Recap: East High School Tours
About the tour: Attendees explored the halls of East High School with a retired teacher as their guide. After outgrowing the “Old East” building in Downtown Denver, East High School as we now know it has been standing since 1925 on one of Denver’s most historic streets – Colfax Avenue. The group learned about the influence that Denver’s early history of mining and agriculture had on statues outside of the building and how “Old East” student turned architect George Hebard Williamson designed the new building to resemble Old Hall at Oxford University. From the esplanade to the tower that offers a panoramic view of Downtown and the mountains, it was a memorable tour!
About East High School: Sitting on the block surrounded by Colfax Avenue on the South, 17th Avenue on the North, Detroit Street on the East, and the Esplanade on the West, East High School is a piece of Denver architecture recognized and loved by many! While “Old East” at 20th and Stout could accommodate 700 students, East High School today houses over 2,500 Denver students each year. East High School’s operations are driven by their purpose statement: “At Denver East our caring community of unique individuals is driven by our great strength: our diversity. Academic, artistic, and cultural learning experiences develop the whole person and propel every Angel to success in learning and in life.”
About the tour guide: Richard Nelson is a retired teacher who taught at East High School from 1962 – 1995. He is a member of the East High Historical Society, a co-curator of the East High Tower Museum, and the author of “Flights of Angels: A History of Denver East High School” that highlights the entire history of the school, from its original building to its current location, published in 2007.
