Dushanbe Tea House facts for kids
The Boulder Dushanbe Tea House is a special gift from the city of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, to Boulder, Colorado. It's a beautiful building where people can enjoy tea and learn about Tajik culture.
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How the Tea House Came to Be
The Dushanbe Tea House was given to Boulder, Colorado, by its "sister city" Dushanbe in 1987. A sister city is like a special friend city in another country. At that time, Tajikistan was part of the Soviet Union.
Building the Tea House
About 40 skilled artists from Tajikistan worked for two years to build the tea house by hand. They used traditional methods passed down through their families for many generations. These methods often involve designs inspired by nature and repeating patterns, similar to ancient Persian art. No power tools were used to create the original pieces!
After it was built, the tea house was carefully taken apart. Its pieces were packed into about 200 crates and shipped all the way to Boulder.
Putting the Pieces Together
Even though the tea house arrived in 1987, it took many years to put it together. This was because of local challenges and a lack of money. Many dedicated people in Boulder worked hard to keep the project alive. They wanted to make sure this unique gift would finally be built.
People from the Boulder-Dushanbe Sister Cities group helped form a special trust. This trust worked to gather money and support. Many community members gave thousands of dollars in donations. Finally, the trust made a deal with the City of Boulder. This deal allowed money from a restaurant operating in the tea house to help pay for its construction. This way, no taxpayer money was used for the project.
The tea house was finally built on city land and opened to the public in 1998.
What Makes the Tea House Special
The Tea House is located next to a small stream that flows from Boulder Creek. This is a traditional way to place tea houses, often near water. The grounds also have a beautiful rose garden, which was a gift from the Boulder Valley Rose Society. This reflects another part of Tajik culture.
Inside the Tea House
Inside, you'll find amazing details:
- Hand-carved cedar pillars, each with a unique design.
- Furniture made by hand in the traditional Tajik style.
- A fountain with seven bronze statues of women. These statues are inspired by an old 12th-century poem called "The Seven Beauties."
- Original oil paintings created by a Tajik artist who worked right there.
- Beautiful geometric patterns carved into the plaster.
Outside the Tea House
On the outside, there are eight ceramic tiles. These tiles show patterns of a "Tree of life," which is a common symbol in art.
The building and its grounds belong to the City of Boulder.
