Local History - News
Local History, April 2018: High aspirations and low life on South Broadway
The early days of Denver’s public transportation were in the hands of the Circle Railway Company, which operated steam trains in downtown Denver and as far south as Alameda Avenue. According to Millie Van Wyke in The Town of South Denver... more
Local History, March 2018: Denver's Mountain Parks mark a historic conservation legacy
The commitment of the federal government to protect public lands, historically, has been tenuous, and recent actions have brought us back to a conversation of commerce versus conservation. For Denver, the mountains just beyond the city provide... more
Local History, February 2018: A glimpse of Denver’s farming past
Long before “farm to table” became a modern dining trend, Denverites could hardly avoid knowing where their food came from. Denver, as the last town before the mountains, was a supply town whose dry goods, vegetables and meats supplied many a... more
Local History, January 2018: History of pioneering Denver mainstay, Gates Rubber Company, spans a century
Driving south down Broadway, passing underneath I-25, an expanse of open land greets passersby—a rarity in the city of Denver. This land once hosted a vast complex of buildings, home to the Gates Rubber Company. From its humble beginnings in 1911... more
Local History, December 2017: Colorado historian Caroline Bancroft: a true tour de force
“Call me Caroline. It rhymes with sin, gin or jasmine. Take your pick,” is how Colorado historian Caroline Bancroft greeted friends and foes alike—and she had a bevy of both. In history circles her name still spurs debate: some Colorado historians... more
Colfax Icon Pete’s Satire Lounge turns a casual 55
You don’t make it in the restaurant business by chasing every hot—or haute—trend. You might get in on something new, but, if you’re going to make it, you dig into what you do and live the concept to the end. If you’re lucky (or hardworking, or... more
Local History, November 2017: Molly Brown House Museum enters new era
In 1970, Denver was a city turned toward the future. The oil and gas industry was booming, the federal government was expanding and city planners were paving the way toward a new, modern city. This development boom often came at the expense of the... more
Iliff closes 125th year with new focus on off-campus students
The 125-year mark is no small achievement for any institution. But to spend those 125 years breaking new ground? That perhaps casts a different light on a legacy. Iliff School of Theology has entered its 126th year, and like many theological... more
Reader Letters, October 2017: Denver waste management and PBS' Vietnam
I'm not sure where to start, or how to complain about how unreasonable the Denver waste management has become… I'm a Denver native and have owned a half dozen homes across Colorado. Last year (or so), when our neighborhood finally received the new... more
Local Books, October 2017: Ten years on, David Mason’s Ludlow has aged well
The struggle between American haves and have-nots is nothing new. It continues to rear its ugly head in the age of Trump and probably will always be a battle we as a society fight. As maybe you learned in your high school history classes... more
Local History, October 2017: Cheesman Park—the backstory of Capitol Hill’s backyard boneyard
Many Capitol Hill residents think of Cheesman Park as the neighborhood’s backyard and now is the perfect time to discover the park’s backstory, which begins in Denver’s early days. In 1859, Denver founder General William Larimer claimed 320 acres... more
LIFE Neighborhood Notes, September 2017: Baker Home Tour, Teller Backpack Friends, Casa, First Unitarian Church
Let’s be honest, we’re all guilty of wondering what the interiors of other people’s homes are like. Fortunately for the curious among us, the Historic Baker District will again open its doors to the public for the annual Baker Home Tour Saturday... more
Local History, September 2017: Once home to Denver’s poorest, “the Bottoms” now on top
Today, the Platte River is often seen as an underutilized resource—ripe for redevelopment in the midst of the current economic boom. In the 1970s, it was considered an ecological disaster, full of hazardous run off. In 1965, it was the site of a... more
The Profile's Neighborhood Notes, September 2017: Baker Home Tour, UPNV, Neighborhood Q&A
Let’s be honest, we’re all guilty of wondering what the interiors of other people’s homes are like. Fortunately for the curious among us, the Historic Baker District will again open its doors to the public for the annual Baker Home Tour Saturday... more
Local alley mosaic mural project nears 50th installation
Since 2007, a unique community mosaic art movement has swept Denver’s Bonnie Brae neighborhood, a movement all sparked by a single artistic workshop. That workshop and one woman who took it have, in the 10 years since, put into tile the memories... more
Local History, June 2017: PrideFest celebrates 41 years, ¡Viva La Vida!
The month of June kicks off a summer of annual festivals in Denver. The People’s Fair, the Chalk Art Festival, and Denver PrideFest all encourage Coloradans to get outside and enjoy the warm days and cool nights. While many of these festivals have... more
LIFE Neighborhood Notes, April 2017: Congress Park, Uptown on the Hill, Doors Open Denver
LIFE staff believe in community and community building and hope readers find this information relevant. Want to see your organization featured here? Email editor@lifeoncaphill.com. This month: Congress Park, Uptown on the Hill, Doors Open Denver more
Iliff Theology to mark Martin Luther King milestone with livestream event
April 4 marks the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s "Beyond Vietnam" speech, delivered at the Riverside Church in New York City. The speech was a global touchstone moment for the Civil Rights movement and was penned by... more
Reader Letters, April 2017: Funding diverse transportation and the Women's March...
I live on South Lincoln Street near Alameda and find the constant noise from traffic to be a stressor. While walking this section of Lincoln is unpleasant because of cars, walking along Broadway one block to the west is different. more
WWII veterans remember their dark time in history
When these veterans were my age, going to school, planning their futures, enjoying their teenage years, a war was raging all around the world. It dropped in their laps at the same time they should have been getting ready for midterms in school... more