On July 4, 1898, over 4,000 people gathered for the opening day of the Colorado Chautauqua. Since then, the Colorado Chautauqua has become a magnet for cultural and educational activity, and served as the epicenter of west-central Boulder’s residential growth in what’s become known as the Chautauqua Heights neighborhood. (Take a peek at a map of Boulder houses to get a grasp of the geography.)

Located near the University of Colorado, NCAR and other national laboratories, the Chautauqua area is often considered where the scientists and scholars live. And upon first glance at a map of Chautauqua Heights, it’s easy to see why Chautauqua has been the Boulder neighborhood of choice for generations. The beauty of the Flatirons, the natural surroundings, the gentle climate, and the people who care about wild places are hard to argue with.

What’s There Now?

According to the Colorado Chautauqua Web site, “Boulder civic leaders and Texas educators had joined together to create a cultural and educational summer retreat. Today, the Colorado Chautauqua is one of three remaining Chautauquas in the United States, and the only site west of the Mississippi River, in continuous operation, with its original structures intact.”

What that means is that the good people of Boulder love their Chautauqua. It’s a well-kempt, well-loved institution where weddings are celebrated, symphonies play, meetings are held, picnics are assembled, Thanksgiving dinners are served, kites are launched into the springtime wind, and much, much, more. And, it’s where people live, learn, and work.