Things You Must See When You Visit DU

The Evans Chapel

This beautiful century-old sandstone chapel, constructed in 1878, is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. The historic Evans Chapel was moved, brick-by-brick, from its original downtown location at 13th and Bannock to its current location in the center of Harper Humanities Gardens, the heart of campus, in 1960. The move was a popular decision made by the late Chancellor Emeritus Chester M. Alter. Today the Evans Chapel is surrounded by flower gardens, waterfalls and pools.

The El Pomar Natatorium

The El Pomar Natatorium boasts metro Denver’s only Olympic-sized swimming pool. DU swimming and diving competitions are held here as well as community programs such as Learn-to-Swim and Masters swimming.

“Whispers” Interactive Outdoor Sculpture Installation

Locally renowned sculptor Lawrence Argent created “Whispers” for the University of Denver community in 1999. It consists of many lips placed on the walkway as benches and elevated on pillars surrounding the entry to the Coors Fitness Center and the Gates Field House – previously recorded university lectures can be heard coming fromspeakers incorporated into the outdoor sculpture installation daily. Lawrence Argent is perhaps most well known for his creation of the “Big Blue Bear” sculpture that peers into the windows of the Denver Convention Center downtown.

DU Rose

The University of Denver has its own special variety of roses, which are called “Rosa Denvera.” In the year of 1912 the late Chancellor Henry Buchtel received a rose bush as a gift from a friend on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. After the roses had bloomed Dr. Ira E. Cutler (the planter of the roses) discovered some of the blossoms were unlike any known variety of rose. Some of the roses are deep red with yellow centers while others are bright yellow. These roses are very special to the University of Denver because they bloom only in the springtime around graduation time outside the Penrose Library.

DU Carillon

On special occasions, before home hockey games and every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday while school is in session from 11:30am to noon, DU Carillonneur Todd Fair plays the carillon in the Williams Tower. For all who are in listening distance, Fair’s artistry at the bells is a distinct pleasure.

Alter Arboretum and Harper Humanities Garden

The Humanities Garden has become the centerpiece of DU’s Alter Arboretum, which is billed as a “living fossil forest” and sports the nearest living relatives of the fossilized plants found in the Rocky Mountains. The Humanities Garden has incorporated some 100 aquatic plants including water lilies, rushes and wild rice. The garden is an aesthetically beautiful place for the people of DU and greater community to relax.

Newman Center for the Performing Arts

The Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts strives to provide the highest quality performing arts experiences for faculty, students, performers and the Colorado community. The Newman Center offers an eclectic mix of emerging artists and seasoned performers, and trains DU music students in the most acoustically sophisticated venues in the region. The Newman Center welcomes our community and aims to seduce the senses with an abundance of performances in gracious settings. Taking in a show at the Newman Center is a must for visiting DU parents.