HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE Historic Context Statement of Context
Chautauqua Park and environs and structures managed by the Boulder Parks and Recreation are part of the Colorado Chautauqua National Historic Landmark (NHL). The NHL is associated with the themes of “Creating Social Institutions and Movements” and “Expressing Cultural Values,” with a period of significance for that begins with its founding as the Texas-Colorado Chautauqua in 1898 and ends in 1930 when the National Chautauqua Movement reached its nadir. 6 The boundary of the NHL corresponds with the City's historic district and includes the historic chautauqua grounds and all its resources. 7 Colorado Chautauqua NHL is nationally significant as an outstanding representative of the Chautauqua Movement, America’s first truly national mass educational and cultural movement. 8 Background History Prior to 1898, the land that was to become the chautauqua was originally Batchelder Ranch, which consisted of agricultural lands and a ranch property. Development of the chautauqua began in 1898 with construction of multiple buildings including the Auditorium and Dining Hall, as well as an entrance at Baseline Road (known as Park Avenue at the time). Several roads were graded at this time, including Clematis Drive (Texas Avenue) and Kinnikinic Road (Chautauqua Avenue). 9 The land that would become Chautauqua Park served as horse and carriage parking during the early development of the chautauqua. 10 In 1901 the Boulder Improvement Association hired W.W. Parce to complete a plan for the are that included plans for Chautauqua Green (known as Tennis Park). Between 1908 and 1910 The Arbor was built along the north- south pedestrian route and Chautauqua Green was seeded with grasses. In 1912 Sumac Drive was connected to Clematis Drive to create a one-way loop road around the central oval lawn. Later improvements included construction of the original playground (1913), Shelter House, Lincoln Street Steps (Queen’s Gate), Entrance Gate (King’s Gate), and stone retaining walls connecting these structures (1917). 11 Between 1930 and the early 1960s, Chautauqua Green remained relatively unchanged. In 1964, a tennis court and a parking lot were installed east of the playground. Forty acres of the chautauqua, including the Chautauqua Park, were designated as a City of Boulder Historic District and listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1978. The most significant change following the site’s 1978 listing in the NHRP was modification of the loop road within Chautauqua Green to provide additional parking. The roadways were narrowed, several gutters were altered, the entrance road altered, and two interior greenspaces were removed. In addition to these roadway alterations, the Ranger’s Cottage and west parking lot were built. 12 Following its designation as a National Historic Landmark, relatively few changes occurred within Chautauqua Park except for improvements along Baseline Road (2017) and an upgrade to the playground equipment (2020). Definition of the Context As part of the Colorado Chautauqua NHL, which is associated with the themes of “Creating Social Institutions and Movements” and “Expressing Cultural Values,” Chautauqua Park is associated with the chautauqua movement and the values expressed by the people who participated. The Chautauqua Movement developed in the late 19th century to spread adult education to rural and semi-rural areas throughout the United States. In addition to bringing educational opportunities to regions with limited access to post-secondary education, chautauquas offered music and entertainment that allowed for further expression of cultural values within rural communities. 13
6 7 8
Vail, "The Colorado Chautauqua," 4, 45.
Ibid., 64. Ibid., 46.,
7-7 9 Mundus Bishop, Chautauqua Park Historic District: Cultural Landscape Assessment and Plan (Boulder, CO: Colorado Chautauqua Association, 2004), 8. 10 Vail, "The Colorado Chautauqua," 6-7. 11 Mundus Bishop, Chautauqua Park Historic District, Appendix B. 12 Vail, "The Colorado Chautauqua,"8. 13 Mundus Bishop, Chautauqua Park Historic District, 27.
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