Secrets of the Secret Garden: The History, Architecture and Adaptive Reuse of a Denver Treasure
June 4, 2025
About the Tour: Join Denver Architecture Foundation, Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, and City Street Investors to learn about local legends and cultural stories of the Tears McFarlane House. Located adjacent to Cheesman Park, the Tears McFarlane House has served various roles through its long history. Attendees of the event will learn the history and context of the mansion in relation to Cheesman Park and its mysterious past, tour the inside of the mansion, and learn about the newest addition, the Secret Garden Cafe. Expert historians and the project manager of the renovated and revitalized annex will guide attendees through the fascinating past and beautiful present of this historic and vibrant property.
About the Tears McFarlane House: Constructed in the late 1890s for Daniel W. Tears, the Tears McFarlane House is celebrated as one of Colorado’s finest examples of Colonial Revival architecture. Designed by the important Denver firm Varian and Sterner, this 8,700-square-foot mansion sits on the north edge of Cheesman Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The mansion has had multiple uses and owners through its long history, and is currently the home to Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods and the Secret Garden Cafe, which opened in 2024. The property received the 29th historic designation given by the City and County of Denver in 1972.
About the tour guides: Bruce Caughey | Chair, History Matters Committee of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods: A lifelong passion for travel, Bruce co-authored The Colorado Guide, a 700-page bestseller with five editions and over 250,000 copies in print, as well as Colorado’s Best and Crete: Off the Beaten Track. His writing has appeared in numerous periodicals and newspapers, including National Geographic Traveler and AAA Magazine. After retiring as the Executive Director of the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE), Bruce continues to consult, write, and teach. Bruce is also the course facilitator at Denver University as well as other organizations. His most recent class is entitled Denver Oddities. He and his wife Tanya live in Denver’s Capitol Hill and enjoy balancing the dynamics of urban living, global travel and time with their grandchildren.
Robert Ehmann | Member, CHUN History Matters Committee: A third-generation Colorado native, Robert earned degrees in Finance and International Affairs from CU-Boulder before working as a financial analyst at ARCO. He later earned his law degree from Arizona State University and spent nearly 30 years as a trial attorney in Phoenix, specializing in personal injury defense. After retiring in 2017, he returned to Denver, where he restored an 1890 Victorian in City Park West. Since 2019, Robert has volunteered as a docent with Historic Denver and sung with the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus. In 2025, he was honored to perform at Carnegie Hall with a national choir. Robert’s passions include Broadway, theater, genealogy, European travel, and sharing good food with friends. If he’s on a train in Europe, he’s in his happy place.
Chelsea Wade, AIA | Architect, Semple Brown: A licensed architect with over 10 years of experience and a diverse portfolio including adaptive reuse, performing arts venues, and mixed-use developments. Much of her work focuses on revitalizing existing buildings—meeting contemporary needs while honoring original character and reducing environmental impact. She brings a thoughtful, sustainability-minded approach to each project, uncovering innovative ways to extend the life of structures and minimize the need for new resources. Chelsea is known for her ability to navigate complex design challenges and deliver creative, lasting solutions that are tailored to each client and context.
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessibility located to the west of the house. The ramp is also located on the southwest corner of the house.
Agenda:
4:30pm – Doors Open
5:00pm-7:00pm – Tours
Denver Architecture Foundation membership is good for one year and pays for itself with a handful of discounted tours and events. Your membership also supports DAF programs: tours, lectures, exhibitions, K-8 education and more. Become a member here.