB No. 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA Page 38
Unitcd Sbta De9amwnt ofihe Intenm, NWOnaI pmic Serncc NmmW R
eAStc of Hutoric Places Reg~stanon Form
hung, one-over-one light and six-over-one light windows have simple wood surrounds. The north elevation has
a secondary paneled and glazed entrance door, accessed by a wood stairway and railing. A small flagstone
patio between the cottage and the street was built in the eazly 1990s.
Cottage Number 510 (1903)
Historic Name: Cottage 52
Cottage 510 is a one-story, rectangular hipped roof dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The original
foundation is of wood piers; the foundation under the south add~tion is a concrete slab. Both have a vertical
boazd skirting. Walls aze clad with horiwntal siding of altemating wide and narrowlap. A shed-roofed porch
on the north faqade has wails of vertical siding below screen and an off-center screen door. Concrete steps with
wood railing lead to the porch. The primary entrance to the cottage is an off-center paneled wooden door with a
single light transom. The south elevation has addition, date unknown. The gabled roof of the addition meets
the long side of the original hip roof, creating a higher ridgeline that exposes a small central gable on the north.
Windows are double-hung, with one-over-one lights and plain wood casings.
Cottage Number 511 (1910) .
"This is a one-story, side gable roofed square dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. Walls aze clad
with horizontal siding above the sill level and horizontal siding in alternating wide and narrow lap below. The
wood pier foundation is raised on the north where the site slopes and is covered with vertical boazd skirting. A
shed-zoofed porch on the south faqade has walls of nazrow vertical si3ing below screen and an off-center screen
door. An off-center, paneled and glazed door leads from the porch into the cottage. Windows aze double-hung,
and have four-over-one lights and simple wood surrounds. A small flagstone patio between the cottage and the
street was built in the eazly 1990s.
Cottage Number 512 (19~3)
Historic Name: Cottage 17
Cottage 512 was built as Cottage 17 on Kinnikinic. It was moved to its present site in 1942. It is a one-story,
rectangular dwelling with a side gabled roof featuring overhanging, open cornice eaves. The raised original
foundation is on wood piers covered with stucco; the south addition is on a concrete slab. Walls are clad with
wood shingles and trimmed with corner boazds. The north fa~ade has a shed-roofed porch with walls of vertical
siding below screen. Wooden stairs, railing, and landing access this porch. An off center, paneled and glazed
door leads from the porch to the cottage. The south elevation has a shed-roofed addition, built in 1985. Twelve-
over-one and four-over-four light, double hung windows are on the original building; the addition has one-over-
one light, double hung windows. A concrete patio, installed when the cottage was moved, is located between
the house and the street.
Cottage Number 516 (c. 1890)
Historic Names: Tecrell Teachers Cottage, Hexagonal Cottage
Cottage 516 has a complex history. Built about 1890 as a duplex, it was moved from downtown Boulder to the
site of the present Cottage 20 in 1899. In 1905, it was moved to its present location. It is a rectangulaz, one-
story, side gabled roof dwelling. Overhanging, open comice eaves have decorative false beams. The wood pier
foundation is covered with lattice. Walls aze clad with horizontal siding; a shed-roofed 1910 addition on the
east elevation has flush horizontal siding. The under eave porch on the north faqade has wood posts, and an
azch in gable hood over the wooden steps. The north fapade also contains a bay with two single-light, double-
hung windows on its northeast and north sides and a paneled and glazed door on its northwest side. The bay
projects onto the porch, which has another paneled and glazed door into the cottage on its west end. Other
windows aze one-over-one light, double-hung as well as some horizontal sliding windows, all with simple wood
surrounds. A wood patio with a wood railing was constructed on the east elevation in 1982.
NPS Fofm 10.900 USDUNPS NR}iP Regi4rotwn Fam (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 39
Unrted Smres Depanment of rhe lotenm, NarionW Puk Sema N~oodl ReAam of H~uonc Places Re~strenon Fo~m
Upper Tennis Court (1912)
In the eazly years of the twentieth century, tennis courts were marked out with cloth tape each summer in the
azea that later became the Chautauqua Green. W.W. Parce's 1910 plan for the Green did not include tennis
courts, but casual references to the Green as the "Tennis Pazk" persisted as late as 1915. By that time, however,
tennis-a perennial favorite activity at Chautauqua-had been pmvided with a permanent courts in the southern
part of the assembly grounds. The surface was touted as clay, but was more likely a simple layer of gravel.~b
The backstops were made of chicken wire. About 1917, a drinking fountain set in a rubble stone base was
built to the north of the courts. The Chautauqua Women's Forum paid to have the tennis courts surfaced with
cement in the late 1920s.
The rectangulaz court was resurfaced in 1992 with concrete and a composite playing surface colored green (in-
bounds) and red (out-of-bounds). The court area is now defined by sandstone walls and steps surrounded by a
chain link fence. These walls aze retaining walls; the level of the court is about five feet below Lupine Lane and
five feet above the alley to the north. A flight of sandstone steps leads into the tennis court firom the west,
entering a sandstone teaace with two sandstone benches.
Play Area (1912, noncontributing)
When the tennis courts were built in 1912, a horseshoe pitch was installed to their west. In the late 1920s, the
horseshoe pitch was replaced with a croquet lawn. 'I'he croquet lawn in turn was replaced with a concrete
basketball court, with a concrete block retaining wa11 and chain link fence. Because the appearance of the site
has been so altered, the Play Area does not contribute to the significance of the historic district.
Lupine Lane
Lupine Lane was named Keeler Avenue, after an official of the Gulf and Southem Railroad. I,ike the other
east-west streets in the historic district, Lupine was crowded with platform tents during its first years. From
1900 to 1918, as indicated on Sanborn fire insurance maps, the mad was known as C Street. Lupine Lane is a
quiet, little trafficked sueet, with just a few cottages, all built during the period of peak attendance at
Chautauqua.
Cottage Number 701 (1922)
This is a rectangular, one-story, side gable dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The concrete blcek
foundation is raised to the north where the site slopes and probably reconstructed in 1969, when basement-level
rooms under a hip roof were added. The walls aze clad with horizontai sidiag and trimmed with corner boards.
An under eave porch on the south faqade has walls of narrow vertical siding below screen and a center screen
door. The center door from the porch to the cottage is glazed and paneled. A 1928 addition was made on the
south elevation. Windows date from the 1960s, and aze double-hung with single lights and simple wood
casings. The flagstone patio between the cottage and the street was built in the 1980s. A painted concrete block
retaining wall, built in the 1970s, sepazates the grounds of this cottage from the tennis court to its east.
Cottage Number 703 (1922)
Cottage 703 was built as a twin of Cottage 701. It is a rectangulaz, one-story, side gable dwelling with
overhanging, open comice eaves. The concrete block foundation is raised where the site slopes and was
reconsVucted in 1969 when basement-level rooms were added. The walls are clad with horizontal siding and
trimmed with corner boards. An under eave porch on the south fa~ade has walls of narrow vertical siding below
screen and a center screen door. The center door from the porch to the cottage is glazed and paneled. Windows
5a-
'b Galey, 116 and Chautauqva Park Historic District Cultural Landscape Assessment and Plan, 76.
NPS Fofm 10-900 USDUNP$ NR}iP Regunabon Fmm (Rev. &86) OMB No 1024-0018
'THE COLORADO CI~AUTAUQUA Page 40
Umted Statu Depa~ent of 1he Imenm, Nanonal Parlc Semu Nanoaal Register of FLs~mic Plues Regimanon Form
date from the 1960s, and aze double-hung with single lights and sunple wood casings. The flagstone patio
between the cottage and the street was built in the 1980s.
Cottage Number 704 (1950, noncontributing)
This is a rectangulaz, one-and-a-half story, front gable roofed dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves.
The raised concrete foundation contains a basement-level half-story. Walls are shingled, as aze the vented
gables. A hip roofed porch on the north fagade has exposed rafters, a center double screen door and a solid
balustrade of vertical siding below screens. The center entrance to the cottage is paneled and glazed. Some of
the double-hung one-over-one light windows have wooden shutters. There is a full-height stone chimney on the
east elevation, as well as a secondary entrance with a small shed hood. A wide, shed roofed 1958 addition on
the south elevation has an attached carport. Another small shed roofed hood with lattice on the west protects
the glazed paneled entrance to the basement quarters.
Cottage Number 700 (1953, noncontributing) .
Historic Name: Garage Cottage
This is a one-story, cross-gabled roofed rectangular dwelling with ovechanging, open cornice eaves. The
foundation is poured concrete. Walls aze clad with wide horizontal siding; the gables aze vented. The north
fapade has a shed-roofed porch with vertical siding below screens and a screen center door. There is an under
eave screen porch on the south elevation. All windows are double-hung, with two-over-two lights. A full-
height stone chimney was built on the west elevation in 1983. There is a fieldstone retaining wall at the north
edge of the property, along the street.
Boggess Circle
The 1898 plat of the assembly grounds shows a reservoir at the southern tip of the camp. This reservoir was
dug in the 1880s to serve the Bachelder Ranch. It was fed by Bluebell Spring, and from it ran a series of
irrigation ditches. When the City of Boulder bought the Bachelder pmperty, it improved the reservoir by
enlarging it and building sloped embankments. Although pmperly a City reservou, it became known as
Chautauqua Lake and its embankments served as an informal promenade.
The reservoir was further enlazged and lined with concrete when water lines were built in ] 902 to supply the
cottages and public water taps of Chautauqua. By 1923, however, the quality of the water was poor and the
City built a new reservoir to the southeast, on Enchanted Mesa. The old reservoir was occasionally used to
store irrigation water until it was drained in 1929 and the site was consigned to utility duty; garages for 10
automobiles were built just to its north in 1923, but demolished wiihin a decade.
The reservoir was filled with gravel and dirt in 1941 to pmvide building sites for new cottages, sites in demand
by post-waz Texas vacationers with faznily ties to Chautauqua. Ten cottages, all reflecting the character-defining
aspects of historic cottages, were built on or moved to Boggess Circle in the 1950s. In 2002, the Association
saved an historic 1924 bungalow from demolition by moving it from the University of Colorado campus to
Boggess Circle.
Cottage Number 801 (1950, noncontributing)
Cottage 801 is a rectangular, side gabled one story dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The
foundation is poured concrete. Walls aze covered by horizontal siding below sill line and shingled above.
Gables are shingled. The projecting, shed roofed screen porch on the south fagade has a center door and walls
of vertical siding below screens. A similaz porch runs the width of the north elevation. Windows are single light
double hung. In 1962, a side gabled addition and screened porch were added on the west elevation. The porch
forms a dogtrot between the main structure and the addition, and now contains the primary entrance. The
NPS Fomi 10.900 USDUNPS NRHP Rtpaau~on Fwm (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 41
Umted Stata Depum~ent of the Iotmm, Natlooal Pak Serna Nmodl Re~~er of Hmanc Plaxv ReBStrmion Fmm
addition features an in eave gable decorated by a geometric multiple-over-single light fixed window, flanked by
casement windows, on its south elevation. Other windows are also casements.
Cottage 802 (c.1925, noncontributing) .
This rectangulaz, one story side hipped gable dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves was built on
Broadway in the 1920s and moved to Boggess Circle in 1954. It has a concrete block foundation; its walls aze
clad in horizontal siding and trimmed with corner boazds. The north fapade contains a wide, shed-roofed porch
with horizontal siding below screens. Entry to porch is from a west side wood stoop and stairs. Cottage
windows aze three- over-one and double-hung with simple wood casings. The east elevation features a center
gabled enclosed porch with six light casement windows over vertical siding.
Cottage 803 (1953, noncontributing)
Cottage 803 is a rectangular, one-story dwelling with a gable on hip roof with widely overhanging, open cornice
eaves. The foundation is poured concrete and contains a walkout basement on its east elevation. Widely lapped
shingles cover the walls. Wood louvers fill the small gables on the east and west roofs. The west end of the
south faqade has an open under eave porch with wood railing and full-length bench. The entry to the house from
this porch contains a flush door with vertically glazed sidelights. The east elevation features an under eave,
screened porch cantilevered over a lazge flagstone patio on the slope below. Paired, aluminum sliding doors
lead from tiris terrace to the basement quarters. Ail windows are vertical, single-light casements or fixed single-
light windows. There is a brick chimney on north elevation.
Cottage 804 (1950, noncontributing) ~
This is a rectangular, one- and-a-half story dwelling with a gable on hip roof and overhanging, open cornice
eaves. The partly raised foundation is poured concrete and contains walk out basement level quarters added in
1953 on its east end. Walls aze covered by wide, horizontal siding. The norfh fa~ade contains two gables and
an open, shed-mofed porch over the main entry in iu south end. A secondary entrance on this elevation has a
shed-roofed hood. The east elevation features a wide enclosed, shed roofed porch resting on the raised portion
of the foundation. The south elevation has a wood deck on the southeast comei~ with a wood sliding door
accessing the enclosed east porch. All windows are single-light and double-hung.
Cottage 805 (t953, noncontributing)
Cottage 805 is a rectangulaz, one-and-a-half story side gabled dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves.
The foundation is of powed concrete. Walls and gables aze covered with quarter sawn log siding. The west
fa~ade has a small, centered shed-roofed hood covering a paneled and multiple-light entry door. The east
elevation features a small shed roofed dormer with three single-light awning windows. The south elevation has
a wood stairway and railing, added in 1957, accessing the upper half-story. All the windows are double-hung,
with two-over-two lights.
Cot[age 807 (1954, noncontributing)
This is a rectangulaz, one-and-a-half story side gabled dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves built into
a steep north-facing hill. The foundation is poured concrete. Walls are covered in narrow vertical siding and the
gables aze shingled. In 1990, the original flat roof was replaced by a half-story with a gabled roof containing a
shed-roofed dormer on its north pitch. In 2000, a wide enclosed porch was built on the north faqade. This
porch is accessed by a long L-shaped wood stairway and railing. Windows are double-hung or casements with
one-over one lights. A wide wood deck and railing was been added to the east elevation in 1982.
Cottage 808 (1950, nonconttibuting) ~
NPS Fotm i6900 USDI/NPS NRHP Re~stotlw Fam (Rev. 8-86) OhID No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA Page 42
Unrted Smtes Depavnent ofthe In(ma, National Park Servica Natioml Regta[> of Histonc Plaas Registranon Fmm
This rectangutaz, one story hip roofed dwelling has widely overhanging, open cornice eaves and is built into a
steep north, facing hill. The foundation is of poured concrete with tall stone columns on the north. The walis aze
covered with wide horizontal siding. An under eave screened porch wraps azound part of the north and west
elevations with vertical siding under the screens. Access to the porch is provided by a long wood stairway and
railing. A west-facing door provides entry to the porch and double flush glazed and paneled doors lead from the
porch to the house. All windows are single-light and double-hung.
Cottage 809/810 (c. 1925, noncontributing)
This duplex was built at 2230 Euclid in the 1920s and moved to Chautauqua Pazk in 1955. It is a rectangulaz,
one story side gabled multiple dwelling with overhanging, open comice eaves. The foundation is concrete
block. Walls and gables are shingled. Both gables contain a single-light awning window. The east fa~ade has a
full width, shed- roofed porch with shingle walls below screens. Center screen doors on its north and south ends
give entry to this porch. The entrances to the cottage from the porch are matching paneled and glazed doors.
North and south elevations have smali shed roofed pmjections. The south elevation has a wood deck,
wheelchair ramp, and railing to porch. The north elevation has a small wood stoop and railing. The fagade has
three-over-one light, double-hung windows; the remaining windows have single lights.
Cottage 811 (1924, noncontributing)
This bungalow was built neaz the University of Colorado campus in 1924. Planned campus expansion
threatened its demolition and the Colorado Chautauqua Association moved it to Chautauqua Pazk in 2002. It is
a rectangulaz, one story side gabled dwelling with overhanging, open cornice eaves. The new foundation is
poured concrete. Walls and gables are covered with altemating wide and narrow shingles. The east fapade
features a center gabled hood with triangular braces that protects a wood stoop and railing. The stoop gives
access to tluee-light glazed and paneled enhy door. The fapade also contains a tapered brick chimney. The
north end of the fapade has a ten-over-one light, double-hung window while the south end has paired six-over-
one light, double-hung windows. Qther windows are six-over-one ligltt, and double hung. Some are gaired. The
south elevation has a centered, shed-mofed hood covering another secondary entry with a door glazed and
paneled similaz to the east door. Wood steps lead to this enhy.
~~
NPS Fmm 10.900 USDUNPS NRHP Reg~stratiw Fotm (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024~IOI B
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 43
Unrted Smtes Depmm~ent ofthe Imerim, Nehonal Pmk Service Nanooal Re~sta of Histonc Places Reg~stranon Fmm
Contributing Buildings-87
Dining Hall
Storage Buildings (2)
Academic Hali
Community House
Auditorium
Noncontributing Buildings-20
Ranger Cottage
Cottages: 13B, 16, 18, 20, 35, 212/214, 216, 310,
700, 704, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805, 807, 808,
809/810,811
Missions House
Preservation Office
Columbine Lodge
Cottages 1, 2, 3, 3A, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 1Q 11, 12, 13, 13
A, 14, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32,
33, 34, 100, 102, 106,108, 110, 114, 200, 211, 213,
215, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 300, 302, 304,
306, 309, 311, 313, 314, 316, 401, 405, 407, 409,
411, 413, 415, 417, 501, 502, 503, 505, 506, 507,
508, 509, 510, 511, 512, 516, 601, 603, 701, 703
Contributing Sites-7
Main Entrance
Green
Playground
Pazking Lot (remnant of carriage road)
Centennial Garden
Noncontributing Sites-3
Peace Gazden
PublicTennis Courts
Play Area
Waterwise Garden
Upper Tennis Court
Coatriburing Structures-7
Shelter House
Entrance Gate
Lincoln Street Steps
Arbor
Picnic Shelter
Wild Rose Gazebo
Cottage #316 Garage
Noncontributing Structures-5
Chautauqua Auditorium Playhouse
Gazlandia Gazebo
Ticket Booth
Concession Stands(2)
Contributing Objects-1
Community House Sundial
Noncontributing Objects-7
Miners Memorial
Charles Sawtelle Memorial
Memorial Boulder
Centennial Gazden Fountain
Centennial Garden Fence
Waterwise Gazden Fountain
Waterwise Garden Flagpole
~
NPS Form 10.900 USDUNPS NRF~ RegisUanon Fam (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 44
Umted Smta Deparfinent ofihe Imma, Nanoo9l Pak SemxNahaui Re@sta of Hu[anc Places Registrauon Farm
8. STATEMEINT OF SIGPIIFICANCE
Certifying official has considered the significance of ttus property in relation to other pmperties:
Nationally:_ Statewide:_ Locally:
Applicable National
Register Criteria:
Criteria Considerations
(Exceptions):
NHL Criteria: 1
AX B_ C_ D
A_ B_ C_ D_ E_ F_ G
NHL Theme(s): . II. Creating Sociai Institutions and Movements
4. Recreational Activities
III. Expressing Cultural Values
1. Educational and Intellectual Currents
2. Populaz and Traditional Culhue
Areas of Significance: Education, Entertainment/Recreation
Period(s) of Significance: 1898-1930
Significant Dates:
Significant Person(s):
Cultutal Affiliation:
ArchitectBuilder: F.E. Kidder & E.R. Rice, W.W. Parce, J. Blanchazd, A.A. Saunders, T. Ammons
Historic Contexts: XXVII. Education
E. Adult Education
G. Adjunct Educational Institutions
X}~CN. Recreation
C. General Recreation
2. Resort Communities
~7
NPS Fmm 10.900 USDI/NPS NRI~ Registrat~on Fmm (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1024-001 H
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 45
Uoited Sta[es Departmwt of the Intaior, Natonal Park Sm~ceNanoml Re@sta ofHwonc Pleces Reg~stranon Form
State Significance of Property, and Justify Criteria, Criteris Considerations, and Areas and Periods of
Significance Noted Above.
Summary
The Colorado Chautauqua in Boulder stands out as an exceptional representative of the Chautauqua Movement.
Founded in 1898 as the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua, the property is the only site of its kind: an independent
institution established and continuously operating as a chautauqua open to the general public. Its founders-
Texas educators and Boulder civic leaders--designed the site and the program of "the Great Westem
Chautauqua" with great attention to the "Chautauqua Idea." The chautauqua was to offer a summer school for
schoolteachers desiring "systematic study," provide "ample instruction and entertainment for old and young,"
and take best advantage of "one of the most beautiful and healthful locations on the continent"`~
The Colorado Chautauqua is a living dceument of the Movement's ideals: leaming for all, uplifting
entertainment, and useful leisure in a natural and inspiring setting. The Colorado Chautauqua displays more
historic integrity tFian any extant chautauqua property, including those already designated National Historic
Landmazks. Adding to its national significance is the fact that the Colorado Chautauqua suryives as a unique,
westem expression of the Movement. In its heyday, the Colorado Chautauqua was the most prominent, most
stable and largest independent chautauqua in the West. It remains the only continuously operating chautauqua
west of the Mississippi River. And, in keeping with the egalitarian nature of the westem chautauquas, the
Colorado Chautauqua is now the nation's only continuously operating chautauqua with grounds open and free
for public enjoyment.
This property is significant under Criterion 1 as an outstanding representation of America's first truly national
mass educational and cultural movement. At a time when less than two percent of adult Americans held high
school degrees, when primary and secondary teacher training was rudimentary, unsystematic, or non-existent,
chautauquas brought post-secondary education to millions and teacher training to thousands. Chautauquas
brought prominent speakers, high culture, and populaz entertainments to non-urban azeas that had never had
such opportunities. While cities were growing more congested, chautauquas emphasized the benefits of outdoor
life. Between the founding of the Chautauqua Movement in 1874 and its nadir in 1930, perhaps 45 million
Americans had attended a chautauqua.
The Chautauqua Idea~rdinary people gaining extraordinary exposure to education, to high and low culture,
and to new recreational forms---was institutionalized in two, quite distinct formats: the independent assembly
and the circuit chautauqua. Modeled on the Chautauqua Institution in westem New York, the independent
assembly was designed to be held annuaily in the summer at a permanent location. More than 400 independent
assembly sites in the United States have been identified by historians.18 The circuit chautauqua, traveling
troupes of educators and entertainers, bmught a week or two of programming to rural towns all over the United
States. Although derided or ignored by the independent assemblies and dismissed as entertainment for the
`booboisie" by the likes of HL Mencken, the circuit chautauquas visited as many as 10,000 towns between
1904 and 1930. The Colorado Chautauqua is unique because its programming successfully assimilated the
popular entertainment featured at the circuit chautauqua with the educational emphasis of the independent
assembly.
The Chautauqua Movement shaped our national landscape as well as our national culture. Hundreds of towns
have pazks or districts named "Chautauqua." Now municipal green space or residenrial neighborhoods, these
" The Texas-Colorado Chautauqua Journal, (Denver, CO: April, 1899).
1e The Chautauqua Institution Archives, Harry McClarran Collection, "The Chautauqua Movement: Independent Chautauqua
Assemblies" (Chautauqua, NY: Chautauqua Institufion, 2004). ~
NPS Form 10.900 USDUNPS NR}iP Rc~~ntwo Fam (Rev 6-86) OMH No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 46
[lnited Sta[es Depamient ofthe Immm, Natiooal PaAc $ervieeNato~l Regista of H~slonc Places Reg~stranon Form
sites serve as reminders of the independent assemblies or circuit chautauquas that once enlivened civic life.19
Less common are the distinctive tabernacles, pavilions, and auditoriums that were the central feature of the
independent assemblies, though a few stand as the sole vestiges of a nual assembly20 Some independent
assemblies developed into suburban neighborhoods or entire municipalities?~ Other assemblies discontinued
chautauc~ua programming as they became typical summer resorts, or evolved into religious denominational ~
retreats. Z A few of these pazks, pavilions, and communities have had periodic seasons of Chautauqua-like
programming 23 Only six chautauc~uas have remained in continuous operation, offering chautauqua
programming since their founding. 4 And of these six, the Colorado Chautauqua displays the highest integrity
of site, structures, and setting.
Origias and Growth of the Chautauqua Movement
In 1874, businessman Lewis Miller and Methodist bishop John Heyl Vincent began a sumnier school for
Sunday School teachers on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in westem New York State. Although the summer
schoal occupied the facilities of an established Methodist camp meeting, Millet and Vincent were wary of the
enthusiasm of camp meetings and intended their new enterprise to support systematic teacher training. The
organizers realized after the success of the first season that a broader constituency demanded the sort of
educational opportunities provided by athenaeums, lyceums, and mechanics' institutes during the antebellutn
period25 The eazly Chautauqua Institution provided a broad range of educational and cultural offerings, from
musical performances to lectures and instruction on every conceivabie topic. The Institudon soon endeavored
to bring a"college outlook" to those masses of Americans who, despite compulsory public education, had on
average only five years of formal education.
In 1878, the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle (CLSC) was born as the United States' first mail-order
book club. Its members enrolled in a four-yeaz course, after completing wlvch they were awarded a diploma
and invited to the Chautauqua Institution to participate in an elaborate graduation ceremony. The Chautauqua
Literary and Scientific Circle soon had thousands of inembers; by1900 50,000 people had been awarded
diplomas from this "everyday college." Since the founders of the Chautauqua Institution were uninterested in
franchising their idea, the spread of the Chautauqua Movement was non-hierarchical and organia The CLSC
would be the single most effective method of spreading the Chautauqua Idea throughout America. Its graduates
wrote about Chautauqua, organized independent assemblies, and, after the tum of the century invited the circuit
chautauquas to their small, nual towns.
Newspaper accounts, word of mouth, populaz novels, and promotional pamphlets also brought "chautauqua"
into cultural currency.26 An 1$95 Cosmopolitan writer stated t6at, "The neazest realization of democracy which
19 The Chautauqua Park Historic District in Des Moines, listed on the Naqonal Register of Historic Places, is an example of properties
that have this in name only association with the Chautauqua Movement.
20 Properties of this type listed on the National Register of Historic Places include the Chautauqua Auditorium in Taylorville> Illinois
a~d the Waxahachie Chautauqua Building in Waxahachie, Texas.
Z~ Pacific Palisades, in Santa Barbara, Califomia and Laurel Park, in Northampton, Massachusetts are e~mples of chautauquas that
later became suburban enclaves. The DeFuniak Springs Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is an
example of a chautauqua that formed the core of subsequent urban development.
''~ The Gulfside Chautauqua, founded by and for African Americans, in Waveland, Mississippi is now a retreat and conference center
opemted by the United Methodist Church.
Z' The communiry of Waxahachie periodically organizes a week of chautauqua programming and there have been signi£cant efforts to
revive chautauqua in DeFuniak Springs.
~0 The Fountain Park Chautauqua in Indiana, the New Piasa Chautauqua in Illinois, the Colorado Chautauqua, and the Lakeside
Assembly in Ohio are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Bay View Association in Michigan and the Chautauqua
Institution in New York are National Historic Lsndmarks.
''S Historian Mdrew Reiser terms this the "mid-century culture market " Reiser, 101-103.
26 Some of these novels are the "Pansy" novels by Isabella Alder, notably the 1876 Four Girls at Chautauqua; Anna E. Hahn's 1888
Summer Assembly Days; John Haverton's 1891 The Chautaaqua: A Novel; and Kate Thurston's Chautauqua Circle, also published in
~
NPS Fafm 10.900 USDUNPS NRHP Regiatra~rn Fam (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1026-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJ'I'AUQUA Page 47
Uorted States Depalmmt oft6e IMenor, Natloual Paik SemuNanonal Regis~er of Wsconc Places Reg~straUOn Form
I have witnessed during a residence of a quarter century in the United States is the Chautauqua Movement.
T'here rank, wealth, and competitive rivalries appear to be forgotten."Z~ Civic supporters and staff served as
missionaries for the chautauqua idea. Before the Boulder chautauqua's first season, a delegation was sent to
Ottawa, Kansas to investigate proper chautauqua methods and arrangements. Mary Barrett, who had served as
secretary for the Ottawa chautauqua, was then brought to Boulder to help organize the first assembly.
Within three years of its founding, the Chautauqua Institution had spawned three unofficial offspring-in New
York's 1,000 Islands, at Bay View, Michigan, and at Cleaz Lake, Iowa. By 1899, 78 independent assemblies
had been established, and by 1900 over 100 were operating-51 in the Midwest, 23 in the northeast, 16 in the
south, and 11 in the wes~t.28 The burgeoning movement held almost universal appeal-a Jewish Chautauqua
Society Assembly was held Atlantic City, New Jersey between 1893 and 1909; Spring Bank, Wisconsin hosted
the Western Catholic Chautauqua; and, for several seasons after 1906 the Louisiana Colored Chautauqua was
held in Ruston, Louisiana. At its peak in 1924, the Chautauqua Movement had been institutionalized in 440
independent assemblies-at many, albeit for just a summer or two.29 As educational, culturai, and recreational
programming burgeoned, attendance boomed and the campuses of many independent assemblies evolved from
tented campgrounds to sylvan resorts with cottages, hotels, restaurants, chapels, and clubhouses.
Traveling chautauquas, impermanent by their nature, rapidly expanded geographically. In 1904, Keith Vawter
transformed Iowa's Redpath Lyceum Bureau by offering packaged tent chautauquas that brought lecturers,
educators, and performers to rural towns. By the mid-1920s, the Redpath agency and 20 other companies
would organize circuit chautauquas all over the country.30 By 1930, more than 10,000 mostly small, mostly
rural communities had hosted weeklong traveling chautauquas provided by an estimated 93 chautauqua circuits
deploying 8,580 tents.
Beginnings of the Colorado C6autauqua-Teachers, Railroads, Boosters, and Mountains
In the late 1890s, the Texas Boazd of Regents determined to establish a summer school for teachers in a cool
climate. Because the Chautauqua Movement was such a powerful and popular cultural force at this time, the
Regents surmised that the best way to obtain a favorable location for the teachers' school would be to partner
with a railroad company, package the school with a chautauqua, and barter with a Colorado town for a site. The
president of the Universiry of Texas, the chair of the Board of Regents and officials of the Colorado and
Southem Railroad visited Boulder in September of 1897. Ciry fathers wooed the Texans by offering to supply
land, facilities, and public utilities for the assembly, to be named the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua. A
promotional brochure published as soon as the agreement was finalized proclaimed, "The program embraces a
period of six weeks and is by all odds the most comprehensive intellectual treat ever presented west of the
Mississippi River."31
The involvement of the Colorado and Southern Railroad in organizing and pmmoting this new institution was
typical of the Chautauqua Movement, and in the development of new recreational activities in the late
nineteenth centwy.32 Mining freight was declining, and tourism was booming; Boulder was thirty lucrative rail
miles from Denver. By 1900, two daily trains from Denver brought visitors to Boulder's assembly grounds;
1891.
27 Hjalman Hjorth Boyesen, quoted in Reiser, 158.
ZB Reiser, 51.
Z' "The Chautauqua Movement: Independent Chautauqua Assemblies."
'o ]ames Schultz, The Romance ofSma![-Town Chautauquas (Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press, 2002), 15.
~~The Tuas-Colorado Chautauquan (Ft. Worth, TX: 1898).
~ZRailroad and streetcaz companies were insVUmental in the establishment of seaside escapes such as the Revere Beach Reservation
ouuide of Boston, and amusement pazks like Kennywood Park on the outskirts of Pittsburgh and Seabreeze Park on Lake Ontario near
Rochester, NI'. / /~
Y1V
NPS Fwm 10.900 USDUNPS NRF~ Regi~anon Fam (Rev. 8$6) OM8 No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 48
Umted Sutes Depatmrnl of ~he Interia, Nabonal Pmic SemceNaoonal Re~sta of FLstonc Plazes Registralion Form
and daily trains ran from the northern plains and &om mining towns to the west. Just as the Grand Rapids and
Indiana Railroad subsidized the founding of the Bay View, Michigan chautauqua and the Denver and Rio
Grande road underwrote the Rocky Mountain Chautauqua at Palmer Lake, Colorado &om 1886 to 1910, the
Colorado and Southern viewed its support of the Te~cas-Colorado Chautauqu~which included assigning its
manager and passenger agent Eli Hirschfield to be the assembly's first secretary, as well as arranging programs
and assuming all financial risk in the first year-as a good investment. The railroad even planned to extend its
line right to the assembly grounds. The grade proved too steep, and a streetcaz line was substituted.
The role of Boulder's municipal boosters in attracting the chautauqua, too, is typical of the Chautauqua
Movement. Lucius Paddock, editor of the Daily Camera, led the campaign to win the chautauqua for Boulder.
The city had a certain level of status anxiety, even with the 1876 establishment of the University of Colorado in
Boulder. Boulder's civic leaders promoted the city as the "Athens of the WesP', and more than a qualified
competitor with Denver, which auned to be the "Hartford of the West." 1'he city's economic base was rapidly
shifring away from supplying mines in its westem hinterlands with building supplies and the produce of its
truck fazms. The lJniversity and a growing number of local tuberculosis sanitariums offered buyers for these
products, and important employment opportunities. Paddock editorialized, "The prize is too big to be allowed to
slip away. It will be to the West what the Eastern institution of the same name has been to the East. Boulder's
name as the leading residential and educational town will be unassailable."33
The Chautauqua Movement stressed that educational and cultural activities should take place apart from the
houses, offices, shops, and fazms of daily life, in an inspiring natural setting that encouraged healthful physical
recreation. Dwellings were to be primitive tents, cabins, or cottages grouped in a camp-like resort. The site for
the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua was expressly chosen for its spectaculaz mountain setting and health-giving
environment. An eazly promotional pamphlet for Boulder's chautauqua advertised that, "In the eazliest days,
men sought the springs and mountains not merely as hunters and miners, but in seazch of health and repose.
The new method of `resorting' is the Boulder Chautauqua Assembly.s34 Preservation of the natural setting has
followed Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.'s 1910 advice that Chautauqua's designed grounds "should have a well-
mazked boundary and once across the boundary all domestic niceness of finish and especially all garden-like
planting, or lawn-making or decoration-in short all sophistication whatever should be left behind."35 T'he
Colorado Chautauqua is an outstanding representa6ve of both the built and naturdl landscape created by the
Chautauqua Movement.
Development of the Colorado Chautauqua
A special train came from Ft. Worth for the opening day, July 4, 1898. Teachers were offered their faze, boazd,
lodging, lectures, entertainment, and tuition for 6 weeks for $75.00. First season chautauquans arrived to find
the grounds filled with the residential and program tents typical of early chautauquas. In keeping with the
bucolic emphasis of the Chautauqua Movement, tent life was promoted as an attraction. "Why do so many
people live in tents at Chautauqua?" read an eazly advertisement. "A majority of campers who have lived in a
tent in the Rocky Mountains would zather live in a tent than in any house ever built. The advantage claimed by
such persons is the delight of breathing the pure air which is constantly passing through the canvas...Those who
have tried it will tell you that one can tent with perfect comfoft, even hixury, if they set about it using ordinary
common sense and prudence. Bring plenty of bed clothing."36
3' Quoted in Galey, 6.
34 Quoted in Galey, 6. ~
35 Olmsted, Improvement of Boulder, Colorado: Report to the Ciry Improvement Association.
36 The Texas-Colorado Chautauquan, (Ft. Worth, TX: 1898). //
~0
NPS Form 10-900 USDI/NPS NRHP Re~stration Fam (Rev 8.86) OMB Na 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 49
Uvited Sutea ~ent of ihe Intenm, Nanooal Palc SemaNatlooal Regista of Histonc Plxes Reg~stranon Form
The grand Chautauqua Auditorium loomed over the assembly grounds, its towers sigtaling its importance as the
center of educational and cultural activities. An amphitheater or airy lectute hall was the defining feature of a
chautauqua. On Opening Day, four thousand people gathered in the Auditorium to hear the Assembly's
resident orchesua, the Kansas City Symphony, and listen to Governor Alva Adams salute the new chautauqua
as evidence that, "the west was just a little ahead of the east in spiritual, physical, educational and patriotic
development."37 The featured speaker was Henry Watterson, who azgued for full pursuit of victory against
Spain. When Boulder mayor Crockett Ricketts announced breaking news of the deshvction of the Spanish fleet
at Santiago, the audience erupted in wild applause and cheering.
By 1901, the railroad had withdrawn from the enterprise and it was reorganized as the Colorado Chautauqua
Association; a majority of the directors were Boulder citizens, rather than Texans. The assembly was re-
christened the Colorado Chautauqua. This shift to local ownership of programming and the grounds was
important; Chautauqua's leaders were determined to make it a paying proposition. Continual improvement to
the grounds was intended to meet the expectations of chautauquans who appreciated the rigors of the
educational, cultu'ral, and recreational programming, but for whom the charms of tent life had grown, literally,
cold.
Construction of rental cottages and cabins was seen as a way to attract greater attendance and as a steady stream
of revenue. Increasing numbers of families came to the chautauqua for a wholesome, educational and culturally
uplifting vacation, joining the teachers who attended the Chautauqua Summer School. These families wanted
lazger, stwdier accommodations with private cooking and sanitary facilities. By 1910, most residential tents had
been replaced with permanent structures, and the eazly simple wood cabins were being expanded into more
substantial structures or demolished to make way for cottages. Two lodges were built in 1911 and 1919 to
house single visitors and short-term guests who had previously stayed in locat private homes or hotels. By
1918, Chautauqua pmmoted itself as a desirable vacation destination. Its Bulletin informed prospective visitors
that, "the ideal place for a vacation must combine oppommities for rest, recreation, and self improvement, with
new and interesting scenes, congenial companionship, and pleasant and healthful climate. Such a place is found
at Boulder Colorado, the home of the Colorado Chautauqua and Summer School.s38
Growing educational activities of the assembly demanded better facilities. Teacher training courses at the
summer school were first held in canvas tents equipped with wood plank bookshelves, benches, and desks. In
1900, a schoolhouse built to accommodate 600 students was constructed to the east of the Auditorium. An Art
Gallery, located by the Dining Hall, housed classes and e~ibitions. A private cottage, Tehosa Lodge, served as
the meeting place of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. Another, Gwenthean Cottage, housed the
Sununer School's department of domestic science. In 1911, the School of Missions made its headquarters in
the Missions House lodge. Groups of teachers attending the Summer School also built residential cottages on
the grounds. Communities supported their teachers in tlus effort. In 1900, the Houston Post started a fund to
raise money for a cottage, and in 2 weeks, the fund had $217.29. An editorial solicited contributions by stating
that, "1'he Post believes that lady teachers of Houston deserve not only commendation but substantial
recognition for their months of tireless effort towazd the elevation morally and mentally of the future men and
women on whom will depend Houston's continued prosperity."39 .
Cultural programs and expanding entertainment opportunities supported interior improvements to the
Auditorium, including a projection booth for moUOn pictures in 1905 and more comfortable seats in 1917.
Capacity audiences for programs encouraged the construction of a terrace and promenade around the
" Quoted in Galey, I5.
3e Colorado Chautauqua Bulletrn, April 1918 (Boulder, CO: The Colorado Chautauqua Assaciation): 4.
39 Houston Post, Apri123, 1901. /' 2
Y/ r~
NPS Fom~ 10-900 USDUNPS NRfiP Regisrtabon Fam (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 50
United Sbta Depmimmt afthe Iotmor, Nanoml Pak $eMCeNmoml ReBUC of H~stone Piaces Reg~stration Form
Auditorium, provision of public resuooms, and formalization of the garden to its east. The social reform and
educational pmgrams of the Women's Christian Temperance Union were so popular that the Colorado Union
built iu own rest cottage in 1900. Recreational activities stimulated the development of the grounds as well. A
streetcaz line brought visitors from Boulder's downtown depot to the assembly grounds, and allowed
chautauquans easier access to rail excursions into the mountains. A stone shelter house erected in 1911 serviced
passengers on this line. The Chautauqua Cireen was formalized as a recreational space in 1910, and a
playground built to its east in 1913. Tennis courts were marked with cloth tape on the Green for several
summers until a permanent court was built in 1912. The Green itseif was developed according to a plan by
landscape azchitect W.W. Pazce as Boulder's first municipal park in 1910. From 1914 to 1919, a nine-hole golf
course occupied the Chautauqua Meadow in the Austin-Russell tract to the west of the grounds. And a small
zoo, popvlated in 1913 with deer, elk, a gray wolf, two pheasants, two beazs, two gray squirrels, and "some
guinea pigs," operated on the grounds from 1903 to about 1906.40 In 1917, a central community house was
built to meet demand for club meeting rooms and informal recreational activities.
Chautauqua and Education
Educational historians credit the founders of the Ct~autauqua Movement, particulazly John,Heyl Vincent, with
developing a modern theory of adult education. Their advocacy had as central tenets that all men and women
were capable of advanced study and that educational opportunities beyond formal primaty and secondary
education should be available to all 41 This broad view of education paralleled the establishment of university
extensions and the founding of state land grant universities. Vincent wrote in his 1886 The Chautauqua
Movement, that Americans should "read the same books...and observe the same sacred days--days consecrated
to the delights of a lofty intellectual and spiritual life."42 The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle was the
most widespread expression of Vincent's hope for mass cultural literacy. By 1910, IO,OOO local reading circles
had been established throughout the country and 300,000 cidzens had participated in the CLSC program by
1918 43 "The Bay View program spread to reading groups across the country and counted as many as 25,000
members. These local circles stimulated the establishment of local libraries, many of which were later housed in
buildings provided by the philanthropist Andrew Camegie, who shared Vincent's faith in adult education.
From its start, the Colorado Chautauqua promoted adult education. Its first bulletin boasted that, "Chautauqua
is a great university, whose students are scattered in homes, on farms, in shops, in towns and mining camps, in
cars and ships, wherever a human soul carries love of leaming.s4M1 Many of its first season residents were
members of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle in their Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Colorado
hometowns. Summer meetings of the CLSC met in the Women's Headquarters tent until Tehosa Lodge was
built in 1904. Desiring an experienced goup leader, the Colorado Chautauqua recruited the leader of the
Ottawa, Kansas CLSC to lead this group for several seasons. For those wishing instruction by its faculty, the
Chautauqua Summer School had two divisions that offered classes for adult leamers. The Institute provided
formal courses in music, the arts, literature, and physical cultute. The Lyceum organized lectures on every
subject from "Science and Psychology Popularized" to "The Work of Women in Patriotic Organizations."
Coincident with the rise of the Chautauqua Movement was an emphasis on teaching as a profession that
required specialized, standazdized training. The principle expression of this trend was the establishment of
40 The date zoological efforts were finally abandoned is unknown, but one old time chautauquan reported to historian Mary Galey that
the bull elk was barbecued for a citywide picnic when the zoo was closed. Galey, 116.
41 John Scott, "The Chautauqua Movement: A Revolution in Popular Higher Education," The Journa! ofHigher Education, Volume
70, Number 4(July/August 1999): 390.
42 John Heyl Vincent, The Chautauqua Movemeru (Soston: The Chautauqua Press, 1886), I 14.
d3 Not content simply to implement chautauqua programming, the Bay View Assembly imiqted the CLSC by promoting the Bay
View Reading Circle between 1893 and 1921. ~
°° The Texas-Colorado Chautauqvan, (Ft. Worth, TX: 1898). 3
Mp$ pmm IP900 USDI/NPS NR}[P Repstranon Fmm (Rev 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 51
Um[ed Sma Departmrnl ofthe ]ntaioc. Natw~ul Park SemxNabaul Re@sta of FLs[onc Places Reguo'anon Fam
normal schools to train primary and secondary school teachers. The Chautauqua Insritution uutially introduced
this emphasis on professionalism and standazdization to Sunday school instructors. Soon, however the appeal
of summer school to sectarian educators became evident, and in 1878 the Chautauqua Institution established a
College of Liberal Arts that offered credit courses in subjects like pedagogy, physical educarion, and library
science. By 1887, at least 20 states had teachers' units of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle and
encouraged teachers to use their meetings to prepare for the examinations required for a normal school
certificate. Historian Andrew Reiser writes that, "Chautauqua assemblies served as a transition to a more
bureaucratic approach to teacher training.s45 Independent chautauquas in San Marcos, Teacas, DeFuniak
Springs, Florida, and Monteagle, Tennessee all offered teacher training. The Pacific Grove Assembly in
California had an academy organized into schools of natural history, botany, Sunday School Normal Work,
music, and elocution.
Boulder's chautauqua joined its fellow independent assemblies in preparing students for the teaching
profession. Between 1898 and 1925, an average of 200 students enrolled annually in the Collegiate Department
of the Chautauqua Summer School. According to the Colorado Chautauqua Bulletin, diplomas awarded by the
School "should be of value to students who present them to other institutions of learning for the purpose of
securing advanced credit."46 It was the first credit-awazding post-secondary summer school in the Rocky
Mountain West and engaged faculty from Texas and Colorado universities, as well as from leading educational
institutions in other states. The summer school offered an average of 51 classes, organized into 16 "branches,"
each session. Pioneering work in training kindergarten teachers was undertaken at the Colorado Chautauqua,
and one of the narion's first Montessori kindergartens was established in 1913. Teachers would be trained in
Maria Montessori's innovative pedagogy, and the Chautauqua Bulletin promised that "High standazds and
ideals for body, mind, and spirit will be placed before the children and a constant effort made to help them grow
toward the ideals."47 When the University of Colorado opened its own summer school in 1905, many teachers
lived on the Chautauqua grounds and attended classes at the University. 'I'he Colorado Chautauqua Summer
School continued to train teachers until the 1930s, but the number and breadth of courses became increasingly
restricted.
Chautauqua and Culture
Inextricably linked with the idea of education in the Chautauqua Movement was a commitment to intellectually
stimulating and morally uplifting cultural entertainments. So sacred was the opportunity for self-improvement
provided at a chautauqua, and perhaps an expression of the origins of several chautauquas as camp meetings,
that the assembly halls of independent chautauqua were often called "tabernacles." The Chautauqua Movement
reflected the oral culture of the nineteenth and eazly twentieth centuries, and chautauquans were accustomed to,
and welcomed, lectures of three and four hours in length. The Chautauqua Institution advertised itseif as the
"American Platform." Speakers drew the biggest cmwds at both the independent assemblies and on the
chautauqua circuit as well. Eazly promotional material for the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua advised that, "To
see and heaz great men: No other place in the world affords one-tenth as lazge an op~ortunity to gratify your
curiosity about the personality of living leaders of research, education, and reform.' 8 In its first season alone,
the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua presented 94 different speakers. Many of the most eminent figures of the day
spoke in the Chautauqua Auditorium: William Jennings Bryan, Robert M. LaFollette, Hamlin Garland,
"Pitchfork" Ben Tillman, T. DeWitt Talmadge, Jane Addams, and the evangelist Billy Sunday.
45 Reiser, 237. •
d6 Quoted in Galey, 78. ~~
"' Quoted in Galey, 87.
ae Quoted in Galey, 19.
xrs Fo~ i a9oo USDI/NPS NRHP Reg~unnon Fam (Rev. &86) onm Na ~oza-0o~s
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 52
Umted Smes Depertment of ihe Imma, Nanonal Puk SefnceNa6ore1 ReAsta of Il~stanc Plxes Re6~~~~on Form
The Colorado Chautauqua, liice most of the independent assemblies, long had an ambivalent relationship to
theater. Organizers felt it was fine to study Shakespeare's plays, but perilous to perform them. Fully staged
plays were not performed at the Colorado Chautauqua until traveling repertory groups were booked after 1916.
Instead, the Auditorium stage and program tents were filled with audiences for other forms of drama. Aeaders,
elocutionists, expressionists, recitalists, monologists, monodramatisu, characterists and amateur tableaux were
populaz entertainments.
The assembly grounds contained a bandstand, and informal concerts were presented daily in Chautauqua's first
decade. During the same years, the Association engaged a resideni orchestra or band every summer, either the
Kansas City Symphony or the Louis Rischar Band, from Chicago. As at most independent assemblies, concert
music at the Colorado Chautauqua tended to the populaz, rather than the classical. In 1904 John Philip Sousa
and his orchestra performed in the Chautauqua Auditorium, as did the Chicago Ladies Orchestra in 1908.
Choral groups attracted lazge audiences. T'hese groups provide an interesting perspective on the imperialist and
ethnic ideologies that course below the surface of the Chautauqua Movement. In 1904, the Kaffir Boys from
South Africa entertained in the Auditorium. In 1910, Rawei's New Zealanders, a Maori chorus were presented
with the thrilling program note: "Their ancestors were cannibals!s49 Jubilee singers were perennial audience
favorites.
If the platform speakers and musical performers at the Colorado Chautauqua were representative of the national
movement, another form of entertainment in the Auditorium was pioneering. On July 21, 1898 chautauquans
saw their first motion picture-"Edison's Genuine Pmjectoscope, Colorscopic Diorama and Wazgraph with
Music representing scenes of the waz with Spain." Movies were a central part of programming at the Colorado
Chautauqua from then on. In 1905, a special projection booth was installed in the Auditorium and the Bulletin
announced, "We will have a moving picture man of national reputation" to screen the pictures. Eazly films
included Edison's "The Boer Waz, Fully Illustrated," French director Georges Melie's "Cinderelia" and "A Trip
to the Moon," eazty documentaries like "Where Missionary Donations Go," and "iJncle Tom's Cabin." Moral
uplift in programming remained a concern for Chautauqua's managers and in 1917, Secretary F.A. Boggess
assured readers of the Bulletin that films-which now comprised almost half of the Auditorium programming-
would be chosen to "keep on the high standards of the educational and intellectual side: '
With the rapid growth of the circuit chautauquas, independent chautauqua assetnblies were struggling by 1910.
While the traveling chautauquas did present educarional programming, much of their appeal lay in populaz
entertainment. By 1920, lectures represented only 28% of the programming offered on the Redpath-Vawter
circuit.50 Independent assemblies oftan look askance at their competitors. Mrs. Noble Pennybacker, the leader
of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle at the Colorado Chautauqua offered this prayer at a meeting,
"Lord, we are in doubt of this movement but thou canst bring good out of it."51
Starting in 1905, the Colorado Chautauqua booked much of its "talenY' through chautauqua agencies. Acts like
Mascot the Talking Horse, the Hiawatha Indians, and Professor Pamahaska's Peerless Performing Pets appeared
on the Auditorium stage into the 1920s. Still, Secretary Boggess guarded the sensibilities of chautauquans by
asking for references from other chautauqua managers. He sent an annual survey thai asked, "Do you regard
the entertainment as appealing to the very best people? Does it in any sense approach the vaudeville amaction,
and if not, what distinguishes it from it? Does it in any sense smack of the cheap and gaudy?"52 If the quality
of entertainment at the post-WWI Colorado Chautauqua trended towazd the populaz, rather than the elite, this is
09 Pettem, 34
so Russell L Johnson, `°Dancing Mothers': The Chautauqua Movement in 20'~-Century American Populaz Culture," American Studies
Internatrono136 (lune 2001), 58.
51 Quoted in Galey, 58.
52 F.A. Boggess to L.L. Carpenter, January 10, 1909, Colorado Chautauqua Association Archives.
~~
NPS Fom~ 14900 USDUNPS NRF~ Reg~sua[wn Fam (Rev 8-66) OA~ID No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJ'I'AUQUA Page 53
Umted Sptes DepMmmt of the Inimm, Natlonal Pak ServiaNanaoal Reguter of HisWnc Plues Regisbanon Fmm
in keeping with the national movement itself. Education and entertainment were united in the first 25 years of
the movement. With the expansion of circuit chautauquas, the challenge to the independent assemblies was to
re-shape programming to meet populaz tastes. By incorporating select popular entertainments into its enduring
program of more intellectual offerings, The Colorado Chautauqua succeeded where many other independents
failed.
Chautauque and RecreaNon
President James Garfield proclaimed after a visit to the Chautauqua Institution in New York that, "all the world
has been struggling all these years to get leisure hours: and it was left to Chautauqua to show them how to use
them."53 Implicit in the "Chautauqua Idea" was a seazch for an altemative to the business of industrializing
cities. Inspired by the brush azbors and wooded camps of Methodist camp meetings such as the Oak Bluff
meeting on Martha's Vineyard, the physical surroundings of a chautauqua promoted a sense of sepazation from
the workaday world. At camp meetings and chautauquas alike, tents and rustic cottages were clustered around a
"tabernacle" and buffered from urban development by a body of water or an expanse of open space. In this
charmed circle, th0 chautauquan was free to recreate, to vacate the worries of daily life. Not only were learning
and culture sacred duties for chautauquans, recreation took on a moral mandate. The Colorado Chautauqua
serves as an exceptional example of the Chautauqua MovemenYs dedication to useful leisure and healthful
recreation.
Life outdoors was a signal attraction for early Boulder chautauquans. Even when high winds collapsed tents
residents sang the praises of sleeping in the mountain air; when cottages replaced tents, most were built with
sleeping porches. And life out of doors was not a casual undertaking at the Colorado Chautauqua. In 1900, the
Association hired Pmfessor I. W. Latimore to conduct physical culture classes for men and women. Boys and
girls were organized by age into clubs, as was common at the independent assemblies.54 Professor Latimore
supervised club activities and outings.
Hiking wasn't simply walking at Chautauqua. Rather, it "awakened the hunting and migratory instinct'°ss
Outdoor recreation served as an authentic counterpoint to the artificial experiences thrust up by urban life. The
Chautauqua Climbers Club was formed in 1906 to organize hikes, climbs, and camping trips. By 1923, its
name changed to attract more Boulder residents, the Rocky Mountain Climbers Club had led more than 2,000
hikers into Coloradds backcountry. The relationship between Chautauqua's natural setting and its recreational
activities is so inextricably linked, that the Flatirons-the striking rock formations that form Boulder's
skyline-were known unGl W WI as the "Chautauqua Slabs" because most of their principle h~ails were blazed
by Chautauqua climbers and hikers.
Even beyond the simple pleasures of camp life and the rigors of mountain hikes, recreation was serious
business. Walking trips were organized to Eldorado Mountain, a resort 5 miles to the south of Boulder.
Excursions by train on the Switzerland Trail to Mount Alto were populaz diversions. From the Chautauqua
Literary and Scientific Circle, to the Women's Christian Temperance Union, to the Woodmen of the World and
the Merry Milk Maids, club life flourished on the assembly grounds as it did in small towns across the nation.
At Chautauqua, however, club life was lived in close company. The clubs rivaled each other in creating rituals,
organizing events, and staging celebrations. Children were invited to join a"Junior Chautauqua," should the
constant activity of the Boys and Girls Clubs leave them idle. By 1915, the recreational pace was so frenetic
that cottagers instituted Quiet Hours between 1 and 3 PM daily. No organized activity could be scheduled, loud
talking or music was prohibited, and chautauquans were encouraged to rest before their next bout of recreation.
B3 Quoted in Galey, 4.
50 Reiser, 223.
ss ,..~.he Advantage of Tent Life," The Texas-Colorado Chautauqua Jownal (Denver: CO, April, 1900): 13.
~.,l~i
NPS Fom~ 10.900 . USDUNPS NAFIP Reguwtpn Form (Rev &86) OMB No 1024-OOIS
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 54
[Jmted SWes Depaboeot of the Immw, Nanonal Puk ServiaNatioml Regsttt of H~smnc Places Reg~saanon Form
Decline of tLe C6autauqua Movement and Persistence of the Colorado C6autauqua
The progression from canvas tents to permanent residences and growth of programming parallels the
development of the Chautauqua Institution and of other independent assemblies like Bay V iew, Michigan and
Lakeside, Ohio. By the 1930s, however, the grounds of the independent assemblies were spazsely gopulated,
the Chautauqua Institution was on the verge of bankruptcy, and almost all the circuit chautauquas had folded.
The economic pressures brought on by the Great Depression were accompanied by multi-faceted cuitural and
social factors that zendered chautauquas moribund. Radio and movies brought entertainment and cultural
programs to rural communities. The Jazz Age rendered qusint the high-minded uplift of chautauqua
programming, and the Victorian mores that prohibited social dancing at the Colorado Chautauqua until the late
1930s failed to attract the children and grandchildren of the first chautauquans. Paradoxically, a growing
fundamentalist movement in religion drew some people out of the chautauqua tent and into the revival tent.
Some non-denominational assemblies were transformed into evangelical camp meetings. Although the
Colorado Chautauqua had no denominational affiliation, many other independent assemblies were dependent on
church support, which waned as the Depression loomed. High school and university education was more
widely available to the American masses. By the 1920s, working- and middle-class chautauquans were
increasingly more able to afford automobiles, and attending local chautauquas or spending the summer at an
assembly seemed less exciting leisure activities. Independent and circuit chautauquas advertised to motoring
tourists and tried to cater to automobile traffic; a 10-caz garage was built at the Colorado Chautauqua in 1923.
Most of these efforts failed to increase attendance and after the stock mazket crash in 1929, any sort of vacation
was beyond the reach of most Americans.
By the 1940s, fewer and fewer independent assemblies were held every summer. Most educational
programming at the Colorado Chautauqua was discontinued, though an electrified sign on the Auditorium still
promised "Entertainment Nightly." Second-run movies attracted loyal audiences to the increasingly dilapidated
Auditorium. The grounds continued to be used recreationally, as a vacation resort for private cottage owners
and renters and as a popular public pazk. The University of Colorado underwrote the winterization of many
cottages to accommodate students returning to school on the GI Bill. Chautauqua's partnership with the
University held unexpected advantages that contributed to its survival and eventual renaissance in the 1970s.
Visiting artists and writers such as John Cage, Merce Cunningham, and Allen Ginsburg lived in Chautauqua
Pazk for short periods, and the revival of live Auditorium entertainment is due to the CU Music DepartmenYs
Giora Bernstein, who founded the Colorado Music Festival in 1978.
When many of the buildings in the pazk were threatened with destruction in the eazly 1970s, public concem was
rallied to raise money to undertake extensive preservation and rehabilitation projects. These efforts developed
into a thoroughgoing and awazd winning preservation program that has succeeded in restoring the Pazk to a high
degree of historic integrity. The physical revival of Chautauqua Park has been matched with an increase in
chautauqua programming. ~ducational programs-including teacher education-and lectures are presented
once more in both the Auditorium and Community House. Speakers in recent yeazs have included Hunter S.
Thompson, Al Gore, Ra1ph Nader, and Ram Dass. Live musical entertainment flourishes at the Colorado
Chautauqua as well. The Colorado Music Fes6val orchestra presents an annual season of classical musia Silent
films with live accompaniment aze shown weekly in the summer. Populaz and folk musicians perform in the
Auditorium in wann weather; the 2004 season featured Los Lobos, David Byrne, and the Indigo Girls. And
Chautauqua Pazk remains a favorite recreational spot; the Green is cmwded with kite-flyers on windy days,
picnickers on sunny days, and Nordic skiers on wintry days. Miles of trails and the Flatirons attract hikers and
climbers today as in 1898.
Y~7
NPS Fmm 70.900 USDIMPS NRt~ Re@SVUan Fam (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-001 B
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 55
United SWes Depalment ofihe Intcia, Nanaoal Patk SernceNatioml ReBsta of HWOnc Places Reg~strai~on Fam
Comparison to Similar Resources
Theodore Roosevelt was reputed to have said that chautauqua "is typically American, in that it is typical of
America at its besK." Most chautauquas were never as big or as grand as the largest surviving chautauquas, the
Chautauqua Institution, the Lakeside Assembly, and the Bay View Association. The signature attributes of
these older resorts -an inspiring natural environment, a grand and airy meeting space, simple seasonal
dwellings-reflect their origins as camp meetings. Most of the independent assemblies modeled themselves on
their sophisticated cousins, but aspired to more modest executions. In this sense the Colorado Chautauqua,
founded as a chautauqua assembly, is typical. And it is typical of chautauqua at its best; the integrity of
grounds, setting, structure and mission makes the Colorado Chautauqua unique among surviving chautauqua
sites.
Circuit chautauqua agencies and town organizing committees, observing a central tenet of the Chautauqua
Movement, often specified that the chautauqua be located neaz a lake or, failing that, a grove of trees. Yet, even
if used for several years, these tenting grounds were temporary. That the sites of the traveling circuit
chautauquas are, if remembered at all, mostly documented in street signs and park names is unsurprising. Yet
what became of the hundreds of independent chautauquas that populated America's landscape at the tum of the
twentieth century?
Some independent chautauquas simply vanished after a year or two of summer assemblies. Penn Yan, New
York hosted the Keuka Lake Assembly in 1904. When the chautauqua proved to be a financial disaster for its
organizers, the land where grand buildings had been envisioned was put to use as a town pazk. Sites of more
sustained chautauquas have also disappeazed. The Lincoln Chautauqua Association, in Illinois, held annual
assemblies from 1902 to 1937, but traces of its facilities are almost undetectable in what is now Lincoln
Memorial Park. The grounds of the Lithia Springs Assembly, which operated from 1890 to 1910 in Shelbyville,
Illinois, aze bazely distinguishable from the woods that once sheltered its pavilion and cottages. Although it
flourished from 1897 to 1909, and was briefly revived in 1916, the Northem Chautauqua Assembly in
Marinette, Wisconsin left no trace at all. Its grounds, now barren of structures, have been listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
The National Register of Historic Places lists a number of single buildings-usually auditoriums or pavilions-
that aze the sole survivors of once-vibrant independent assemblies. 'The Hastings, Nebraska Assembly met for
only one season although its Chautauqua Pavilion is still used for civic functions, as are the Rockville
Chautauqua Pavilion in Indiana and the Taylorville Chautauqua Auditorium in Illinois. The Beatrice Assembly
in Nebraska operated from 1889 to 1907, but its entrance gate and pavilion aze all that remain. The Red Oak,
Iowa Chautauqua functioned between 1905 and 1921 and the Elkhart, Indiana Assembly from 1905-1917; their
tabernacles now stand alone in municipal parks. These properties aze, without doubt, historically and
architecturally significant but ultimately they are remnants that tell only a fragment of the chautauqua story.
Many independent assembly sites were adapted to new purposes. The Oregon Shakespeaze Festival stages its
plays on the grounds of the Southern Oregon Chautauqua Assembly, which met annually from 1893 to 1916 in
Ashland. The East Epping Assembly in New Hampshire, founded in 1886, is now family-oriented rustic
summer resort. When the Culver Park Assembly in Indiana failed financially after two seasons in 1889, its
founder Henry Harrison Culver recouped his losses by starting a military academy on its site. The chautauqua's
hotel became a dormitory and the tabernacle was converted into a drill hall. The site of the National
Chautauqua, founded in 1891, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After a brief existence as an
independent assembly, its grounds in Glen Echo, Maryland became an amusement pazk and is now a cultural
and recreational center owned by Montgomery County. Except in the written record, it would be difficult to
distinguish these sites as former chautauquas.
6l
NPS Form 10.900 USDUNPS NRHP Regima[~on Fwm (Rev. 8-g6) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 56
Uni~ed Stucs Depar~ent afthe IWma, Nanooal Pah SemceNsuoeal Regis~n of H~stonc Places Registranon Fam
Some independent assemblies became, or retumed to their roots as, religious institutions. Although few, if any,
of the structures at the Winona Lake, Indiana chautauqua survive, the site served as a Christian retreat center
many yeazs after the chautauqua folded in 1915. A theological seminary is now located on the grounds. The
Gulfside Chautauqua and Camp Meeting in Waveland, Mississippi was organized, complete with a summer
school, for African Americans in 1923. It is now operated as a conference center and retreat by the United
Methodist Church. New Jersey's Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, founded in 1879, operated as the
Ocean Grove Chautauqua Assembly between 1883 and 1909. Its site, listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, is presently used as a Christian summer resort. Again, the history of these properties alone allies them
with the Chautauqua Movement; none have remained intact as independent assembly sites.
Other independent assemblies, by accident or by design, evolved into suburban residential districts or formed
the wre of entire municipalities. The ConnecUcut Valley Assembly met in Northampton, Massachusetts each
summer from 1887 to 1933. Its cottages now form the enclave of Laurel Park, a secluded private neighborhood.
When the National Chautauqua was founded, the organizers subsidized the construction of yeaz-round housing
for eminent people to encowage the development of an exclusive suburb for Washington, DC. Clara Barton,
founder of the American Red Cross, was one such eazly resident. Although the National Chautauqua failed in
short order the suburb envisioned by its proponents, Glen Echo, was a success. Pacific Palisades in Santa
Monica, California was the permanent outgrowth of the"Chautauqua Association of Southern California held
there between 1922 and 1924; organizers and developers worked together to matket the chautauqua as a benefit
of suburban living. The Midland Chautauqua Assembly attracted audiences of up to 3,000 chautauquans in iu
Hall on the outskirts of Des Moines, Iowa between 1896 and 1905. In 1927, its grounds were cleazed and
developed as a residential subdivision, which is listed as the Chautauqua Park Historic District on the Nationai
Register of Historic Places and is an important example of community planning and development between the
world wars.
The independent assembly most illustrative of the connection between some chautauquas and municipal
planning was the Florida Chautauqua Association, founded in 1885 at DeFuniak Springs. The Louisville and
Nashville Rail Road, of which Fred DeFuniak was the general manager, organized the chautauqua to attract
commercial and residential development. The L&N offered land to the Association, some of which was
reserved for chautauqua facilities. The rest of the land was sold-the profits supporting the construction and
operation of the chautauqua-and developed according to a comprehensive plan devised by W.J. Van Kirk, a
division land agent for the L&N. Inspired by the work of Frederick Law Olmsted, Van Kirk eschewed the
block and grid plans typical of Florida speculative towns at that time. He planned DeFuniak Springs with broad
avenues branching off a drive that circled a lake. Van Kirk provided the new city with a railroad station,
courthouses, and commercial districts. Prescient of the City Beautiful movement, Van Kirk's plan did include
some of the features of other independent assemblies. T'he lake was central to the plan, lending a resort-like air
to the working town. An imposing Chautauqua HaU of Brotherhood, listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, advertised the winter chautauqua assembly year-round. Aboutl SO chautauqua-era structures survive in
the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. However,
the district also contains an equal number of more recent buildings that vary greatly in size and sryle. For this
reason, and despite a recent revival of winter chautauqua prograznming, DeFuniak Springs has little
cohesiveness as a chautauqua site.
Approximately 35 independent assemblies were established in the West 56 Boulder was faz from alone in
appreciating the civic benefits bestowed.by a chautauqua. The success of these assemblies seemed to rest on
their ability to amact steady attendance and prominent platform talent. Paci6c Grove, Califomia organized in
1879, complete with a chapter of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle, and held a chautauqua assembly
sb "The Chautauqua Movement Independent Chautauqua Assemblies." 6~
NPS Fo,m 10.900 USDI/NPS NRHP Regisbtiou Fam (Rev 8-66) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAiJTAUQUA Page 57
Uwted Smce Depotmeot of the Imaia, Nmooal Park ServixNenwd Regurcr af Hulonc Pleces Regimanon Fmm
until 1926. Presumably, its pro~timity to Los Angeles assured it a steady stream of both chautauquans and able
performers. When the Colorado Chautauqua opened in 1898, the Rocky Mountain Chautauqua at Palmer had
been operating 75 miles to its south at Palmer Lake for 10 years. In 1903, its grounds contained 85 house tents,
35 tent cottages, and 7 small cabins and the chautauqua offered a 6-week summer assembly. The Rocky
Mountain Chautauqua may have exceeded its financial capacity by erecting a grand auditorium and music hall,
and the 1909 assembiy was its last. The music hall was converted into a private residence soon after the last
season and the suditorium was demolished in 1948. The National Chautauqua was held at the Gazden of the
Gods in Colorado Springs from 1902 to 1905. Perhaps its brief-existence, and the demise of the Rocky
Mountain Chautauqua, was due to compedrion from their rival in Boulder. In Oregon, five independent
assemblies were established. One of them the Gladstone Assembly was reputed to be the third largest
chautauqua in the nation.at the hun of the twentieth century.s~ In Idaho, an independent assembly was
established at Spirit Lake, in 1908 but failed economically by 1913, after which its grounds hosted circuit
chautauquas. The Idaho State Chautauqua Assembly in Boise began in 1910 and offered college-level
instruction in literature for several years. It, too, failed and became a stop for the circuit chautauquas unti] the
late 1920s. Washington's Whidbey Island hosted the Northwest Chautauqua &om 1910 to 1915. Assemblies
also briefly operated on Vashon and Bainbridge islands in Puget Sound. None of the Oregon, Idaho, or
Washington sites contains significant resources from their chautauqua days. A sterling example of western
chautauqua architechue does survive in Waxahachie,l'X. Built for the North Texas State Chautauqua in
1902~ne of seven Texas assemblies, the only one to operate for more than a decade, and the only one known
to have a surviving structwe-the Waxahachie Chautauqua Auditorium is listed on the NaUOnal Register of
Historic Places. The North Texas Chautauqua held a two week assembly in June from 1900 until the.late 1920s
and was atypical of independent assemblies in continuing to use tents for housing thmughout its existence.
Because the Waxahachie Chautauqua Auditorium is a solitary structure, although an excellent example of the
"tabernacle," it cannot convey the full complexiry of an intact independent assembly site.
Two smaller, intact sites in the Midwest more closely convey an historic sense of the independent chautauqua
assembly. The New Piasa Chautauqua, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was founded as the
Piasa Bluffs Assembly in 1885 to incorporate chautauqua pmgramming with a more conventional summer
resort. Located on the east bank of the Mississippi River in Illinois, New Piasa contains features, such as a
swimming pool and small commercial district, more typical of a resort. Now a private wmmunity, complete
with its own town hall, New Piasa occasionally conducts some chautauqua programming for residents. The
integrity of the site is somewhat diminished in the wake of two fires that destroyed the 1903 Chautauqua Inn
and 17 cottages. Fountain Park Chautauqua Assembly, in Indiana, is aiso listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Founded in 1895, a two-week assembly has been held every yeaz since. Mazketed as a
"Christian Church pmjecY' in its eazly yeazs, Fountain Park was expressly established as an independent
chautauqua assembly and not a camp meeting. Its founders sought a way to package the nondenominational,
modern cachet of the Chautauqua Movement with comforting reassurance to the traditional Pmtestant values of
its hoped-for clientele. In keeping with traditional Midwestem chautauquas, the Fountain Park grounds aze
accessed only by those holding tickets for the assembly. Its site and setting are lazgely intact, with 73 cottages
and a hotel. However, the property's integrity is marred by an incongruous entry gate erected in 1960 and a
modem RV pazk. More importantly, the Fountain Park Chautauqua lacks a signature historical feature of the
independent assembly; its tabemacle, built in 1895, was demolished in 1960 and replaced with a 600 seat
meeting hall.
7Q
" Betry Lou Young "Californian accepts task to research West Coast Chautauquas," Chautauqua Network News (February, 2005): 2.
NPS Fo~m IP900 USDUNPS NRF~ Reg~manon Fam (Rev 8-66) OhID No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAITTAUQUA Page 58
Umted Sutu Depa~rnt of Ihe Intmw, Nrooiul Pedc Serv~ceNatloml Reg~ster of H~slonc Places Regisvanon Form
Founded as a Methodist camp meeting in 1873, Ohio's Lakeside Association retains as many features of a camp
meeting site as it does of an independent chautauqua assemb1y.58 Situated on a peninsula in Sandusky Bay,
Lakeside was operated by the Camp Meeting Association, a merger of two Methodist conferences. The Camp
Meeting Association was introduced to the Chautauqua Idea in 1879 by its new superintendent, B.F. Vincent,
the brother of John Heyl Vincent. Vincent introduced the full range of chautauqua programming and by the ~
mid-1880s Lakeside's offerings included a comprehensive summer school. In 1919, the goveming body
changed its name to the Lakeside Association, although the Association retains close organizational ties to the
Methodist Church. Now a gated resort community with robust chautauqua programming, the Lakeside Historic
District contains 766 contributing buildings and 84 noncontributing buildings. Lakeside retains a lazge number
of fine examples of camp meeting cottages, as well as a variation on tUat styl~with porch wings on all four
elevations-unique to Lakeside, a fine resort hotel built in 1875, and the grid plan typical of many independeni
assemblies that needed to ma~cimize housing lots. However, the site lacks cohesiveness as an exemplar of the
independent chautauqua. A commercial district and some of the major publio buildings, massed on the west
side of the grounds, aze at odds with the delicate, decorative woodwork of the Victorian camp meeting cottages
in the residential areas. Built in 1929, the massive, modern Mission style Hoover Auditorium overwhelms its
environs. Sensitivity to the site's history is lacking in the design of the brick enirance pavilion and the Fountain
Pazk Ints, both erected in 1962.
A National Historic Landmazk, the Chautauqua Institution was founded ia 1874 on the grounds of a Methodist
camp mee6ng at Fair Point, New York as the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly. The progenitor of
the Chautauqua Idea, renamed the Chautauqua Institution in 19Q2, represenu the evolution of the camp meeting
plan into the model for subsequent independent assemblies. Much lazger than any of the independent
chautauquas with more than 800 buildings on its grounds, the Chautauqua Institution is sui generis in many
ways. Chautauqua wasn't founded to be a chautauqua, as were many of the independent assemblies. Its plan,
though, cleazly inspired its imitators, including the Cotorado Chautauqua: located a train ride from the nearest
big city, set in natural beauty, platting wooden summer residences on small unfenced lots with even and
shallow setbacks, offering public accommodations, providing educational facilities, and focused on an
imposing, yet open-air, auditorium. The basic elements of the plan have remained stable, though the grounds
have evolved over time. From its humble camp meeting origins, Chautauqua grew consciously as an American
utopia. Grand avenues and imposing public buildings-notably the 1909 Post Office and the 1907 Colonnade
Building-were built after the tum of the twentieth century to demonstrate the principles of the City Beautiful
Movement. Later structures in styles varying from Colonial Revival and Georgian Revival to Beawc Arts and
1930s Gothic house Chautauqua's library, opera, ballet, and numerous and varied educational offerings. The
Chautauqua lnstitution is a gated resort, with modem resort amenities including a marina, shops, restaurants,
and several complexes of contemporary condotniniums. Newer intrusions may detract somewhat from the
historic integrity that is marked throughout much of the property, but they also give evidence of the Chautauqua
Institution's continuing vitality and popularity.
Also founded as a camp meeting, in 1876, and also aNational Historic Landmazk, the Bay View Assembly in
Petoskey, Michigan shares many of the same characteristics found at the Chautauqua Institution and at many of
the independent assemblies. The selected location was rural, but relatively easy to reach by train. The naturally
terraced site chosen on Little Traverse Bay offers both an inspiring view and recreational opportunities.
Wooden cottages set evenly back from streets welcome summer residents, and public accommodations greet
guests. Lazger institutional buildings house educational and cultural activities. Bay View is distinct from other
independent chautauquas in just as many ways, however, and preserves a more intact sense of an artfully
idealized camp meeting than of a typical independent chautauqua. Rather than a grid imposed on the site's
4e The National Register of Historic Places nomination for Lakeside makes favorable comparative references to camp meeting
archetypes like Ocean Grove, New Jersey and Wesleyan Grove on Martha's Vineyazd, Massachusetts.
7I
NPS Porm 10.900 USDVNPS NRF~ Regimat~an Fam (Rev. 8-86) Obffi No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 59
Uwted Suta Depnrtmmt ofthe Iotma, Nauwui Pa~k SemaNefiwW Regrsin of Histonc Places Reg~swnon Form
topography to maximize the number of house lots, Bay View's plan is an outstanding example of the romantic
landscape design promoted by Andrew Jackson Downing. In this curvilinear plan are nesded more than 400
Victorian and Colonial Revival cottages. Almost a quarter of Bay View's signature Victorian cottages were
designed by a single azchitect, B.F. Dazling and many others share distinctive architectural details like two-story
roofed porches. T'here is a cohesiveness of residential architecture here lacking at many other chautauqua sites,
but the cohesiveness is that of a romantic subd'rvision. Bay View's public buildings, ranging in date from 1876
to 1963 and in sryle from Queen Anne to Beaux Arts to Tudor Revival reflect the progression of Bay View's
chautauqua programming. Bay View adopted the Chautauqua Idea in 1885, and established the Michigan
Department of the Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle. Domestio-looking Queen Anne cottages were
built, literally, to house the reading circles and so reinforce the value of home-centered leaming. 59 So
successful was Bay View's foray into chautauqua assembly programming that the organization absorbed the
Michigan Chautauqua Association in 1904. Even so, secular chautauqua lecturers and performers continued to
mount the 1876 Preacher's Stand, located in a natural amphitheatre, until the Classical Revival Hall Auditorium
was built in 1914. Now a private summer community, Bay View continues to offer educational and cultural
programming to its residents and remains associated with the United Methodist Church. The integriry of the
site overall is diminished by the fact that US Route 31 bisects the grounds; because recent years have seen the
traffic on this road increased 50%, the Department of the Interior assigned it a"watch" level of threat.
Conclusion •
The story of the Chautauqua Movement is a story about average Americans taking very seriously the essence of
democracy, demonstrating optimism and unlimited faith in the power of self-improvement, and using the
chautauqua to better themselves and their communities.. The Colorado Chautauqua peerlessly documents the
experience of those average Americans-ordinary people taking part in the most important educational,
cultwal, and recreational currents of their day.
Its location in the Rocky Mountains represents the westward spread of the movement, and it remains the only
independent assembly in continuous operation in the Westem United States. Its site at the base of Green
Mountain is an enduring reminder of the importance placed by the movement on inspiring natural settings.
Because it is surrounded by public open space, the setting of Boulder's Chautauqua has remained essentially as
it was in 1898. Its sites, buildings, and structures are intact, the pmperty tells a cohesive narrative, and its
grounds are open to the general public. In its gazdens, on its porches, and in the Auditorium, visitors experience
the Colorado Chautauqua much as it was at the height of the Chautauqua Movement.
s9 Ellen Weiss, Bay View Association National Register of His[oric Places Nomination Form (Washington, DC: National Register
Files, 1986): 2.
/a-
NPS Form 10.900 USDUNPS NRF~ Regunazipo Fam (Rev. &86) OIdB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAIIQUA Page 60
United Smp Depa~rnt of the Intmm, NmUOaI Park ServiceNammal AegWer of }Ls~onc Placcs Reg~saanon Form
9. MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
Aron, Cindy. Worlcing At Play: A History of Yacation in the United States. New York, NY: Oxford
University Press, 1999.
Canning, Charlotte. "Under the Brown Tent: Chautauqua in the Community Landscape"
in Land/3cape/'fheater. Edited by Elinor Fuchs and Una Chaudhuri. Ann Arbor, MI: University of
Michigan Press, 2002.
--. The Most American Thing in America: Circuit Chautauqua as Perf'ormance. Iowa City, IA: University of
Iowa Press, 2005.
Chautauqua Institution Archives, Harry McClarran Collection. "The Chautauqua Movement: Independent
Chautauqua Assemblies." Chautauqua, NY: Chautauqua Institution, 2004.
Colorado Historical Society. Boulder Survey of Historic Places. Denver, CO: Office of Atcheology and
Historic Preservation, 1995.
Feinberg, Allyn. Chautauqua Design Guidelines. Boulder, CO: Landmazks Preservation Advisory Board,
Boulder Department of Planning and Community Design, 1989.
Gage Davis 8t Associates. Chautauqua Park Study and Assessment ofHistoric Signif:cance. Boulder, CO:
Gage Davis & Associates, 1977.
Galey, Mary. The Grand Assembly: The Story ofLife at the Colorado Chautauqua. Sun City, CA: Winlock
Press, 1998.
Gould, Joseph. The Chautauqua Movement. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1972.
Harrison, Harry P. and Detzer, KarJ. Culture Under Canvas.~ The Story of Tent Chautauquas. Westpoft, CT:
Greenwood Press, 1978.
Irwin, Alfreda. Three Taps of the Gavel. Chautauqua, NY: Chautauqua Bookstore, 1987.
Johnson, Russell L. "`Dancing Mothers': The Chautauqua Movement in 20~'-Century American Popular
Culture," American Studies International Vol. 36 (lune 2001): 53-?0.
Kett, Joseph. The Pursuit of Knowledge Under Diffrculties: From Self-Improvement to Adult Education in
America, 1750-1990. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1994.
Leavitt, Sazah. From Catherine Beecher to Martha Stewart: A Cultural History of Domestic Advice. Chapel
Hill, NC: The University of North Cazolina Press, 2002.
Ligibel, Ted J. Lakeside Historic District National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. Washington,
DC: National Register Files, 1983.
MacLazen, Gay. Moraliy We Roll Along. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1938
73
NPS Form 10.900 USDUNPS NRHP Regunanon Fo~m (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 61
Uoned Smtes Departloent ofthe Imerior, Nahonal Park ServiaNmo~ul Regisla of H~stonc Places Reg~svanon Form
Moore, R. Laurence. "Chautauqua and Its Pmtective Canopy: Religion, Entertainment, and Small-Town
Protestants" in Selling God: American Religion in the Marketplace. New York, NY: Oxford University
Press, 1994.
Morrison, Theodore. Chautauqua: A Center for Education, Religion, and the Arts in America. Chicago, IL:
University of Chicago Press, 1974.
Mundus Bishop Design, Inc. Chautauqua Pnrk Historic District Cultural Landscape Assessment and Plan.
Denver, CO: Mundus Bishop Design, Inc., 2004.
Nelson, Julie. "A Subtle Revolution: The Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle in Rural Midwestem
Towns, 1878-1900." Agricultural History 70 (Fall 1996): 653-672.
Olmsted, Frederick Law, Jr. The Improvement of Boulder, CO: Report to the City Improvement Association.
Boulder: n:p., 1911.
Pettem, Sylvia. Chautauqua Centennial (Boulder Colorado): A Hundred Years of Programs. Longmont, CO:
Book Lode, 2000.
Reiser, Andtew. The Chautauqua Moment: Protestants, Progressives, and the Culture of Modern Liberalism.
New York: NY, Columbia University Press, 2003.
Schlereth, Thomas. "Chautauqua: A Middle Landscape of the Middle Class" in Cultural History and Material
Culture. Edited by Thomas Schlereth. Ann Arbor, MI: LJMI Research Press, 1990.
Schultz, James. The Romance of Small-Town Chautauquas. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press,
2002.
Scott, John H. "The Chautauqua Movement: A Revolution in Popular Higher Education." Tke Journal of
Higher Education Vol. 70, No. 4(JuUAug 1999): 389-412.
Snyder, Eldon E. "The Chautauqua Movement in Popular Culture: A Sociological Analysis." Journal of
American Culture 8(Fall 1985): 79-90.
Tapia, John E. Circuit Chautauqua: From Rural Education to Popular Entertainment in Ear/y Twentieth
Century America. North Carolina: McFazland, 1997.
The Texas-Colorado Chautauqua Journal, Denver, CO, 1899-1900.
The Texas-Colorado Chautauquan, Fort Worth, TX, 1898.
V ail, Martha. "Common Culture: The Chautauqua Movement " Paper presented at the Cultural Memory and
Sites of Tradition symposium, University of Colorado, Boulder, March 2002.
Vincent, John H. The Chautaugua Movement. Boston, MA: The Chautauqua Press, 1886.
Weiss, Ellen. `Bay View, Michigan: Camp Meeting and Chautauqua" in The Midwest in American
Architecture. Edited by John S. Gazdner. Urbana and Chicago, IL: The University of Illinois Press,
1991.
7~
NPS Fortn 10.900 USDUNPS NRE~ Re~sw[wn Fotm (Rev. 8-86) OMB No 1024-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 62
Uwfed StMU Depa~mmt of the Interim, Nahoml Puk Serv¢eNamuai Reg~ster of HWOnc Places Reg~stranon Form
---. Bay View Association National Register of Historic Places Nominatiott Form. Washington, DC: 1986.
Young, Betty Lou. "Californian accepts task to reseazch West Coast chautauquas." Chautauqua Nenvork News
(February, 2005): 2.
Previous documentation on file (NPS):
Preliminary Determination of Individual Listing (36 CFR 67) has been requested.
X Previously Listed in the National Register.
Previously Determined Eligible by the National Register.
Designated a National Historic Landmazk.
Recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey: #
_ Recorded by Historic American Engineering Record: #
Primary Location of Additional Data:
State Historic Preservation Office
Other State Agency
Federal Agency
Local Govemment
University ~
X Other (Specify Repository): Colorado Chautauqua Association Archives, Boulder, CO
10. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA
Acreage of Property: 40
UTM References: Zone Easting Northing
A 13 476224 4427797
B 13 476183 4427329
~ C 13 475533 4427309
D 13 475835 4427802
Verbal Boundary Description: Starting at the Shelter House on Baseline Road at a point on the northwest
comer of the Benson Addition; then south approximately 600 feet; then east along the south property line of the
Benson and Holmes Additions approximately 700 feet; then 400 feet south to Bluebell Canyon Creek following
the west bank of the creek past the intersection of 12'" Street for 1900 feet; then continuing northwesterly to the
east side of the Bluebell Shetter Road for 275 feet; then north to the south edge of Baseline Road 1750 feet;
then east 800 feet to the point of beginning. Boundaries aze indicated on accompanying sketch map.
~
NPS Fam 10.900 USDUNPS NRFB ReBatration Fmm (Rev 8-86) OMB No 102d-0018
THE COLORADO CHAUTAUQUA Page 63
Uoited Sma Deps~mt ofthe Werim, Narioal Puk SemceNahood Reps~a of Nisimc Places Re~stra~~on Fam
Boundary Justification: The boundaries of the Chautauqua Pazk Historic District were designated by the
City of Boulder, Ordinance Number 4382 on September 5, 1978. The boundaries encompass the historic
Chautauqua grounds, and include all resources of local, state, and national significance. The district is bordered
to the west, east, and south by Boulder Open Space and Mountain Pazks lands that preserve the historic natural
setting for the District. A century of Boulder's growth has bmught urban development, buffered by Baseline
Road, proximate to the DistricYs northern boundaries.
11. FORM PREPARED BY
Name/Title: Martha Vail, Ph.D.
Address: 2404 Bluff Street
Boulder, CO 80304
Telephone: 303-998-1862
Date: June 15, 2005
Edited by:
National Historic Landmazks Survey
National Park Service
1849 C St., N. W.
Room NC-400
Washington, DC 20240
Telephone: (202)343-
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS SURVEY
(June 15, 2005)
~(O
Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act
'~~
U.S. Department of Justice
Civil Rights Division
Housing and Civil Enforcement Section
Page 1 of 2
Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act
The land use provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of
2000 (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc, et seq., protect individuals, houses of worship, and
other religious institutions from discrimination in zoning and landmarking laws (for
information on RL UIPA's institutionalized persons provisions, please refer to the Civil
Rights Division's Snecial Litigation Section ).
In passing this law, Congress found that the right to assemble for worship is at the very core
of the free exercise of religion. Religious assemblies cannot funcrion without a physical
space adequate to their needs and consistent with their theological requirements. The right
to build, buy, or rent such a space is an indispensable adjunct of the core First Amendment
right to assemble for religious purposes. Religious assemblies, especially, new, small, or
unfamiliar ones, may be illegally discriminated against on the face ofzoning codes and also
in the highly individualized and discretionary processes of land use regulation. Zoning
codes and landmarking laws may illegally exclude religious assemblies in places where they
permit theaters, meeting halls, and other places where lazge groups of people assemble for
secular purposes. Or the zoning codes or landmarking laws may permit religious assemblies
only with individualized permission from the zoning board or landmazking commission,
and zoning boards or landmarking commission may use that authority in illegally
discriminatory ways.
To address these concerns, RLLTIPA pmhibits zoning and landmazking laws that
substantially burden the religious exercise of churches or other religious assemblies or
institutions absent the least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental
interest. This prohibition applies in any situation where: (i) the state or local govemment
entity imposing the substantial burden receives federal funding; (ii) the substantial burden
affects, or removal of the substantial burden would affect, interstate commerce; or (iii) the
substantial burden arises from the state or local governmenYs formal or informal pmcedures
for making individualized assessments of a property's uses.
In addition, RLUIPA prohibits zoning and landmarking laws that: (1) treat churches or
other religious assemblies or institutions on less than equal terms with nonreligious
institutions; (2) discriminate against any assemblies or insritutions on the basis of religion
or religious denomination; (3) totally exclude religious assemblies from a jurisdiction; or
(4) unreasonably limit religious assemblies, institutions, or struchues within a jurisdiction.
The Department of Justice can invesdgate alleged RLUIPA violations and bring a lawsuit to
enforce the statute. The Department can obtain injunctive, but not monetary, relief.
77
..,~~,~~~~
National Trust Legal Defense Fund
NAT10`AL TRUST
Fi[~rc~ku: YQ-~-avr'r~c»•
HISTORIC PLACES
Natianal Trust
Historic Sites
National Trust
Associate Sites
11 Most Endangered
Places
Restore America
L' Legal Advocacy ~ Tools
Legal Defense Fund
Preservation Law
Reporter
Preservation Law
Glossary
Easements
Links
Issues and Initiatives
Barn Again
Save America's
Treasures
Site Resources
Join
Help
The Trust in Your State
Site Map
Contact Us
Legat Defense Fund
New Cases...
• LDF Helps NJ Town Defend Claim Under Federal Religious Land
Use Law
• Trust Enters Three Separate Preservation Cases in NY State
O Catskill, New York
O St. Lawrence Cement, Olana State Historic Park
o Aurora Inn, Aurora, New York
• Trust Joins as Amicus in Latest Supreme Court Takings Case
Roman Catholic Church of !he Assumption of the 8lessed Virgin Mary v.
Town of Hackettstown Zoning Board of Adjustment, e! al.,
No. L-130-01 (Warren County, N.J. Super. Ct., filed Mar. 30, 2001 }
Status: Hearing Held Feb. 15, 2002
In one of the first cases to involve the
recently-enacted "Religious Land Use
and Institutionalized Persons
Act" (RLUIPA} in the context of a threat
to historic properties, the Trust has
assisted the Town of Hackettst~wn, NJ,
to fight a challenge to the local zoning
ordinance under the new federal law.
The Trust's Legal Defense Fund, joined
by Preservation New Jersey and
PFeserve Historic Hackettstown, has
(NTHP)
provided legal support for the Town's
lawyers as they defend the Town's decision to deny zoning variances for a
proposed 13,000-square-foot expansion to a Catholic school, which would
require the demolition of two historic homes. In denying the variances, the
Zoning Board of Adjustment pointed out that it had already approved a 7,000-
square-foot expansion to the school back in 1997, which would not require the
demolition of historic properties, and the Board found that the church had not
shown why a much larger and more harmful expansion was needed.
The Church and the St. Mary's School filed suit against the Town, arguing
Home among other things that the Town's denial of the variances violates the First
Amendment as well as RLUIPA, which prohibits governmental actions that
"substantially burden" the exercise of religion, unless the action is the least
restrictive means of achieving a compelling governmental interest. The Trust
and the state and local preservation organizations sought to join the litigation as
amici curiae, but were denied that opportunity by the trial court. Nonetheless,
LDF attorneys have assisted the town in arguing that the denial of the zoning
variances does not result in a substantial burden on the exercise of religion,
especially where the Town has already approved a less massive expansion to
the schoot. (The Trust had also te'stified at a hearing before the ZBA in
~~
Page 1 of 4
with historic homes targeted for
demolition for school expansion.
National Trust Legal Defense Fund
December 2000.) Cooper, Rose 8~ English, in Summit, NJ, is assisting the
preservation groups pro bono.
The case was argued before the Warren County, NJ, Superior Court on
February 15, 2002.
Save Our Main Street Buildings, lnc. v. Greene County Legislature, et al.,
No. 01-601 {Greene County, N.Y. Supreme Ct. Sept. 6, 2001),
appeal docketed, No. 90792 (N.Y. App. Div., filed Sept. 2001)
Status: Case Lost; Appeal Pending; Hearing Held Feb. 21, 2002
On January 7, 2002, the Trust filed an
amicus brief, together with the
Preservation League of New York and
Scenic Hudson, in a case raising the
issue of whether a local preservation
group has standing to appeal a
decision by Greene County to
demolish six to ten historic buildings in
the Town of Catskill in the Hudson
Valley. The County intends to build a
108.000-square-foot county offce
building and a parking lot for 537 cars.
by Greene County. (NTHP)
The local preservation group, Save
Our Main Street Buildings, Inc., filed suit challenging the County's decision to
demolish the historic buildings under the New York State Environmental Quality
Review Act (SEQRA). The lower court ruled that the plaintiffs Iacked standing to
challenge the county's decision, nolwithstanding the fact that they owned
property within the East Side Historic District, and that even the owner of an
antique shop just one block away from the proposed building lacked standing,
because the new office building would be on the same side of the street as the
shop, and thus would not be directly visible from the shop windows.
The case was argued before the New York Supreme Coun in Greene County on
February 21; 2002. Martin, Shudt, Wallace, DiLorenzo 8 Johnson, in Troy, NY,
is representing the preservation amicus groups pro bono.
Aurora Coalition, et al. v. Village o(Aurora, et al.,
No. 2001-0844 (Cuyuga County, N.Y. Supreme Ct. Nov. 5, 2001),
appeal docketed, No. CA 01-02437 (N.Y. App. Div., filed Nov. 16, 2001)
Status: Case Lost; Appeal Pending; Hearing Held Feb. 25, 2002
A local preservation group in Aurora,
NY filed suit against the Village of
Aurora and Wells College on
September 14, 2001, challenging the
Village's approval of a major
redevelopment project that represents
the first in a series of projects
threatening historic properties in
Aurofa. Wells College plans to Historic photograph of the Aurora Inn,
partially demolish and 5ubstantially Aurora, New York, around the turn of the
20th Century.
alter the 1833 Aurora Inn, which is the
central focal point of the National Register-listed Village of Aurora/Wells College
Historic District. Although the College characterizes the Aurora Inn project as a
Page 2 of 4
7~
Catskill, New York, targeted for demolition
National Trust Legal Defense Fund
"renovation" or "rejuvenation," the $5.5 million project involves the demolition of
approximately half the cunent building (including the front porch, and additions
built before and just after the turn of the century), and the complete gutting of the
remaining interior of the Inn. The adjacent 1926 Market Building will also be
demolished. The Aurora Inn project is the first step in a plan funded by Wells
alumna Pleasant Rowland (founder of the Ameripn Girl doll company) to
completely Vansform the histaric Village of Aurora by demolishing and/or
substantially altering more than a dozen buildings.
The lower court held that the plaintiffs
had standing to bring the lawsuit, but '
rejected the Coalition's daims under the
New York State Environmental Quality
Review Act (SEQRA), upholding a
decision by the Aurora Community
Preservation Panel (CPP) to issue a
Certificate of Appropriateness for the
demolition, and a finding by the Planning
Board that the demolition would have no
significant impact on the environment.
Although the appellate court was willing to issue an injunction in the case,
suggesting a likelihood of prevailing on appeal, the injunction was conditioned
on posting a$250,000 surery bond, which the Aurora Coalition was unable to
afford. As a result, the Coalition is in the difficult position of having to press
forward with its lawsuit in a race against the wrecking ball.
On January 11, 2002, the Trust filed an
amicus motion in the appellate court,
together with the Preservation League of
New York. The case was argued before the
New York Supreme Court in Cayuga County
on February 25, 2002. William A. Hurst,
Esq., in Albany, NY, is representing the
preservation amicus groups pro bono.
!n re Application of St Lawrence Cement
Co., LLC,
No. 4-1040-0001/00001 {N.Y. Dep't of Env'U
Conserv. Dec. 7, 2001)
Status: Pending Before Administrative Law Judge
On December 7, 2001, a New York
administrative law judge granted the
TrusPs petition to participate as
amicus curiae with the Preservation
League of New York, in an
administrative adjudication proceeding
opposing construction of the proposed
St. Lawrence Cement facility in the
Hudson River Valley. If approved by
the state, the project would indude a
massive cement manufacturing plant
on a 40-acre site, with more than 22
buildings and structures, the tallest of
Page 3 of 4
~
partial demolition. (Afan Ominski),
front porch. (Karen Hindenlang)
Park, home of landscape architect
Frederick Edwin Church, would be
affected by the proposed St. Lawrence
Cement Facility. (Scenic Hudson)
National Trust Legal L~~ense Fund
which would contain stacks up to 40 stories high. The plant would be visible
from 87 historic sites, including the Olana State Historic Site, home of landscape
painter Frederick Edwin Church. The TrusYs amicus brief will argue that the
plant will have an adverse effect on the historic resources of the Hudson River
Valley, and therefore, New York State environmental permits should be denied.
William A. Hurst, Esq., in Albany, NY, is representing the preservation amicus
groups pro bono.
Tahoe Sie-ra Pieservation Council, Inc. v. Tahoe Regiona! Planning
Agency,
216 F.3d 764 (9th Cir. 2000), cert. granted, 121 S. Ct. 2589 (2002)
Status: Awaiting Decision by U.S. Supreme Court
On November 12, 2001, the National
Trust filed an amicus brief in the U.S.
Supreme Court, together with the
American Planning Association, in the
Court's most recent takings case being
considered this term. The pse was
filed by a group of landowners near
Lake Tahoe, who Gaim that a 32-
month development moratorium
implemented by the Tahoe Regional
Planning Agency in the early 1980s
represented a facial temporary taking
of their property without just
compensation. The moratorium was
development. (USGS)
adopted while the Agency developed its regional plan.
The amicus brief argues that moratoriums are well-established and essential
planning tools that are analogous to normal delays in the permit review process,
which the Supreme Court has held do not amount to temporary takings.
Moratoriums on demolition are especially important as a safeguard for historic
preservation programs, providing Iocal governments with an opportuniry to adopt
or update their preservation ordinances, or to evaluate the proposed designation
of a potential historic district or landmark, while protecting against the
destruction of historic properties during the study period. The firm af Freilich,
Leitner & Carlisle, of Kansas City, Missouri, drafted the amicus brief pro bono.
The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case on January 7, 2002, and a
decision is expected by the end of June.
m 2005 National Trust for HiStoriC Preservation. Ali nghts reserved. Terms of Use ~ Privacy Statement
Page 4 of 4
~/
development moratorium designed to
permit planning to minimize
environmental impacts from surrounding
Temple B'nai Sholom v. City of Huntsville
RLUIPA.org
~
. Homc
. Back~round
• Scholarship
. Media
• Cases
. Resources
Temple B'nai Sholom v. City of Huntsville
Page 1 of 2
Temple B'nai Sholom is a Reform Jewish synagogue with a long history in Huntsville, Alabama.
Founded in 1876, it has occupied its present location since 1899. The Temple sanctuary has been
designated a Historic Building, and was extensively renovated in the mid-1990s.
In the 1970s, the Temple purchased two adjacent pieces uf property in order to have room for future
expansion. Each parcel contained a house, neither of which were of historic significance, although the
entire area lies within an historic preservation distric~ One of the houses was demolished many years
ago without any objection from the city or the Historic Preservation Commission, and other property
owners in the area, including several nearby churches, have been allowed to demolish similar buildings.
On September 15, 2000, city code enforcement officials issued a notice declaring the house at 406
Clintorr Avenue unsafe, and ordering the Temple to either "repair or demolish" the structure. Since the
Temple intends to use the site for religious activities, including eventual expansion of the sanctuary, it
sought permission of the Huntsville Historic Preservation Commission to demolish the house.
On November 20, 2000, the Commission refused, leaving the Temple in an impossible "Catch 22"
situation: ordered by one city agency to demolish the house, and prohibited by another from doing so.
To add insult to injury, the city then sought a criminal misdemeanor conviction against the Temple for
its failure to obey the order to "repair or demolish." ,
Finally, on May 8, 2001, Temple B'nai Sholom filed suit in Madison County Circuit Court against the
City of Huntsville, the head of the city's Inspection Department, and the administrator of the city's
Historic Preservation Commission. On June 1, 2001, defendants moved to remove the case from county
court and move it instead to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
In October 2001, the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty joined the case, and an amended complaint was
filed on October 23, 2001. It charged the city with violations of the Constitutions of Alabama and the
United States and RLUIPA. On November 2, 2001, the city moved to strike the amended complaint and
renewed their motion to dismiss. On November 6, Judge Smith summarily denied both motions. In
February, 2002, Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor filed a motion for leave to join the suit on the
Temple's side, to defend the state's Religious Freedom Amendment. (Temple B'nai Sholom v. City of
Huntsville, et al., CV-01-S-1412-NE}
~~
Temple B'nai Sholom v. City of Huntsville Page 2 of 2
Interestingly, the City of Huntsville itself had burned down a number of houses of approximately the
same vintage as the house at 406 Clinton Avenue at about the same time it took action against Temple
B'nai Sholom. City Community Development Director Jerry Galloway was quoted in an article in the
Huntsville Times as saying, "We have an obligation to the public to get rid of stuff that's a danger to the
public health and safety, and this property was."
Although the city initially adopted a strategy of challenging the constitutionality of RLUIPA and sought
the assistance of the statute's most vehement critic, law professor Marci Hamilton, in the end it agreed to
settle the case "in order to avoid the expense, inconvenience, and uncertainty of litigation." (Along the
way, both the City of Huntsville and the Alabama Preservation Alliance joined in an amicus brief
challenging RLUIPA's constitutionality, written by Hamilton and submitted to the Seventh U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals in C.L. U.B. v. City of Chicago.)
The settlement, approved by the Huntsville City Council on June 26, 2003, provides that the City of
Huntsville will purchase the house at 406 Clinton Avenue for $25,000 and will pay to have the house
moved to a vacant lot that the city owns at the corner of Dallas and Walker Streets. The settlement
agreement also. commits the city's Historic Preservation Commission to "work with the Temple in good
faith toward the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness approving the Plans [for the Temple's
expansion] and the project implementing the Plans within a reasonable and customary time period."
Having given the Temple everything it sought in the lawsuit, the city nevertheless inserted language at
the end of the agreement stating that it still refuses to concede that either RLUIPA or the Alabama
Religious Freedom Amendment are "valid laws."
Articles & News Items
•"Reyised com~laint in lawsuit char ~g~n~ that Huntsville violated religious lib_erties," October 24,
2001
Do any of these question apply to you?
.[s your worship space under attack b_y_the zonin~board?
. Do you know_a prisoner denied reli~ious freedom?
. Got a question?
• Want to help?
Receive our monthly E-Update on all religious liberty issues.
Your Email Address ~
~3