Its 1987 NRHP nomination states:Temple Emanuel is the only synagogue in Denver and Colorado designed in the Eastern-Islamic Style.

The use of Eastern-Islamic design for synagogues was brought to America by German Jews who had been affected by the reform movement in Judaism and anti-Semitism prevalent in 19th century Europe.

Use of the design reflects the problem of retaining Jewish cultural identity while fitting into the Christian society.

The Eastern-Islamic architectural mode particularly suited this purpose in addition to evoking an association with the Jewish origins in the Near East.

Pathways Church held services at the building and also ran it as a separate business, the Temple Events Center, until 2013.

[9][10] Temple Emanuel officially celebrated its 75th anniversary on November 20, 1949, announcing at the time it was the oldest and largest synagogue between Kansas City and the West Coast.

[12] The congregation's current home, located on Grape Street in Denver's Hilltop neighborhood, was built in 1956 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.