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Conru Art Foundation·Private Tour·Summer of Awe
An exploration of historic buildings nobody has been allowed to see. The Lusty Lady, locked since 2010. The 1916 Coliseum, sealed behind a retail-era drop ceiling for thirty years. For one summer, we are unlocking the doors and walking you through. About sixty minutes, hardhats on.
Lost Worlds · The Coliseum
Behind the retail-era drop ceiling and the painted-over walls, the original 1916 theatre is largely intact. Real photos from CAF walkthroughs.
See what it looked like before
Inside the Coliseum · today
The hidden balcony · 2025
Original ornament · today
Lost Worlds · The Lusty Lady
Real photos from CAF walkthroughs, ’22–’25. The peep-show booths came out. The marquee came down. The 1890 brick walls and wood beams have been there the whole time. Join the tour and we’ll show you what comes next.
About the Coliseum
The gutted main floor · 2025
The 1st Avenue facade · 2022
The alley side · 2024
Across from the Hammering Man
The tour walks the whole space, top to bottom. We tell you what was here, what we found, and what comes next.
On Camera
Until you can climb it yourself.
See what the Coliseum looked like beforeRaw walkthrough above the Coliseum drop ceiling. The first time anyone in a generation had stood up there. Hand-held, half-dark. Get a sense of the climb before you book.
Before You Walk
These are working historical buildings opened up for a single summer of exploration. The route inside passes through unfinished spaces, original 1890 and 1916 staircases, and areas still filled with equipment from prior tenants. Hardhats are required and provided at check-in. Closed-toe shoes recommended.
The Route
Coliseum → Seven Seas → Art Love Salon, twelve minutes of walking end-to-end. The tour meets at the Coliseum, goes down to the old Lusty Lady, and finishes at the Salon.
The 1916 Coliseum Theatre · Pike & 5th
You meet your guide at the Coliseum building, get a hardhat, and hear the short version of how two locked landmarks ended up on one foundation list. Then we walk down the hill, together.
The 1890 Seven Seas Building (the old Lusty Lady) · 1315 1st Ave
A door that has been locked since 2010. Behind it: the 1890 brick walls, exposed wood beams, and the original peep-show booths still in place. CAF unlocks it for the tour. Almost no one outside the foundation has been inside.
The 1916 Coliseum Theatre · Pike & 5th
The cathedral nobody knew was there. Behind the retail-era drop ceiling and the painted-over walls, the original 1916 theatre is largely intact. We walk the main floor and look up at the original gilded plaster ornament still in place above.
Sealed since the 1990s · the original spiral
Hardhats on, lights on. We unlock a door that was sealed for thirty years and climb the original spiral to the upper balcony, where the ornament is at hand height and the view down is straight onto the cathedral floor below.
Art Love Salon · 110 Union St
The walk ends at the Salon, a downtown gallery and gathering place for contemporary art, music, conversation, and community.
Visit Art Love SalonReserve a Spot
Tours run Wednesday to Sunday at 1 PM and 2 PM. Capped at 12 people each, led by our CAF staff. Meets at the Coliseum. Pick a slot and lock it in.
Group / private tours & press requests: tours@conruartfoundation.org
Press Inquiries
The show is open now through September 6. Press and programming inquiries are welcome, and we can arrange a walkthrough on request. Print, digital, and broadcast welcome.