Built in 1907–8, the Van Briggle Memorial Pottery Building in Colorado Springs was designed by architect Nicolaas van den Arend. It served as the company’s salesroom, pottery plant, and headquarters. The building is one of the most important tile installations in the United States. It incorporates more than 5,000 tile and terra cotta components designed by Anne Van Briggle. In 1968 the pottery company moved and the building was sold to nearby Colorado College. Now, it houses the school’s Facilities Services department.

Van Briggle Pottery

In 1899 pottery maker Artus Van Briggle moved to Colorado Springs from Cincinnati. He was trying to recover from tuberculosis. In 1900 his fiancée, Anne Gregory, joined him. Trained as a painter, she became his partner in the pottery business. In 1901 they opened a showroom and pottery plant on North Nevada Avenue. By that December they had pieces ready for sale. They officially incorporated the Van Briggle Pottery Company in April 1902. Initial investors included William Jackson Palmer, Winfield Scott Stratton, and other members of the city’s elite.

The Van Briggles were married in June 1902. They experienced considerable success over the next two years. Their work applied the Art Nouveau style’s emphasis on natural forms to pottery, generating praise from around the country and world. For instance, Van Briggle pieces won medals at the prestigious Paris Salon of 1903. But Artus Van Briggle’s health continued to decline. Anne took on more responsibility for the company. On July 4, 1904, Artus Van Briggle died.

Memorial Pottery Plant

After the death of Artus Van Briggle, the company was reorganized. Anne became president. She continued to produce his old designs and added some of her own. She gradually expanded the range of production to bring in more revenue. In 1907 the company started to produce art tiles. Anne Van Briggle began to plan for a larger and better pottery plant. It would also serve as a showcase for the company’s wares and a memorial to her husband.

The new pottery plant was a factory at its core, but the setting and architecture were designed to impress visitors and inspire workers. William Jackson Palmer provided a picturesque site for the building on the west bank of Monument Creek adjacent to Monument Valley Park. To design the building, the company hired Dutch architect Nicolaas van den Arend. He had come to Colorado Springs in 1904 because his wife suffered from tuberculosis. In a nod to the families’ shared Dutch ancestry, he planned a building for Van Briggle that resembled a Dutch farmhouse. It featured Flemish bond brickwork and a variety of gables and small porches.

Construction started in summer 1907. The building incorporated important contributions from Anne Van Briggle and company superintendent Frank Riddle. Riddle designed two large kilns that sat in the middle of the building. By supporting a pair of rounded smokestacks that rose from the roof, they made it possible to get better combustion with less smoke. Meanwhile, Anne Van Briggle and her assistant Emma Kinkead worked for more than a year at the company’s factory on North Nevada Avenue, churning out thousands of tile and terra cotta pieces that Van Briggle had designed as interior and exterior decorations for the new building.

By September 1908, the new plant was fully operational. The south-facing building had three basic sections: a center wing and two wings that projected south from either side. The center wing was dominated by Riddle’s two large kilns. The east wing housed the pottery side of the company and included an etching room, greenware room, lab, dryer, damp box, and two studios. Anne Van Briggle’s studio was at the southern end of the east wing. It featured a tile fireplace of her own design. The west wing of the building housed offices for the sales side of the company. At the southern end of the west wing was an elaborate salesroom, with a tile floor, tile wall panels, and tile fireplace designed by Anne Van Briggle.

On December 3, 1908, the company held an opening ceremony attended by about 600 people. Over the next few years, tourists continued to visit the building to see its architecture, get a free tour, and buy tiles, terra cotta, or pottery. At the time, the company was the only maker of art tiles between Chicago and Los Angeles, and its building was one of only a few art pottery plants in the country that were open to the public.

Troubles and Change

The expense of the pottery building—reportedly as high as $100,000—took a toll on the company’s bottom line. Despite continued praise for its products, the company could not find a large enough market for art tiles and pottery to stay afloat. In 1910 the company declared bankruptcy. Two years later, Anne Van Briggle left to focus on her original passion, painting.

Over the next decade, the company and the building went through several changes in ownership. A fire in June 1919 destroyed much of the building’s central wing, but it was rebuilt essentially the same as the original. In the early 1920s, brothers Ira and Jesse Lewis finally brought financial stability to the company. They focused increasingly on selling to tourists and made the building’s salesroom the only place to buy Van Briggle pottery.

In 1935 a devastating flood wreaked havoc on the Van Briggle building, taking out its eastern wall and destroying many company records and original pottery molds. The whole building was filled with several feet of water. Pieces of pottery were washed downstream as far away as the town of Fountain, about fifteen miles south. After the waters receded, the company remodeled the east wing. By the start of World War II, it was attracting about 50,000 visitors per year.

In the early 1950s, plans for what is now Interstate 25 looked as if they would require relocating the pottery’s operations. Owner Jesse Lewis and master potter Clem Hull acquired the recently vacated Midland Roundhouse building and renovated it from a railroad roundhouse into a working pottery. Meanwhile, the existing Van Briggle building was saved when the freeway ended up being routed about a block to the west. The Roundhouse pottery opened in 1955, and the company used both locations until the late 1960s.

Colorado College Facilities Services

In 1968 Van Briggle consolidated its operations at the Midland Roundhouse, which was closer to the city’s main tourist attractions. The company sold the Memorial Pottery Building to Colorado College, whose main campus lay just across Monument Creek. With the help of several large donations, the college spent two years restoring the building’s exterior and renovating the interior to house the Facilities Services Department. The building’s huge kilns were removed, and a framework of steel beams was installed to support the distinctive smokestacks. The original tilework in the salesroom and Anne Van Briggle’s studio remained largely intact.

The Memorial Pottery Building has now housed Colorado College’s Facilities Services department for nearly half a century. The college continues to invest in the building’s maintenance and restoration. In 2001 the kiln chimneys were repaired, and in 2006 lightning rods were installed to prevent further damage to the building’s terra cotta.

In 2009 the pottery building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each fall, the Woman’s Educational Society of Colorado College hosts a Historic Van Briggle Pottery Festival that features guided tours of the building.

The Van Briggle Memorial Pottery Building was built in 1907–8 in Colorado Springs. It was designed by architect Nicolaas van den Arend for Anne Van Briggle, who designed more than 5,000 tile and terra cotta pieces for the building. The building served as the company’s salesroom, pottery plant, and headquarters. In 1968 the pottery company moved and the building was sold to nearby Colorado College. Now, it houses the school’s Facilities Services department.

Van Briggle Pottery

In 1899 pottery maker Artus Van Briggle moved to Colorado Springs from Cincinnati. He was trying to recover from tuberculosis. In 1900 his fiancée, Anne Gregory, joined him. Trained as a painter, she became his partner in the pottery business. In 1901 they opened a showroom and pottery plant on North Nevada Avenue. By that December they had pieces ready for sale. They officially incorporated the Van Briggle Pottery Company in April 1902. They married two months later.   

Art Nouveau (“new art”) was a popular style at the time. It drew its inspiration from nature, especially the curved lines of plants. The Van Briggles used this style in their pottery. Their work gained praise from around the country and the world. But Artus Van Briggle’s health continued to decline. Anne took on more responsibility for the company. On July 4, 1904, Artus Van Briggle died of tuberculosis.

Memorial Pottery Plant

After the death of her husband, Anne became president. She still produced his designs and added some of her own. In 1907 the company started to produce art tiles. Anne Van Briggle began planning a better pottery plant. It would serve as a showcase for the company’s wares as well as a memorial to her husband.

The new pottery plant was a factory, but it was a factory designed to impress and inspire. The site was located on the west bank of Monument Creek next to Monument Valley Park. To design the building, the company hired architect Nicolaas van den Arend. He had come to Colorado Springs in 1904 because his wife suffered from tuberculosis. Like the Van Briggles, his ancestry was Dutch. The building he planned looked like a Dutch farmhouse. It featured special brickwork in a pattern called Flemish bond. It also had a variety of gables and small porches.

Construction started in summer 1907. Company superintendent Frank Riddle designed two large pottery ovens, or kilns. These supported a pair of rounded smokestacks that rose from the roof. These provided better combustion with less smoke. Meanwhile, Anne Van Briggle and her assistant Emma Kinkead created thousands of tile and terra cotta pieces to decorate the new building.

The new plant was ready by September 1908. The south-facing building had three basic sections: a center wing and a wing on each side. The center wing featured the two large kilns. The east wing housed the pottery side of the company. It included a laboratory and an etching room where designs were marked onto the clay. Anne Van Briggle’s studio was at the southern end of the east wing. The west wing of the building had sales offices and a beautiful salesroom. Its floor, wall panels, and fireplace were all made of tiles designed by Anne Van Briggle. At the time, the company was the only maker of art tiles between Chicago and Los Angeles, and its building was one of only a few such plants in the country that were open to the public.

Troubles and Change

The building was beautiful, but it was expensive. The company was losing money. Despite continued praise for its products, there was not a large enough market for art tiles. In 1910 the company declared bankruptcy. Two years later, Anne Van Briggle left to focus on her original passion, painting.

Over the next decades, the company and the building changed owners several times. It survived both a fire in 1919 and a devastating flood in 1935. Each time the company renovated and remodeled. By the start of World War II, it was attracting about 50,000 visitors per year.

In the early 1950s, it looked as if the Van Briggle building would be in the way of the new Interstate 25. Owner Jesse Lewis and master potter Clem Hull bought a new building, the Midland Roundhouse building. They renovated it from a railroad roundhouse into a working pottery factory. Meanwhile, the existing Van Briggle building was saved. The freeway ended up being routed about a block to the west. The Roundhouse pottery opened in 1955, and the company used both locations until the late 1960s.

Colorado College Facilities Services

In 1968 Van Briggle moved all its operations to the Midland Roundhouse, which was closer to the city’s tourist attractions. Colorado College, whose main campus lay just across Monument Creek, bought the Memorial Pottery Building. The college spent two years restoring the building’s exterior and renovating the interior. The building’s huge kilns were removed, and a framework of steel beams was installed to support the smokestacks above. The original tilework in the salesroom and Anne Van Briggle’s studio remained largely intact.

The Van Briggle Memorial Pottery Building has housed Colorado College’s Facilities Services department for nearly a half century. The college continues to maintain and restore the building. In 2009 the pottery building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Woman’s Educational Society of Colorado College hosts an annual Historic Van Briggle Pottery Festival that features guided tours of the building.

The Van Briggle Memorial Pottery Building is famous. Architect Nicolaas van den Arend designed it. It was built in Colorado Springs in 1907-8. Thousands of colorful clay tiles decorate it. Anne Van Briggle designed those. The building was an art studio, factory, and store. In 1968 the company moved. Colorado College bought the building.

Van Briggle Pottery

In 1899 pottery maker Artus Van Briggle was sick. He had tuberculosis, a lung disease. He left Ohio. People thought Colorado’s dry air was a cure. Artus moved to Colorado Springs. The next year his fiancée joined him. Anne Gregory had been a painter. Now, she became Artus’s partner. They formed the Van Briggle Pottery Company in April 1902. They married two months later.

Art Nouveau (“new art”) was popular. It used nature as a model. Lines were curved, like the curves of plants. Artus and Anne used this style in their pottery. People around the world loved it. The Van Briggles received many awards. But Artus’s health got worse. On July 4, 1904, he died.

Memorial Pottery Plant

Anne became the president. She made Artus’s designs and her own. She wanted a better pottery plant. It would show off their award-winning tiles. It would also be a memorial to her husband.

The spot chosen was on the west bank of Monument Creek. It was next to Monument Valley Park. The company hired architect Nicolaas van den Arend. Van Briggle and van den Arend are Dutch names. Their families both came from the Netherlands. The building would look like a Dutch farmhouse. Even the pattern of bricklaying was Dutch.

Work began in 1907. To harden the clay tiles, the building needed ovens. The factory manager designed two large pottery ovens. These are called kilns. Rounded smokestacks went out the roof. Anne and her assistant created thousands of tile and clay pieces. These decorated the new building.

By September 1908, work was done. The building had three sections. The center had the kilns. The workshops and Anne’s studio were on the east. The west had offices and a salesroom. Its floor, wall panels, and fireplace were all made of tiles.

Troubles and Change

The building was impressive, but it had cost too much. The company was losing money. There were not enough buyers for art tiles. In 1910 the business declared bankruptcy. Two years later, Anne Van Briggle left. In the early 1920s, owners Ira and Jesse Lewis helped the company make money again.

In 1919 there was a fire. In 1935 there was a flood. The company recovered from both disasters and remodeled. By 1941 the building was getting almost 50,000 visitors a year.

The next problem was manmade. In the early 1950s, the new Interstate 25 was being planned. People thought the Van Briggle building would be right in its path. The company bought a new building, the Midland Roundhouse. It had been a railroad shop. Now it would be a pottery factory. But the highway ended up being about a block away. The Memorial Building was saved. The Roundhouse building opened in 1955. The company used both spots until the late 1960s.

Colorado College Facilities Services

In 1968 Van Briggle moved everything to the Roundhouse. Colorado College bought the Memorial Pottery Building. Their campus lay just across the creek. In 2009 the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each fall, there is a Van Briggle Pottery Festival. It features special tours of this historic building.