Insurance Exchange Building

Did Denver’s early residents ever imagine their city would become known as the “City of Lights”? We’re standing before the Insurance Exchange Building, a testament to that illuminating past. Originally called the Denver Gas & Electric Building, this structure at 910 15th Street embodied Denver’s embrace of modern technology in the early 20th century. Completed in 1910, the Insurance Exchange Building wasn’t just a home for the Denver Gas & Electric Company. It was a shining beacon of progress, literally. Designed by Harry W.J. Edbrooke, the building showcased a then-groundbreaking Chicago School architectural style, characterized by its three-part design: a solid base, a tall central shaft, and a decorative cornice. But what truly set this building apart was its dazzling display of 13,000 electric light bulbs embedded in its white terra cotta façade. Imagine Denver in 1910. The city, eager to showcase its modernity, proudly flipped the switch, illuminating the Insurance Exchange Building for the first time. A crowd of 75,000 people, nearly a third of Denver’s population, gathered to witness the spectacle. The building became known as the “best illuminated building in the world”, a symbol of Denver’s bright future. This wasn’t just about aesthetics. The lights were a powerful advertisement for the growing use of electricity in homes. They promoted the idea of a modern life, filled with electric appliances like irons, toasters, and coffee percolators. The building’s lights continued to shine until World War II, when wartime blackouts dimmed the city. Later, the Public Service Company of Colorado, the successor to Denver Gas & Electric, moved out in 1962. The building was renamed the Insurance Exchange Building, and its dazzling light display faded into memory. Thankfully, a restoration in 1990 brought the lights back to life. The Insurance Exchange Building, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stands as a reminder of Denver’s electrifying past and its journey to becoming the vibrant city it is today.