Notes:
- This geocache's terrain rating is based on distance not accessibility. This cache is wheelchair accessible.
- This geocache has special hours of availability. Please click here to make sure you're good to go!
Centuries ago, Leonardo da Vinci left behind not just works of art, but secrets buried within his inventions and writings. In this library, echoes of his genius still remain, hidden in plain sight for only the most curious minds to discover.
To uncover the final container and solve the mystery of The Da Vinci Codex, you must follow the trail, gathering clues at each location. Only by piecing together these fragments of knowledge, much like Da Vinci himself, will you unlock the code.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In order to successfully complete this journey, you will need to download and print a special decoder cipher wheel here:
https://cubeebuc.s3.amazonaws.com/gc/davinci/davinci_wheel.pdf
If you are unable to download / print the cipher wheel at home, the Denver Public Library supplies free computers and printers on site for public use as well, without requiring a library card. (You will still need scissors to cut out the cipher wheel though. 😊)
Are you ready to begin your journey? Then, let us begin!
Stop 1: Two Large Stone Monoliths - N39°44'11.58" W104°59'18.89"
Leonardo believed in the power of balance and symmetry, much like these imposing monoliths.
Find the plaque for the monoliths near these coordinates. Use the first letter of the artist's first name, and the first letter of their last name to line up the outer and inner decoder wheels (respectively), then use the decoder to answer the value of A:
A = TEZR XDRO
Stop 2: Sculpture of a Large Broom Sweeping Scraps of Paper - N39°44'12.12" W104°59'20.63" —
Leonardo da Vinci believed that "Art is never finished, only abandoned." This sculpture reminds us that even discarded ideas have value. Among the scraps lies an important piece of the puzzle. Look where the broom does its work.
Locate a small metal plaque near the sculpture at these coordinates.
B= Second Year from the top, Subtracted from the first year
Stop 3: The Portal - N39°44'14.41" W104°59'19.72"
Enter the portal
Stop 4: The Wall of Black Holes
Proceed approximately 150 feet east in the open atrium, where you will locate ‘Schlessman Hall’ (roughly midway) on the left/north side of the atrium. The area can be identified by gold lettering etched into a squared marble wall column. Just beyond the column is a small entryway with two rows of unique, wooden "holy panels", on the west and east sides.
"Nature is full of infinite causes that have never occurred in experience," Leonardo observed. Study the eastern wall of "holy wooden panels" and consider what mysteries the panels might hide in their patterns.
Identify the one wooden panel which contains a small, square "white decorative plate that is anything but decorative", towards the top.
C = The number of holes directly above the decorative plate
Stop 5: Marble Sculpture
Proceed up to the 5th floor via the elevators, then head left and continue all towards the back of the building—just past the wooden doors.
Leonardo da Vinci once marveled at the mysteries of sound, noting how "waves are the interpreters of nature’s voice."
This marble statue depicts a boy capturing the wonder of nature’s whispers.
Observing the ‘tool’ the figure is using to explore these sounds, take the first letter of its name to line up the outer and inner decoder wheels (using that same letter), then use the decoder to answer the value of D.
D = The number of PKKR IYJVRS between the boy's two feet
Stop 6: Wooden Lattice / Framework
Head back in the direction you originally came from the elevators. Over on the right the hallway will open into a large area with a tall, wooden lattice-like structure.
Enter the structure.
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," Leonardo wrote, and this atrium embodies that truth. The geometry of its beams reveals elegance in design and precision in craft.
Look up and seek where the golden circle meets the light, for there lies your next clue.
The golden circle is divided in a number of shapes.
E=The number of divided shapes within the golden circle
Stop 7: Final Geocache (Container & Book)
Proceed back down in the elevator to the 3rd floor. Turn left and proceed to the Reference Section and seek the book with the call number:
341*(C - 3) . 530+B
The journey ends where Da Vinci’s brilliance meets your own. Inside this final container lies the Codex—a book where you must input the gathered code to reveal the ultimate secret.
The final combination to open the book is:
(A / 2) - 810 + B+C+D+E
Congratulations, Seeker of Secrets!
You’ve walked in the footsteps of Leonardo da Vinci, uncovering hidden clues, deciphering cryptic messages, and piecing together fragments of knowledge—just as the master himself once did. Your curiosity, determination, and sharp mind have led you to the heart of The Da Vinci Codex.
In the spirit of Da Vinci, you’ve proven that the greatest discoveries aren’t just about the destination, but the journey—the questions asked, the patterns noticed, and the wonder sparked along the way. His legacy lives on not just in art and invention, but in minds like yours, bold enough to seek what’s hidden in plain sight.
Thank you for embarking on this adventure. Your success isn’t just in solving the puzzle, but in honoring the timeless pursuit of knowledge, curiosity, and the thrill of discovery. May this Codex be a reminder that mysteries surround us, waiting for those who dare to look closer.
Until your next great adventure…
This cache series would not be possible without the enthusiastic and supportive help of the staff at the Denver Public Library! To celebrate the series, DPL has released a passport program! The first 200 geocachers to legitimately log the series, record the secret codes found within their geocaches, and turn in the completed passports will receive a special, limited-edition Denver Public Library Geocoin!
More information can be found on the DPL web site. Happy Caching!
Special Thanks to WildKatco for noticing that the question for D disappeared between edits of the cache description! 