Denver Press Club facts for kids
The Denver Press Club, located at 1330 Glenarm Place in Denver, Colorado, is a very important place for journalists. It's actually the oldest press club in the entire United States! Journalists first started meeting there way back in 1867, and the club officially became a group in 1877. It's a special spot where people who work in news and media can gather and share ideas.
Contents
History of the Denver Press Club
Early Meetings and Presidential Guests
When the Denver Press Club first started, its members met in the basement of a grocery store on Larimer Street. But they soon needed more room! So, they moved to different hotels around Denver.
Did you know that two U.S. Presidents received special honors from the club? Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft were given honorary memberships. Their membership cards were even made of solid gold and silver!
In 1908, a big political meeting called the National Democratic Convention took place in Denver. The Denver Press Club became the main headquarters for all the news reporters covering the event. They also helped organize fun social events for the convention.
Building a Home and Historic Recognition
In 1925, the club members decided they wanted their own building. They chose famous architects named Merill H. and Burnham Hoyt to design it. The Denver Press Club building cost about $50,000 to build. Much of the money came from selling a book called "Who's Who in the Rockies."
Later, in 1945, an artist named Herndon Davis painted a huge mural on a wall in the club's basement poker room. This amazing painting shows many Denver journalists from that time, and it's still there today!
The building is very important historically. In 1986, the city of Denver officially named it an Historic Landmark. Then, in 2008, the Society of Professional Journalists said it was a "significant historical place in journalism." Even more recently, in 2017, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site across the country.
Who Belongs to the Club Today?
Today, the Denver Press Club has more than 400 members. These members work in many different areas, like newspapers, TV news, advertising, and public relations. Many famous journalists, cartoonists, and other important people have been members of this club over the years.
The club also gives out a special award each year called the Damon Runyon Award. This award honors someone whose career shows the same exciting style as a famous former member, Damon Runyon.
