The Denver City Center by Phil Goodstein

Phil Goodstein has been wandering the streets for 30 years, walking backwards as he tours the city. Among the first strolls he ever conducted was of the Civic Center.

Now he has put down his stories about it. They range from how Denver created the majestic central park at Colfax and Broadway to the artwork within it to the scandals behind it. His new The Denver Civic Center: The Heart of the Mile High City (Denver: New Social Publications, 2016. vi + 478 pp. ISBN 0–9860748–2–9), additionally looks at such surrounding structures as the City and County Building, the Capitol, the Mint, the Denver Art Museum, and the main Denver Public Library. In the process, he probes them from both the inside out and describes their problems and potentials. For those desiring spirits, there are occasional ghost tales such as the presence of a couple of heads floating in tunnels beneath the statehouse.

As is the case with all of Goodstein’s books, 484-page The Denver Civic Center is well illustrated. It touches on the surrounding areas of the Golden Triangle (the section bordered by Colfax, Broadway, and Cherry Creek) and the Silver Triangle (West Colfax to Speer Boulevard to about Champa
Street to 15th Street). The study revives gems of Denver’s past such as the glory that was 14th Street and peers at some of the cynical grasping and grabbing of the corporate elite. In a word, it is an excellent contribution to the city’s past and present.

The Denver City Center lists for $24.95. That is your price, postage and tax paid, from New Social Publications; Box 18026; Denver 80218. Copies can be ordered from Capitol Hill Books, 303/837–0700; capitolhillbooks.com. Or you can come and hear Goodstein rant and rave about the book at:
Book Bar (southeast corner of 43rd Avenue and Tennyson Street) Sunday, December 4, 4:00–5:30 PM (720/443-2227). This will include a discussion of North Denver and the distinctive role of the Berkeley neighborhood. It will also feature Goodstein’s book, North Side Story.

City Stacks, 1743 Wazee Street
Tuesday, December 13, 6:00–7:30 pm (303/297-1440)
A history of downtown is needed. The Denver Civic Center only touches the southeastern section of the area. Here the focus will be on how that area connects with the rest of downtown, especially LoDo

Wednesday, January 11, 6:30–9:00 PM
Everything about Denver
This is the first week of a four-part seminar on the history of Denver. The class will deal with the logic of the Denver street system and the Pikes Peak gold rush. The cost is $15.00 per person. It gathers in a private home at 1330 Monroe Street. (Monroe Street is four blocks west of Colorado Boulevard).

For more information call 303/333-1095.