From a tectonic event to a sacred site, here's how Red Rocks Amphitheatre came to be

As an open-air theater built into a rock formation, Red Rocks Amphitheatre combines "awe-inspiring natural scenery with natural acoustic splendor" to create a one-of-a-kind venue. Here's a look at how Red Rocks became the iconic venue that it is today.

The Geological Beginning

Red Rocks Amphitheatre formed as part of the Fountain Formation, which also formed the Garden of the Gods and the Flatirons. At the end of the Cretaceous Period, the Fountain Formation went through a tectonic event called the Laramide Orogeny about 75 to 55 million years ago, which lifted and tilted the rocks, giving Red Rocks its notable slabs. The weathering of oxidizing minerals like iron gave the rocks their reddish color.

Humans have since used Red Rocks for thousands of years, and its use as a musical venue goes back to when the Ute people used it as a sacred site and gathering spot for music. Euro-Americans started to take interest in the spot as they moved to the Front Range during the Colorado Gold Rush of 1858-59.

Ownership

Marion Burts became the recorded owner of Red Rocks in 1872, originally naming the area "Garden of the Angels." In 1878, he sold it to Leonard H. Eicholtz, who developed it into a park suitable for visitation with roads, trails, picnic grounds, steps, and ladders.

According to Red Rocks History, Eicholtz sold the park to John Brisben Walker in 1906, who renamed it "Garden of the Titans" and further developed it to include a wooden stage at the base of the naturally acoustic bowl framed by the 'Creation' and 'Ship' rocks – the two most recognizable wall-like formations at the spot.

Walker then sold the central portion of the park to Red Rocks Corporation run by John Ross, who then donated 530 acres of Red Rocks to the city of Denver in 1927. By 1932, the Denver Department of Parks and Recreation had purchased nearly 690 acres in Red Rocks Park.

Construction

As part of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a project to convert Red Rocks into a formal outdoor theater was approved in 1936 for federal funding, and 200 men from Durango began working on roadways and bank side sloping.

The City of Denver appointed Burnham F. Hoyt as head architect of the theater and work on the theater began with leveling the floor between the Ship and Creation Rocks. Workers had to use dynamite to reverse the angled slope.

Music

Red Rocks held a soft opening for local officials on June 8, 1941. The amphitheater officially opened to the public on June 15, 1941, with a performance featuring Helen Jepson of New York's Metropolitan Opera singing "Ave Maria."

Now, Red Rocks is a premiere concert venue, with many very famous musicians having since performed there. Some of the most famous artists to have held a set at Red Rocks include the Beatles, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, the Eagles, Journey, the Grateful Dead, Kiss, Bon Jovi, and Stevie Nicks – the list goes on.

As well as concerts, Red Rocks Park hosts events like movie nights, yoga, and an Easter sunrise church service, as well as weddings and graduations.

Preservation

Red Rocks obtained National Historic Landmark status on July 21, 2015, due to the efforts of Friends of Red Rocks (FoRR). FoRR works to prevent the over-commercialization of Red Rocks, conducts regular cleanups, and contributes to the Open Space initiative.

As we wrap up the journey through Red Rocks Amphitheatre's vibrant history, all Coloradans are sure to appreciate the venue's unique mixture of geology and music that make this venue one of Denver's most celebrated and iconic landmarks.