DENVER (KDVR) — The Owl Club of Denver, a social club that recognizes the academic excellence of local young African American women, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The club was founded in 1941 and has “provided a safe space where community members could feel a sense of belonging, celebrate one another’s achievements, and defy stereotypes placed on Black people and their culture,” according to History Colorado.
The club also provided scholarships and community support for young women who had the will but were limited in opportunities at the time, and it continues to do so to this day.
The club hosts an annual Debutante Cotillion honoring students who are graduating high school and recognizes them for their exemplary character, academic accomplishments, dedication to community service and leadership qualities. According to the website, over 1,600 women have been presented as Owl Club Debutantes.
In 1960, after more than a decade of fundraising, the club purchased a building constructed in 1951 at 2815 Madison St. The single-story, rectangular building with its original red Roman brick facade has been preserved by the club and is still the headquarters and clubhouse today.
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The Owl Club of Denver, a social club that recognizes the academic excellence of local young African American women, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo courtesy: Denver Public Library’s Special Collection via History Colorado) -
The Owl Club of Denver, a social club that recognizes the academic excellence of local young African American women, has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo courtesy: Denver Public Library’s Special Collection via History Colorado) -
The Owl Club of Denver
History Colorado describes the building as a “tangible cornerstone of Denver’s Black community.” It was nominated in October and has officially been added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The designation was part of History Colorado’s Colorado Heritage for All initiative, which aims to identify 150 unrecognized spaces that tell stories of communities of color, women and LGBTQ+ Coloradans and add them to the state register of historic places by the end of 2026.
The 74th Debutante Cotillion is scheduled for June 7, 2025.
People can learn more about the club at History Colorado’s exhibition Owl Club of Denver: Legacies of Excellence, which is on display at the History Colorado Center until May 10, 2025
