Courier August/September Courier | Page 34

CITY SPOTLIGHT DENVER Denver Art Museum The main attraction(s) Culture lovers will find a lot to their liking in the Golden Triangle area near the state capitol. “The museums in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood are easy to walk to from downtown hotels,” says Buck. “The History Colorado Center provides an overview of the state’s past, present and future. Across the street, the Denver Art Museum is home to impressive collections of American Indian and Western art.” History Colorado Center At the History Colorado Center, which is an NTA member, groups can get a feel for many aspects of life in the Rocky Mountain West. In addition to seeing history-focused exhibits, visitors can enjoy interactive components such as a ski-jump simulator, a virtual ride in a real Ford Model T and a simu- lated dynamite explosion in a circa-1880’s mine. Since its founding in 1893, the Denver Art Museum has become one of America’s most significant art institutes west of the Mississippi River. It is home to a number of renowned collections that highlight local and r egional works, as well as European, Asian and African art. The sleek architecture of the Daniel Libeskind- designed Frederic C. Hamilton Building is itself a work of art. Two other attractions Buck recommends, the Byers-Evans House Museum and the Molly Brown House, are located within four blocks of History Colorado. The story of Molly Brown, a noted 20th-century activist and Denver philanthro- pist, is shared at her namesake residence/museum. At Byers- Evans, visitors can learn about the lives of two of city’s promi- nent families in the early 1900s. A natural trio The downtown area also is home to the following three group- friendly, nature-based attractions: Denver Botanic Gardens One of the top five botanic gardens in the U.S., Denver Botanic Gardens is an oasis in the city. Groups can explore the different styles of gardens and enjoy year-round special events such as the Lavender Festival, the Pumpkin Festival, the winter market and the summer concert series. The Denver Museum of Nature & Science For more than 100 years, the attraction has showcased the fascinating world of science. Visitors can learn more about the cosmos, view precious minerals and gems, see massive dinosaur skeletons, check out planetarium and IMAX shows, take part in educational sessions and more. The zoo is home to more than 4,000 animals representing 650 spe- cies, including everything from Asian elephants and African lions to Komodo dragons and lowland gorillas. Interactive animal encounters, zookeeper sessions, teen volunteer programs and student overnight stays are popular. 32 August/September 2017 Denver Museum of Nature & Science The Denver Zoo