Unlike countless others who’ve overdone it in the cosmetic enhancement department, the nips and tucks performed on Denver Museum of Nature & Science are perfectly OK. They’ve been nicely executed and add to her grandeur.
Indeed, the old girl has blossomed since she opened to the public on July 1, 1908 — evolving from “A single structure on a knoll in tree-less City Park.” But as one of the founders, John Campion, said 100 years ago: “A museum of natural history is never finished. A completed museum is a dead museum, and that result, of course, the people of Colorado do not want.”
Today, the museum still sits on its knoll in City Park, but has expanded from 100,000 square feet to 500,000 square feet — and is surrounded by trees. Visitors number 1.4 million per year.
Representatives from families that have been associated with the museum since the early days were among the 650 who attended the centennial gala, Museum After Dark: Building on 100 Years.
Buz Koelbel, whose grandfather had preceded him as a member of the DMNS board, chaired the dinner-dance with his wife, Sherri.
In his welcoming remarks, Koelbel paid tribute to the Phipps family and its 95-year history with the museum. Patriarch Lawrence C. Phipps joined the museum board in 1913 and served for 45 years; his son, Alan, joined in 1942 and was a member for 53 years.
In addition, the Gerald H. Phipps construction company, the gala’s presenting sponsor, converted what had been Phipps Auditorium to an IMAX theater; it also turned Gates Planetarium into what is now Space Odyssey, built the Leprino Family Atrium, and is currently preparing the museum’s northeast wing for its 2009 transformation to Expedition Health.
Alan Phipps’ son,Graham, and his wife, Carol, along with construction company president Kurt Klanderud, were at the gala.
Board chairwoman Mary Pat Link and vice chair Peter Dea joined museum president/CEO George Sparks in welcoming such longtime supporters as Leslie and John A. Ferguson III; Martha and Tony Combs; Ginny and John Freyer; Thomas Swanson; Jim Rumsey and Dee Writer; Sondra and Dr. Dick Talley; Nancy Leprino Henry and David Henry; Susan and Eric Sipf; Anne and Henry Beer; Lisa and Joel Appel; Dana and Cal Fulenwider; Jana and Brian Wilkinson; Bonnie and Bob Downing; Kathy and Steve McConahey; and Janice and Wally Weckbaugh.
Also enjoying the celebration were Julia and George Secor; Marty and Wes Segelke; Arlene and Barry Hirschfeld; Jenni and Ed Haselden; Jeannette and Rich Aurand; Sue and Louis Clinton; Curt Fentress and Agatha Kessler; Karin Jonas; Cynthia and Philippe Dunoyer; Allison and Bruce Dodge; Bridget Coughlin and Dr. Brian Wegner; Ed Warner and Jacalyn Erickson Warner; and Gretchen and Dale Shaffer.
Society editor Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, davidson
