Exploring Historic Denver

Clarice, with her love of Historically significant rubble, was thrilled to find that Denver has an entire street of preserved antique buildings, complete with plaques outside to explain the historical significance. Upon discovering that this existed she felt obliged to drag me out of my warm, cosy bed so that I could get some culture. My sleepy complaints that I grew up in a country filled with castles, churches and even pubs that date back several hundred years, and that a street in Edinburgh would have more history went, as ever unheeded, and so exploring we went.

It was AMAZING! (Don’t tell her I said this but, sometimes listening to your girlfriend is a good thing!) We took the light rail from our handy neighbourhood stop down to the Auraria campus of Metro College, wandered (lost) for about 10 mins until we found the start of the historic street (about 20 feet from where we got off the train!) and lost ourselves in the very quaint little street that was once the town of Denver!

Each house had a plaque outside that explained who had owned and built the house and pointed out the interesting architectural quirks each had. And a more eclectic mix of architectural styles I have never seen. Some had balconies, towers and spires (which Clarice naturally fell in love with), some were much plainer, but each had a story to tell. Even Clarice, who normally waits for me to sum up the contents of any reading material, was engrossed by the charming little stories and read every one. The house shown here, that Clarice adores, was built by the builder who lived next door. He was bored and felt like making the house fancy, so he added the tower, the balcony with open tower supports and the wrap-around veranda beneath. Then sold the house because it was too grand for him!

Further down the street we came to Tivoli, the student union. It was originally a brewery, and with typical student skill, the brewing vats are still in place. Heaven forbid the beer delivery is late, here they just can just make it! Inside is phenomenal! It has 3 levels of stores including one floor dedicated to fast food and video games! Why couldn’t I study here? Oh right, because I would have spent lectures playing video games or eating Subway till I exploded! Perhaps both.We resisted the temptations though and continued to explore the building, including going up the tower. This was especially fun considering Clarice’s fear of heights, but the view was worth the damage inflicted to my hand. Below is a picture of the Bronco’s stadium (Invesco field at Mile high). The Bronco’s are the local American football team here in Denver and their loosing streak is due to break anytime soon!

 Of course no visit to historical non-rubble is complete
without visiting a church or two.On the historic street we found one of the oldest in Denver, but further on we found one of the most beautiful. It seems quite simple from the outside, but the inside is beautiful! My favourite part of the church (I know, I can’t believe I just typed that either!) was the mosaic stations of the cross that was in its own little walkway around the side of the church itself.