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The History of Denver
Overview:
Come learn the stories of the Mile High City. You will learn how our city was founded and the roles played by James Denver, Robert Speer, Ben Stapleton, and others. We will cover the booms and the busts and the story of why the 1976 Winter Olympics were not held here. Bring your favorite Denver trivia to share!
Key Lecture Points:
• Denver was established just about 150 years ago by prospectors, who had just discovered gold at the intersection of the Cherry Creek and the South Platte River. The mining boom and railroad boom that followed catapulted Denver to become the 2nd largest Western city by the late 1800s.
• While prospectors were some of the first white faces to be seen in the Denver region, the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes had resided along the banks of the Platte and Cherry Creek for perhaps hundreds of years. Denver’s early years were rife with conflict between Native Americans and settlers. Colorado Territorial Governor John Evans fell into infamy over the 1864 “Sand Creek Massacre” of the Plains Indians.
• Denver was, and still is, a city of newcomers and transplants. In the early years, Germans, Irish, Swedes, Italians and Brits all made the area their home. As the years wore on transplants from the East and West coast came to Denver. And, today, Denver is home to tens of thousands of Mexican-Americans.
• Denver’s story is one of ‘boom and bust’. The mining boom collapsed under the weight of the 1893 national depression, but Denver was to be remade by Mayor Robert Speer who wanted the city to be the “Paris of America”. Speer’s boom collapsed after the Great Depression. But, Denver, ever-resilient, was again remade after WWII, becoming a magnet for both the defense and oil industries. And, since the 1980s Denver recession, the city has again been remade as the Western hub for service and tourism.
• Denver is not only the smartest city in the nation, it is also the thinnest. Fewer than half of Denver residents are obese, well below the national average. And, some 35% have a bachelors degree, also well above the national average.
• Denver is renowned for its status as a ‘green’ city. Indeed, Denver boasts more parks per capita than any other city in the nation, thanks to the legacies of Mayors Speer and Peña.
Exploration Questions:
• What do you think explains why Denver became and remains the business hub of the Rocky Mountain region of the US?
• Denver has survived economic downturns in the past. How might it adapt to the current economic challenges?
Reflective Question:
• What is your favorite Denver story, either personal or famous (or both)?
• Tell about your first memory of the city of Denver.
• How has Denver changed for the better in your lifetime? How has it changed for the worse?
More to Explore:
• Denver City Website: www.denvergov.org
• Denver Public Library: http://history.denverlibrary.org
Books For Further Reading:
• Kreck, Dick. Murder at the Brown Palace: Seduction and Betrayal in Early Denver Society. Fulcrom Publishing, 2003. This true story of crime and deceit in Denver takes place in 1911. Click here to order.
• Dinar, Joshua. Denver Then and Now. Thunder Bay Press, 2002. This collection of photographs juxtaposes early Denver scenes with photographs of the same sites today. Click here to order.
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