Once upon a time, this was the Wild West. Ninth Street Historic Park is a unique treasure. It is tucked away on the Auraria Campus in Denver. This city block has 14 homes. They were built between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The area was once home to street trolleys. It has been transformed into a beautiful green lawn.
In 1858, the Russel brothers arrived from Georgia. They laid out a settlement where the Auraria Campus stands today. Two houses were built in 1872. These are considered territorial. The other original houses were built between then and 1906.
Fast forward to 1970. A grassroots movement worked hard. It sought to preserve the city block. The historical buildings were spared from demolition. They underwent an impressive restoration. In 1977, the three-acre Ninth Street Historic Park officially opened to the public.
Today, the Ninth Street Historic Park stands as the oldest restored residential area in Denver. It is home to university offices, restaurants, and businesses. The park remains on the Denver Landmark Preservation list. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 14 original homes around Ninth Street Historic Park are Victorian-style. They are like many houses built during that time. These were middle-class homes.
Take a self-guided walking tour of Ninth Street Historic Park. At each restored Victorian home, there is a weathered plaque. The plaques detail who lived there. They tell what they did. They share their stories. The block tells of middle-class housing in the late 19th century. Two homes date back to 1872. They were here before Colorado was a state.
One building stands out. The Knight House was called the most perfectly proportional and tastefully embellished Victorian house in Denver. A bookkeeper for a flourmill once called it home. Other homes housed candy makers, carpenters, railroad engineers, and dentists. They all made this a neighborhood.
Students casually walk to class through Ninth Street Historic Park. They lay on the grass to soak up the sun. The structures hail from 1872 to 1906. Ordinary college business is conducted here. Transfer services and honors programs take place within these walls.
The Groussman Store was built in 1906. It was once a corner grocery store. Today, it is a chain sandwich shop. It is a rare example of turn-of-the-century commercial architecture.
Ninth Street Historic Park is now a mix of past and present. It is a place where history and student life coexist. It serves as a reminder of Denver’s past. It provides a space for relaxation and reflection. The park offers a glimpse into the lives of those who came before. It is a treasure for all to enjoy.