The Denver Athletic Club, founded in 1884, is a private athletic and social club that is member-owned. Located in Downtown

Denver, Colorado Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

, United States. Residing in the historical 1325 Glenarm Place near the

Colorado Convention Center The Colorado Convention Center (CCC) is a multi-purpose convention center located in Downtown Denver, Colorado. At 2,200,000 square feet (total space) it is currently the 12th largest convention center in the United States. It opened in June 1 ...

, The DAC was added to the U.S.

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...

in 1979. With .

History

Founded in 1884 and located in the heart of Denver, the Denver Athletic Club is one of the oldest and largest private city clubs in the United States. It is consistently ranked one of the top ten athletic clubs in the country and offers members everything they need to work, play, exercise, network and socialize. The Denver Athletic Club's athletic facilities include a large fitness center, six racquetball courts, a squash center with seven courts, a full-size basketball/volleyball court, five group exercise studios, an indoor golf simulator and a 25-meter indoor swimming pool. As a business center and networking facility, the DAC also has meeting and conference rooms, a grand ballroom, a sundeck and a brand-new luxury coworking space. Members may enjoy access to a licensed childcare center, a full-service spa and wellness center, and social events. While the amenities are exceptional, The Denver Athletic Club is set apart by its community. A member-owned club, The DAC is operated for the benefit of its membership. The first home of The DAC was converted from the First Baptist Church on 18th near Curtis. It featured a gymnasium and a clubhouse with a large, handsome Denver Athletic Club sign on the front and with the purpose of "encouraging all proper athletic sports and pastimes of any kind and nature whatsoever". William D. Rathvon, is regarded as its founding father. Additionally,

John Elitch John Elitch, Jr. (April 10, 1850 – March 10, 1891) was a restaurateur, businessman, actor, zookeeper, and original owner and namesake of Elitch Gardens and the Elitch Theatre in Denver, CO. Early Years and Marriage John Elitch, Jr., originally ...

, who would later open

Elitch Gardens Elitch Gardens was a family-owned seasonal amusement park, theater, and botanic garden in the West Highland neighborhood in northwest Denver, Colorado, United States, at 38th and Tennyson streets. For more than a century Elitch's was one of the m ...

, is credited as helping "inspire" and organize the club. In the fall of 1890, The DAC moved out of the small secondhand church into its new five-story building at the present location on the corner of 14th and Glenarm. On November 15, 1890, it opened an athletic field with a football game versus the

University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, and the University o ...

. In 1900, a library was started and grew to hold over 8,000 titles. An addition was completed in 1892 and the 70-foot structure was one of the tallest buildings in Denver for several years, visible from every corner of the city center. Further additions in the 1920s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s transformed The DAC into the leading city club in the Rocky Mountain West. For over a century it has been a leader in both fitness and networking and has served at the forefront of Denver’s social scene.

References

Romanesque Revival architecture in Colorado Athletics clubs in the United States Buildings and structures in Denver Squash venues in the United States Gentlemen's clubs in the United States Organizations based in Denver Sports organizations established in 1884 1884 establishments in Colorado Colorado State Register of Historic Properties Cultural infrastructure completed in 1889 Men's club buildings National Register of Historic Places in Denver Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado {{Colorado-NRHP-stub