Colorado's Newest Historic Property
The Owl Club of Denver Headquarters was listed on the State of Colorado's Registry of Historic Properties on September 25, 2024.
The building is also under consideration to be listed on the National Registry as well. Please read the article in the link below and continue to support the mission of The Owl Club.
Owl Club on the National Register of Historic Places
History Colorado is proud to announce that on November 14, 2024, The Owl Club Building has been added to the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior as part of the Colorado Heritage for All Initiative.
History Colorado: Legacies of Excellence
Year long Exhibition Beginning May 10th
Founded in 1941 by eight hardworking railroad pullman, waiters, and businessmen, The Owl Club of Denver was created to recognize the academic excellence of young African American women from Denver. Drawing early membership from the Five Points, Whittier, and Park Hill neighborhoods – which were some of the only areas where Black Denverites could live in the 1940s as a result of restrictive covenants and redlining – this social club provided a safe space where community members could feel a sense of belonging and celebrate one another’s achievements.
Join History Colorado to celebrate the yearlong residence of our new exhibition Owl Club of Denver: Legacies of Excellence, which explores the rich traditions of a prominent all-Black debutante cotillion club in the Mile High City. Built from oral histories, and featuring a remarkable collection of photographs, this exhibition recounts the rarely told history of debutante culture from the perspective of African Americans who were historically excluded from the beauty standards of this European-born tradition.
Please use promo code OCVISIT when visiting History Colorado and get a $10 discount on your ticket.
Learn More
Special Thanks to History Colorado Associates:
Tyler Allen,
Exhibit Developer and Public Historian Exhibits
Terri Gentry,
Engagement Manager for Black Communities
Acoma Gaither,
Curator of Black History
History Colorado Center
1200 Broadway, Denver
Legacies of excellence Opening celebration
Thank You For Spending Time With Us!
The evening was a busy one and we heard from many of our guests that they were looking forward to visiting when they had time to see the rest of the museum.
Thank you to members of the Owl Club and past Owl Club debutantes for joining us.
“The Owl Club of Denver set the stage for many Black Coloradans who became anchors of their communities. This exhibition gives us the chance to celebrate and honor these young debutantes as well as this vital organization that continues to uplift its community to this day."
Tyler Allen, Exhibit Developer and Public Historian for History Colorado
The Owl Club Legacies of Excellence Opening Celebration was a wonderful evening filled with joy, fellowship, and fond memories with friends.
We hope you can visit the exhibition and want to share some of the photos from the evening
Legacy of Excellence Exhibit Closes at History Colorado
The History Colorado yearlong Legacy of Excellence Exhibit: The Owl Club of Denver ends Friday, April 11, 2025.
This captivating exhibit showcases the history of the iconic Owl Club and its impact on Denver’s cultural scene. From historical photographs to fascinating oral stories, it’s an experience you can't miss!
Lincoln Hills: Mountain Sanctuary
History Colorado Center Expands and Updates its Lincoln Hills Exhibition
The exhibition shares the history of what was once the largest African American recreational resort west of the Mississippi River