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The Denver Turnverein

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

The Denver Turnverein was founded in Denver in 1865 and the organization has used this location since 1922. The oldest member organization of the national American Turners in Colorado, the Denver Turnverein preserves the cultural traditions of the Turner movement that was established by German immigrants and emphasized social activities, physical fitness, and healthy minds. Starring in the mid 19th century, the Turners worked to promote physical education, and their efforts led to a significant emphasis on health and fitness in American schools. Today the Turnverein serves as a dancehall. Ballroom, Tango, Salsa, Country, Lindy, and West Coast Swing groups all use the floor.

Images

Denver Turnverein Exterior

Denver Turnverein Exterior

Interior Dance Floor

Interior Dance Floor

Dance Floor

Dance Floor

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

Constructed in 1921, this building was originally built for the Coronado Dance Club and designed by architect George Louis Bettcher who is known for his work on the Rossonian Hotel. Bettcher utilized the Mediterranean Revival style while the exterior exhibits a stucco finish in Mentone yellow. The building has a flat tiled roof behind a parapet and French arched doors and fan windows. The interior has a 5000 square foot dance floor, with no intrusive columns or poles.

The Denver Turnverein is affiliated with the American Turners, a German-American social and athletic association. Many Germans fled their home country, in the wake of the 1848 revolution, and soon after, the Turner movement swept America in the mid 19th century.

The Turners based their principles on ideas from German educator, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. The group was driven by a nationalist political agenda. However they came together for trips, social events, and most notably a certain style of games and sport. Turners emphasized a rigorous program of exercise similar to track and field and calisthenics and weight lifting in gymnasiums. They developed games and “exercises for the people," and also practiced running, jumping, lifting, climbing walls, fencing, swimming, and wrestling. Their sphere of influence extended to schools. The Turners were the first to introduce physical education programs in American schools.

The Denver Turnverein is one of the last existing Turnverein buildings in use today. The building serves as a social dancing house for the Denver Metro Area. Every night of the week it draws in over 100 dancers per night. Ballroom, Tango, Salsa, Country, Lindy, and West Coast Swing all use the floor.  

Sources

  1. Denver Turnverein. Accessed July 15th 2020. https://denverturnverein.com/about/.
  2. Hofmann, Annette R. The American Turners: their past and present, Science Direct. June 1st 2017. Accessed July 18th 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0101328915000281.
  3. Denver Turnverein , History of Colorado. Accessed July 18th 2020. https://www.historycolorado.org/location/denver-turnverein.

Additional Information