2010 AERA Annual Meeting
Tours
AERA is pleased to offer all Meeting attendees a wonderful selection of tours. Make the most of your visit to Denver and take one of the tours! Space is limited for these tours, and interested attendees are encouraged to register in advance. Registered participants wishing to add courses, off-site visits, or tours can login to add events to your registration. Tours are listed below in day and time order.
TOUR1. Denver: A Mile High City
Day: Friday, April 30
Time: 1:30pm-5:30pm
Fee: $50.00
Transportation: Tours will depart the Colorado Convention Center at the start time of the tour and return to the Colorado Convention Center at the end time of the tour. Pick/up drop off shuttle location: South Shuttle Drop off. Outside of the Convention Center Lobby A, underneath the electronic marquis along 14th St.
The city of Denver was founded in 1859 and combines historic restored buildings from a past of Western History to a booming metropolis of enormous skyscrapers. Your tour will start at the State Capital. It was built in the 1880’s entirely of granite and is surrounded with marble and rose quartz walls and covered with a 24-carat dome.
Next, you will enjoy a guided tour of Molly Brown’s Gothic Victorian mansion. She struck it rich and became wealthy overnight. Then on to “Millionaires’ Row” where you will see mansions and lifestyles of the gold rush days along with a drive through of a historic block where saloons and bordellos once stood. Your tour guide will tell stories of famous residents of these gorgeous homes as well as their ghosts. Trinity United Methodist Church is one of the finest examples of “Modern Gothic” architecture in the United States. It truly is a work of art and exceptional beauty both inside and out.
Finally, you will explore The Brown Palace Hotel, completed in 1892, and a remarkable example of Victorian architecture based on the Italian Renaissance style. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a Denver Landmark. From the exceptional beauty of the lobby with an onyx fireplace to the Ships Tavern, this will be a memorable tour of the 107-year old hotel, a home away from home to many presidents throughout the years.
Note: This tour is offered again on Sunday, May 2, 8:30am-12:00pm.
TOUR2. Bolder Boulder - Leanin’ Tree Museum, Celestial Seasonings & Pearl Street Mall
Day: Saturday, May 1
Time: 9:15am-2:00pm
Fee: $50.00
Transportation: Tours will depart the Colorado Convention Center at the start time of the tour and return to the Colorado Convention Center at the end time of the tour. Pick/up drop off shuttle location: South Shuttle Drop off. Outside of the Convention Center Lobby A, underneath the electronic marquis along 14th St.
Boulder lies against the foothills with the gorgeous Flatirons as its backdrop. The campus of the University of Colorado at Boulder also resides in this breathtaking city. The beauty and romance of the West comes alive at the Leanin’ Tree Museum of Western Art. The Museum collection is housed in the corporate headquarters of Leanin’ Tree, producers of fine western greeting cards since 1949. They have one of the nation’s largest private collections displaying over 200 paintings. Enjoy magnificent art in their new outdoor Sculpture Garden.
Next is a Celestial Tea Experience in Boulder. You will tour the factory, Art Department, R & D labs and see how the beautiful little boxes full of naturally delicious tea are made and browse in the Tea Shop and Emporium.
The next and must see stop for Boulder is the Pearl Street Mall. You can stroll down this vibrant historic preservation district that serves as the town’s heart and center. Year round, the downtown pedestrian mall provides a living stage…a host of characters, plenty of good dialogue and even drama provided by the strollers, shoppers, storekeepers and street performers. You will enjoy free time for lunch on your own.
TOUR3. Phoenix Mine Tour – Phoenix Gold Mine and Brewery Tour
Day: Saturday, May 1
Time: 1:30pm-5:30pm
Fee: $55.00
Transportation: Tours will depart the Colorado Convention Center at the start time of the tour and return to the Colorado Convention Center at the end time of the tour. Pick/up drop off shuttle location: South Shuttle Drop off. Outside of the Convention Center Lobby A, underneath the electronic marquis along 14th St.
Learn all about gold and silver mining during the 1800’s on this fun tour. On your way up to the mine in Idaho Springs, your knowledgeable tour guide will provide fascinating facts about the area and point out interesting sites like Red Rocks Park.
The Phoenix Vein was discovered in 1871. A Cornish Miner, who was said to have made his fortune off of the Phoenix, abandoned the mine. In the 1930s a local real estate investor purchased the Phoenix Claim for the amount of back taxes - $20! It was not worked again until Alvin Mosch acquired the property and began his work on it almost 30 years ago. On the tour you will see the tunnels and rooms of the Resurrection Vein, historical mining equipment and buildings. You will also see several various minerals still in the earth. Then, try your luck as you pan for gold. Of course, you will be allowed to keep anything you find!
After your tour you will drive through the historic old mining town of Idaho Springs and hear the stories of the earlier settlers. Then it’s off to the Tommyknocker Brewery for a brewery tour and samplings of their award winning microbrews. Afterwards, stroll the historic streets and stop at some of the interesting stores for souvenirs.
TOUR4. Denver: A Mile High City
Day: Sunday, May 2
Time: 8:30am-12:00pm
Fee: $50.00
Transportation: Tours will depart the Colorado Convention Center at the start time of the tour and return to the Colorado Convention Center at the end time of the tour. Pick/up drop off shuttle location: South Shuttle Drop off. Outside of the Convention Center Lobbie A, underneath the electronic marquis along 14th St.
See Description Tour1.
TOUR5. Foothills Fandango - Red Rocks, Molson/Coors Brewery Tour and Buffalo Bill Museum
Day: Sunday, May 2
Time: 1:30pm-5:30pm
Fee: $50.00
Transportation: Tours will depart the Colorado Convention Center at the start time of the tour and return to the Colorado Convention Center at the end time of the tour. Pick/up drop off shuttle location: South Shuttle Drop off. Outside of the Convention Center Lobby A, underneath the electronic marquis along 14th St.
Your visit to Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater will surely be a sight that you will be talking about for a long time. Amidst towering cliffs slanting upwards, huge red sandstone rises hundreds of feet above you. The rock formations flank the amphitheater providing excellent acoustics and a stunning frame for Denver’s city lights. It is breathtaking!
Celebrate the exploits of the Old West’s most famous character, Buffalo Bill Cody when your tour bus arrives atop Lookout Mountain. The museum contains antique guns, costumes, posters and memorabilia from his Wild West show. Learn about “women” of the Wild West, and visit the grave site which offers sweeping views of Denver.
Then off to Molson/Coors Brewery, where America’s finest-quality beers have been produced for more than 120 years. The visit includes a walking tour through the malting, brewing and packaging processes, an opportunity to sample Coors’ superior beer and a visit to the Company Gift Shop. (Proper ID is required for sampling.)