Mork & Mindy’s House – Boulder, CO. This iconic Victorian home on Pearl Street was the backdrop for Mork & Mindy, forever linking Boulder to TV history. Nanu Nanu!

From Ork to Pearl Street: How Mork & Mindy Made Boulder, Colorado Famous

In the late 1970s, a quirky alien from the planet Ork crash-landed right in the heart of Boulder, Colorado—and television history was never the same. Mork & Mindy, starring Robin Williams and Pam Dawber, aired from 1978 to 1982 and became one of the most beloved sitcoms of its era. What began as a Happy Days spin-off quickly transformed into a cultural phenomenon that forever linked Boulder’s name with laughter, heart, and a touch of intergalactic mischief.

The Boulder Connection

Though filmed in California, the show’s fictional setting was unmistakably Boulder. The charming Victorian house at 1619 Pine Street, near the city’s iconic Pearl Street Mall, served as the home of Mindy McConnell and her unusual roommate, Mork from Ork. According to Wikipedia, this house became a pop culture landmark, appearing in the series’ opening credits and instantly recognizable to fans worldwide.

Pearl Street Mall, one of the most famous outdoor malls in the country, set against the stunning backdrop of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, Colorado.

Producer Garry Marshall chose Boulder because he wanted a scenic, forward-thinking college town that embodied Mindy’s intelligence and independence. The presence of the University of Colorado Boulder helped reinforce the city’s youthful, creative energy—an ideal backdrop for exploring Mork’s hilarious observations about human life. As CU Boulder notes, the show introduced millions of viewers to Boulder’s beauty and spirit, putting the city “on the map” in a way few other TV shows ever have.

Na-Nu, Na-Nu: Fun Facts and Out-of-This-World Stories

• Robin Williams’s audition became the stuff of legend—he sat upside down in a chair and improvised wildly, leading producers to cast him instantly.

• Mork’s greeting, “Na-Nu, Na-Nu,” was inspired by Star Trek’s Vulcan salute and became one of television’s most quoted catchphrases.

• The show’s success boosted tourism in Boulder during the early 1980s, as fans came to see the house where their favorite alien “lived.”

• Later seasons featured Mork and Mindy marrying and having a son named Mearth (played by Jonathan Winters), who aged backward due to Orkan biology.

• Writers often left space in the scripts labeled, “Robin will do something here,” trusting Williams to deliver comedic brilliance on the spot.

A Boulder Legacy That Endures

Decades later, Mork & Mindy remains one of Boulder’s most charming claims to fame. It highlighted the city’s warmth, creativity, and open-mindedness—qualities that still define Boulder today.

From the Flatirons to Pearl Street, the same playful, welcoming energy that drew producers to Boulder continues to thrive. The show captured that spirit in every episode, making Boulder not just a setting, but a character in its own right.

For fans and locals alike, Mork & Mindy is a reminder that even an alien from Ork could find belonging, humor, and love here. Or as Mork would say: “Na-Nu, Na-Nu… and thank you, Boulder!”

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