Daniels & Fisher Clock Tower, Denver

If you’ve ever visited Denver’s 16th Street Mall, you’re sure to be familiar with the iconic clock tower that stands on the corner of Skyline Park.

But have you ever wondered just what this historical landmark is? I know I’d wondered about it. Why is it there on its own? When was it built? Was it ever part of a larger building? What is it actually called? Most importantly, I wondered if it was open to the public and was it possible to go up to the top.

Well, I’ve got answers for you, starting with the big one - yes, it’s open to visitors!

I checked out this Denver landmark recently with my friend Daniela who was visiting from Australia and it was one of my favorite things that we did during her stay. We took in the views over Denver, learned all about the history of the tower, and took some pretty cool photos.

Let’s take a look…

Let’s start of with one of the most important things you’ll need to know about the clock tower: its name! Most people in Denver simply refer to it as “the clock tower” but its actual name is the Daniels & Fisher Clock Tower. But what, or who, are Daniels and Fisher?

During the gold rush of the mid-1800s, Denver was booming with miners. Those miners needed supplies so merchants such as William Bradley Daniels set up shop to provide much needed picks, shovels, boots and dry goods. Williams started out with a small shop in 1864 which did very well, expanding over the years. In 1872 Daniels brought in business parter William Fisher, and by 1875 the pair opened a new department store on 16th Street, which was quickly becoming Denver’s main shopping district. This department store, Daniels and Fisher, started out as a two story building, but expanded to five stories by 1893. Throughout the 1890s, Daniels and Fisher was the largest retailer in Colorado.

In 1911, the now iconic clock tower was added during mayor Robert Speer’s City Beautiful Movement. This campaign aimed to remake Denver in a more artistic fashion with the addition of art and parks to the city. The clock tower, which was modeled after the campanile of St Mark’s in Venice, certainly added beauty to the neighborhood.

At the time of building, the 375 foot tall Daniels and Fisher clock tower was the tallest building in Denver and the third tallest in the country. The clock tower would remain the tallest building in Denver until 1958 when the First National Bank on 17th and Welton was built. 

The floors of the tower housed a school for young stock boys, a dining room for store functions, a gentleman’s club for male employees, and even a hospital. The 20th floor observation deck was open to the public who could ride the elevator up to enjoy the 360 degree views for a 10c each.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking; where is this department store today?

Well, in the 1960s and 70s Denver, like many American cities, underwent an unfortunate Urban Renewal, which resulted in scores of historic downtown buildings being demolished. In fact, Denver demolished a whopping twenty seven blocks of lower downtown. The Daniels and Fisher department store was among the demolished buildings in 1971, but thanks to preservation minded citizens, the clock tower was saved from the wrecking ball.

The clock tower sat empty until 1979 when restoration work began. This work took until 1983 and converted floors two through sixteen into private office spaces, which is how it remains today.

Ok, enough history, let’s take a look at visiting the Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower.

Today visitors are able to take self guided tours of floors seventeen through twenty of the clock tower. The seventeenth floor is the terminus of the elevator and this is where you’ll find the check in counter for tours. Tickets can either be purchased here or in advance online. 

The seventeenth floor is also home to the first observation deck. This narrow deck makes its way around the building and features stunning 360 degree views over Denver and the Front Range. If you’re visiting with young children, this is the better observation deck for them as the railing is a little lower than the solid wall around the observation deck on the twentieth floor, and it features gaps through which little visitors are able to peer through.

From the seventeenth floor, a staircase takes visitors up to the eighteenth floor where you’ll find yourself behind the four giant clock faces on each side of the tower. While you can’t see through the clock faces, they do let in plenty of sunlight which makes for stunning photos. 

Another winding staircase takes visitors up to the twentieth floor where you’ll find another observation deck. This deck has the best views, however, as I mentioned earlier, the wall around the observation deck is solid and a little taller than that on the seventeenth floor. 

The bell tower at the very top is accessed via a spiral staircase, however this is not publicly accessible. Visitors are able to view the staircase and the stunning chandeliers that hang in this area though.

Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower is located at 1601 Arapahoe Street, Denver. Entrance to the Clock Tower is on 16th Street Mall.

 

Self guided tours of the Daniels and Fisher Clock Tower are available weekly as follows:

Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1pm through 5pm (last entry 4:30pm)

Fridays from 12pm through 4pm (last entry 3:30pm)

Sundays from 11am through 5pm (last entry 4:30pm)

Tickets cost $15 for general public and $12 for members of Historic Denver & Molly Brown House. Children ages five and under are admitted free of charge.

To purchase tickets click here.

Restrooms are available on the 17th floor. 

Please to that due to the narrow width of the observation decks and the historic nature of the staircases, the Clock Tower is not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. 

For more information visit https://www.clocktowertours.com/.