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artist studios · since 1882

The Temple

Denver's first major synagogue, kept standing by about thirty working artists

Built in 1882 for the Beth Emanuel congregation, this was the first major synagogue in the Denver area, designed by Willoughby J. Edbrooke with his brother Frank supervising. Fire gutted most of it in 1897 and the rebuild came back plainer. United Way was conceived inside it. By 2014 the roof was falling in; a developer named Adam Gordon bought the place and spent years on it, reopening in 2016 as cheap studio space for artists being priced out of RiNo - rents were reported around $350 a month at the time. Roughly thirty residents work there now.

Why go. A 140-year-old building saved by being made useful rather than precious.

It is a working studio building, not a gallery with opening hours - go on an open-studios night or with an appointment.

A short walk from The Temple