Denver history Western history

History in Your Home Town

True Denver
Allen True historic mural in Denver's Civic Center Pavilion with state capitol in background

Sometimes it is easy to become complacent and forget about the rich history in our own backyards. A walk on a sunny Saturday morning in Denver led us to Civic Center Park, where we stepped into the recently restored Greek Theater in the South Pavilion to enjoy a historic scene called “The Trapper”, a 1920 Allen True mural. Allen True was a local artist and illustrator who provided the city with public art, which we continue to enjoy in several locations, including the Colorado State Capitol and the Denver City and County Building. Beautiful architecture and serene artwork provided temporary shelter in the chilly early-fall morning for a couple of joggers, camera-toting pedestrians, and a man sleeping at the bottom of the stairs, a reminder of the edgy urban setting in contrast with the pastoral western wilderness image. After photographing the mural, we quietly moved on.

Joyce B. Lohse, 10/6/10
www.lohseworks.com