Nestled in the heart of Colorado lies the iconic city of Boulder, renowned for its breathtaking landscape and rich cultural heritage. At the forefront of this picturesque scenery stand the majestic Flatirons, a series of striking rock formations that have not only shaped the geological history of the region but also hold profound cultural significance. […]

From 1892 Classroom to Visionary City Club—The Legacy of Highland School Hidden behind a lush hedge at the intersection of 9th Street and Arapahoe Avenue stands one of Boulder’s most exquisite architectural gems—the Highland School building. With its red brick façade, ornate Romanesque and Gothic details, and storied past, this former elementary school is now […]

When it comes to historic landmarks in Boulder, Colorado, the Carnegie Library stands out as a timeless gem. Constructed in the early 20th century, this architectural marvel has not only served as a repository of knowledge but also as a symbol of community resilience and enduring legacy. The Carnegie Library in Boulder holds a significant […]

Nestled within the historic Hotel Boulderado in Boulder, Colorado, an ornate marble drinking fountain stands as a testament to the city’s early 20th-century ingenuity. Installed during the hotel’s grand opening on New Year’s Day in 1909, this fountain once provided guests with pure, cold water sourced directly from the city-owned Arapaho Glacier. At that time, […]

Dirty Air in the Arapaho Language? The Boulder Valley was known to the Arapaho tribe as “The People of the Bison,” or “Hinono’eino” in their language. I have not come across any historical references indicating that the Boulder Valley was specifically known as “dirty air” to the Arapaho or any other Native American tribes, contrary […]

You will learn how Boulder’s iconic Flatirons formed. Turns out, Boulder was once beachfront property. The Flatirons are Boulder’s favorite portion of the Fountain Formation, a geological formation of mostly red sandstone. This sandstone, more appropriately called “arkose” gets its color from the pinkish feldspar contained it it. This red rock makes up the Red […]

Every Boulderite knows that Chautauqua is up on 900 Baseline Road in Boulder, but how did it get there? And what is a Chautauqua anyway? The Chautauqua movement of the late 19th century was an effort to educate rural communities who lacked access to the mass culture being developed in cities. The movement lasted from the […]

Boulder’s Chief Niwot, (Left Hand in english), was a prominent leader of the Southern Arapaho tribe in the mid-19th century and played a significant role in the history and culture of the Boulder Valley. His impact on the region is multifaceted, encompassing historical, cultural, and environmental aspects. HISTORICAL IMPACT Chief Niwot is remembered for his […]

Chief Niwot, Left Hand, is certainly the most famous of our Native American Boulderites. Niwot is known as a peacemaker and as a truly great chief of the Arapaho. Lives lived large spawn legends. Left Hand has birthed several. THERE ARE NO ACTUAL IMAGES OF CHIEF NIWOT KNOWN TO EXIST. TRUE! The closest we may […]

Dona Bollard, photographer and winner of the 2024 Boulder Art Fest 2D Art Award, has shared some of her finest and most interesting historical pictures with AboutBoulder and our readers. We are blessed and grateful! Along with her museum photographs of the blood descendant of Chief Niwot, Eldred Poisal, she has shared the history of […]