The Trees & Treasures of South High School

Where Champion Trees Meet City Beautiful

You may know Washington Park. But have you ever really looked at the school that sits beside it?

This special short walking tour explores South High School, built in 1925 and deliberately positioned next to Washington Park as part of Denver’s vision for a beautiful, thoughtfully-designed city.

The afternoon begins with Sonia John, tree expert and author of the original Tree Guide of Washington Park, who introduces residents to some of the remarkable trees growing on South High’s 172-acre campus… including several Colorado Champion Trees that you won’t find in the park.

Then architectural historian Kathy Corbett takes everyone inside the story of South High’s stunning Italian Renaissance Revival architecture, one of Denver’s finest examples of the City Beautiful Movement. Designed by architects William E. and Arthur A. Fisher, the school features murals by renowned Colorado muralist Allen Tupper True, elaborate exterior friezes, and decorative details by sculptor Robert Garrison.

It’s a chance to look at a familiar part of Denver with fresh eyes, and discover the stories hiding in its trees, architecture and artwork.