Denver’s Baker Historic District. Can you feel its pulse? This area is more than bricks and mortar. It’s a story etched in time.
Welcome to the Baker Historic District. It’s a vibrant neighborhood. Baker played a key role in Denver’s history. It was first plotted in the 1870s.
Imagine Denver in the late 1800s. The Baker neighborhood was taking shape. William and Elizabeth Byers homesteaded here. James Beckwourth joined them. He was a noted mountain man. Broadway emerged. Thomas Skerritt dragged a log, creating a “broad way.”
The Baker neighborhood was annexed to Denver in 1883. More followed in 1889. Cable cars brought people to South Side, now Baker. The neighborhood thrived.
Did you know that Baker has a connection to baseball? Denver’s team played at 6th and Broadway. This lasted from 1893 to 1922. Denver Health Medical Center also has roots here. It was the County Hospital. It was founded in 1873.
Baker is home to architectural gems. Many middle-class Queen Anne homes stand here. William Lang designed 39 buildings. The Mayan Theatre is unique. It was built in 1930 with a Pre-Columbian theme. Saved from demolition in 1984 it was restored by 1987.
Two Denver mayors resided in South Side. Marion D. Van Horn was one. Thomas S. McMurray was another. Sadie Likens broke barriers. She became Denver’s first Police Matron. Alice Polk Hill achieved literary fame. She was Colorado’s first Poet Laureate. Mary Coyle Chase wrote the play Harvey. She won a Pulitzer Prize.
Today Baker is known for its diversity. People enjoy its historic homes. Broadway offers shopping and dining. Mass transit is easily accessible.
The Baker Historic District earned recognition in 1985. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2000, it became a Denver historic district.
Baker hosts events throughout the year. There is an Annual Spring Fling. The Baker Bargain Bonanza features yard sales. A home tour celebrates Baker’s history.
The Baker Historic Neighborhood Association is active. It hosts meetings and events. They work to improve life in Baker. They connect the neighborhood to the city. Donations support their work.
Take a stroll. Feel the history. Discover the stories. The Baker Historic District welcomes you.