Designed by renowned architect Victor Hornbein in 1953 as Aurora’s first dedicated public library, the building is an excellent example of Usonian architecture. Influenced by traditional Japanese design and developed by Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930s, Usonian architecture features open interior spaces and natural finishes. The Hornbein Building, with its unique architecture, served the community for fifty-two years.
Built in 1892, the Marshall Cowing House denotes class divisions present at the founding of Fletcher. A beautiful Folk Victorian, this architectural form is drastically smaller and less ornate than its Queen Anne counterpart, marking the new middle-class neighborhood of Fletcher. The home was designated a Local Aurora Landmark in 2004 because it illustrates class divisions within the community and embodies the Folk Victorian architectural style.
Constructed in 1946, this unique theater features a U.S. Army Quonset hut with an Art Moderne entrance. Designed by architect Charles Strong following the end of the Second World War, the theater fulfilled Aurora’s dream for a local motion picture venue and displayed the community’s connection with the military. Designated Aurora Historic Landmark No. 5 in 1987 for its architectural significance, the building continues to serve the community as a performing arts center.
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Mary Jane Lavina Girard Robidoux moved from Kansas following her husband’s death and commissioned this Craftsman home in 1913. The detailed brickwork and interior sawn oak woodwork are definitive features of the Craftsman style, an offshoot of the English Arts & Crafts Movement popular in the late 19th century. Upon completion, the home was hailed as the most exquisite house in Aurora. The Robidoux House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its embodiment of the Craftsman style.
Designated an Aurora Historic Landmark in 2018, the McMillan House is a beautiful example of how additions can create a varied architectural form/style. Constructed between 1910 and 1911, the McMillan House is a Folk Victorian that features Queen Anne and Craftsman detailing. The front porch, added ten years later and enclosed in the 1970s, showcases how this home had been adapted by residents throughout its lifetime. The house is also significant for its association with two-term Aurora mayor, John M. McMillan.
Constructed in 1891 as part of speculative neighborhood East of Denver, the Milliken House hosted the first Town Trustee (City Council) meeting for the Town of Fletcher, later renamed Aurora. The Milliken House obtained Local Historic Landmark status in 1987 for its role in the establishment of local government and association with Mayor Milliken.
Designated Aurora Landmark No. 11 in 1993, this Queen Anne Victorian is the oldest remaining home built as part of the town of Fletcher. A luxurious home at the time, it featured indoor plumbing to the kitchen and upstairs bathroom. The City of Aurora purchased the property in 1990 and community members restored the home to commemorate the city’s centennial year.
Designated as Aurora Landmark No. 8 in 1988, the Italian Villa was constructed as an Italian restaurant in 1925. The restaurant, advertised as “Denver’s Smartest Night Club," drew large numbers of Denverites to its extravagant outdoor patio. Aurora residents, annoyed with the boisterous antics of the Villa, accused the restaurant of being a public nuisance and violating the 18th Amendment, taking the owner to court in 1933.
Built in 1892, the Fuller House is one of the few remaining homes from the town of Fletcher. It stands as an exemplary Queen Anne Victorian style structure, popular in the late 19th century, and represents the importance of water in the settlement of Colorado communities. In 2001 the Fuller House was designated to the National Register of Historic Places for its association with community planning and its embodiment of an architectural style.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This walking tour takes the visitor to nine different historic landmarks that embody the development of Fletcher and early Aurora. Explore the various residents and architectural styles present in the neighborhood..
