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Some people may consider a historic home as just another old structure. But those with a keen eye and an appreciation of all things vintage will know that these types of residences have become silent witnesses to decades’ worth of changes in people and events – some of which have physical manifestations on their living spaces. There’s a lived-in feel that makes these types of homes charismatic, especially to home buyers with a flair for nostalgia.
One of the places in the whole country with the highest concentration of historic structures is Denver, Colorado. The Mile High City has over 300 historic sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places. However, time has caught up with some of these architectural paragons as they either fell into disrepair or were severely damaged by a natural disaster. In both cases, they had to be demolished.
In a concerted effort to ensure that no other historic structure in Denver lays to waste, the city and its people organized themselves to restore, protect, and maintain these storied structures and bring them back to their old glory. Most historic homes are now maintained as museums or bed and breakfasts, while some can still be purchased by those looking to own a historic home.
To learn more about the loveliest and most well-preserved historic homes in Denver, as well as the neighborhoods where you’ll find them, read the rest of this article below.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OWNING A HISTORIC HOME
Owning a historic home takes lots of commitment, even more than when owning a recently built single-family home. A huge part of it involves learning the story of this home, its role in the community in the past and present, and its potential in the future. Learning about the house’s past will help the buyer in determining its value and whether or not it’s viable to proceed with the purchase.
Here are more tips on owning and maintaining a historic home in Denver.
- Get to know the local historic district designations and ordinances, local building codes, property insurance, and other regulatory matters that concern the home you’re eyeing.
- Look into the extent of restorations or renovations that the home for sale will need, including repairing or adding subtle design elements and incorporating modern plumbing systems. These said do-overs might cost you more than the actual home purchase.
- Consider keeping certain elements that add to the home’s character, such as the windows and plaster walls. There’s a chance that these windows are no longer commercially available and may simply need repairs instead of replacement. Replacing plaster walls with modern walls – a common renovation done to historic homes – is also quite costly.
- In finding the balance between preservation and modernization when restoring a historic home, one excellent method is to “leave clues” of what was previously in place. These clues will link the old and new fittings, features, or amenities and retain the home’s old glory.
- Gear up for surprises! Working on historic houses means unearthing their past. This may include finding newspaper clippings from a century ago, wallpapers from a previous era, letters from old lovers, or hints of damage from old calamities, to name a few.
HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS IN DENVER
Given the overwhelming number of historic structures in Denver, it’s not surprising to find several neighborhoods with clusters of historic homes in them. Here are some of the most notable ones.
Lower Downtown Historic District (LoDo)
Before it was officially established as a historic district with the enactment of a zoning ordinance in 1988, the area of Lower Downtown Denver was a forgotten place with decrepit surroundings. But when all 23 blocks of the area were turned into a historic district, LoDo’s downward slide was averted and it now stands as a vibrant mixed-use hub and center of activity. Its remaining vintage homes and buildings are also among the protected sites listed in the State and National Historic Registers.
While the zoning ordinance creating LoDo now covers a total of 23 blocks, the original historic district consisted only of the 1400 block on Larimer Street. This block is considered the oldest settlement in Denver and the city’s very first historic district – established in 1973.
Curtis Park Neighborhood
Dubbed as Denver’s first streetcar suburb, Curtis Park saw a dramatic transformation in the mid to late 1800s from a dry prairie to a bustling residential area consisting of rows of
19th-century homes. The Silver Crash of the 1890s sent an outward migration to Capitol Hill and other newer neighborhoods in the state. The neighborhood suffered a decline until 1975 when Curtis Park was given a second chance at life via a district designation in the National
Register of Historic Places. This is all because of the rows of 19th-century homes that managed to weather the ravages of time. The area now stands among the oldest neighborhoods of Denver.
Highlands Neighborhood
In this neighborhood, you’ll find three historic districts:
- Potter Highlands Historic District: A residential neighborhood across the South Platte River, Potter Highlands spans 276 acres. Nearly 700 buildings are located here, 571 of which are noted for their historical and architectural values. You can find residences here built before the Silver Crash of 1893 that take on Victorian, Foursquare, and Mission Revival styles, as well as post-crash structures in Prairie, Craftsman, and Colonial styles.
- Wolff Place Historic District: This area features 110 elegant buildings sporting late Victorian and early 20th-century architectural styles. What makes Wolff Place distinct is its large corner lots with high-style architectural rows framing them. Most of the houses here are made using brick with stone or concrete foundations, taking elements from Queen Anne, Classic Cottage, and Classic Revival styles.
- Allen M. Ghost Historic District: Seeing an opportunity, real estate agent Allen M. Ghost bought the area in 1887, divided it into lots, and sold each lot with the promise that this section of West Highland will become progressive due to the establishment of streetcar service. These lots were sold quickly and the streetcars started operating here a year later. Over 30% of the houses were done in the Queen Anne architectural style while the rest were in Bungalow or Craftsman styles.
Capitol Hill Neighborhood
You’ll find a merry combination of old buildings and modern structures in this eclectic Denver neighborhood. Three historic districts are located here:
- Sherman Street Historic District: Unique to this district are three-story walk-up apartments that were constructed roughly between 1929 and 1950, with seven to eight buildings designed by renowned local architect Charles Dunwoody Strong. Important elements of Strong’s work include modern interpretations of several architectural styles such as Art Modern, International Style, and Art Deco.
- Quality Hill Historic District: Buildings that stand out in this district are the two-story townhouse named the Craig House, as well as The Granada and The Cardenas – two four-story apartments done by a local architect who specialized in apartment buildings, Walter Rice. The former was built in 1914 with a design borrowed from Classical Revival styles. The apartments of Rice meanwhile were constructed in 1925 and feature design elements inspired by Moorish and Spanish Colonial styles such as red brick walls, iron balconies, and arched bays.
- Pennsylvania Street Historic District: As the development of Denver expanded eastward in the late 1800s, Capitol Hill grew in popularity among the well-to-do of Denver and beyond. Among Capitol Hill’s streets that became part of the so-called Millionaire’s Row was Pennsylvania Street. Up to now, it still bears that certain distinction. A testament to this is the famed Molly Brown House which proudly stands here.
Wyman’s Addition
Colfax Avenue is at the heart of this immense historic district, thanks to the establishment of a streetcar line here. The said street was also considered a prestigious address by Denver’s elite in the late 1800s. Another factor behind Wyman’s Addition’s progress was the completion of Smith’s Ditch in 1867 which provided water to Wyman’s Addition.
Wyman was turned into a historic district in 1993 due to the diversity of its vintage structures that remain beautiful and sturdy to this day.
East 7th Avenue Neighborhood and Historic District
The largest of Denver’s historic districts, East 7th Avenue is found right at the heart of the Mile High City. The historic district itself spans only two blocks from 6th Avenue to 8th Avenue but what makes it distinct are the streetcar and bus lines that run along the said streets. A strong sense of community has been fostered here over generations, starting around the time of the City Beautiful Movement. This movement took place from the 1890s to the 1920s, taking inspiration from the Beaux Arts architecture in Europe.
Country Club Neighborhood and Historic District
Built at the same time as the Denver Country Club, this neighborhood was developed in the 1900s then designated as a Historic Landmark District in 1990. The neighborhood layout
features more spacious lots than a typical street grid. The 380 residences that constitute this neighborhood were lauded for their well-preserved and remarkable architectural styles, thus earning it a place in the National Register.
Baker Historic Neighborhood
Originally called South Side or South Broadway, this neighborhood used to be a huge tract of land owned by the Byers. The first subdivisions were developed starting in 1872 but when South Side was annexed to Denver 11 years later, that’s when commercial and industrial growth began. It earned a designation in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and became one of Denver’s historic districts in 2000. A notable historic landmark here is the Mayan Theatre, built in 1930 and presently a popular venue for showing indie films.
Montclair Neighborhood and Historic District
This neighborhood is known, not only for its tree-lined streets and rows of stately homes from a bygone era but also for its community association – the oldest of its kind in Denver. The Historic Montclair Community Association, Inc. has been around since 1907.
Other Denver neighborhoods with historic homes
These communities may not have been designated as historical districts but they have clusters of historic homes, as well. These are:
- Park Hill: Popular architectural styles here are Queen Anne, Italianate, Arts and Crafts Bungalows, Denver Square, Ranch Home, Colonial Tudor, Mediterranean Revival, and Mid-century Modern
- Whittier: Popular architectural styles here are Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Denver Square, Bungalow, Dutch Colonial
- Washington Park: Popular architectural styles here are the Classical Revival style, Craftsman, and Italianate. The planning of this neighborhood was also inspired by the City Beautiful Movement.
THE FOUR MILE HOUSE THE OLDEST HISTORIC HOME IN DENVER
Built in 1859, the Four Mile House is the oldest historic home, not just in Denver but in the whole state – currently in its 163rd year. Named after its exact four-mile location from the intersection of Broadway and Colfax Avenue, the Four Mile House sits close to the Smoky Hill Trail. Built by Samuel and Jonas Branter, the property was used as a home up until the 1870s and then converted into a farm. In 1968, the house became a local landmark in Denver then in 1969, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
BEST-PRESERVED HISTORIC HOMES IN DENVER
When communities come together with a single cause to protect their local architectural treasures, it’s not surprising to find a good number of historic homes in Denver that remain solid and remarkably preserved to this day. Below are some of the top historic houses to visit:
Age: 131
Location: 1207 North Pennsylvania Street
Constructed in 1891, this historic home built using ruby sandstone sports a Romanesque style, featuring an eight-foot stained glass window, a porch, and a fireplace. Presently, the property is a bed & breakfast with eight rooms each named after wildflowers endemic to Colorado.
Age: 133
Location: 1340 Pennsylvania Street
Located beside the Capitol Hill offices, the Molly Brown House Museum features the Queen Anne and Richardsonian Romanesque styles. Built in 1889 by architect William Lang, the prominent resident of this historic property was Margaret “Molly” Brown – the famed socialite, activist, and survivor of the RMS Titanic sinking in 1912.
Age: 139
Location: 1310 Bannock Street
Two of Denver’s most prominent families used to own this two-story Italianate house through their representatives – William N. Byers, the founder of the first newspaper in Denver, The Rocky Mountain News; and William Gray Evans, the son of the former governor, John Evans.
Byers had the house built in 1883 then six years later, it was purchased by Evans. This home now serves as the office of the Center for Colorado Women’s History.
Age: 114
Location: 400 East 8th Avenue
Recorded as the property that has always been “owned by women” – the Colorado Governor’s Residence was listed under Alice Foster Sanger Cheesman then Edna Boettcher. Alice’s husband, businessman Walter Cheesman, commissioned the house to be built in 1908.
Unfortunately, Cheesman passed away before the house was completed. In 1923, Claude Boettcher, Edna’s husband, purchased it for $75,000 then turned it into the Boettcher Mansion. The Boettchers, through their foundation, eventually offered the mansion to the state of Colorado in 1959, and this became the Governor’s Residence. The property has become home to some governors, while others held important meetings and events in it.
Croke-Patterson-Campbell Mansion
Age: 132
Location: 428-430 East 11th Avenue
This four-story property with a red brick sandstone exterior and a rare Chateauesque style is a favorite among enthusiasts of architecture, history, and the paranormal. Famed merchant, experimental plant breeder, and former senator Thomas Croke built this mansion in 1890.
Later on, it was sold to Thomas Patterson who served in both Congress and the Senate. He passed the property on to his daughter, Margaret Patterson and husband Richard Campbell.
This mansion is said to be one of the “most haunted” places in Colorado, with people reporting sightings of ghosts, strange houses, and other unexplained phenomena here.
Age: 116
Location: 969 Sherman Street
This 7,000-square-foot mansion done in a French Renaissance style was considered the “Social Capital” of Denver back in the day when the upper crust of Denver society would converge here. It was built in 1906 for newspaper magnate and inheritor of Denver Republican, Crawford Hill, and his wife Louise who was among the aristocrats of Memphis and creator of the “Sacred 36” – an elite group that was accepted in the inner circles of New York’s, Newport’s, and Rhode Island’s respective bourgeoisie. The property is now home to a law office.
Age: 135
Location: 1439 Court Place
Designed by architect Fred Hale in 1887, the Curry-Chucovich home is a sandstone townhouse that features Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival architectural styles. One of the oldest remaining historic homes in Downtown Denver, the original property owner was James M. Curry who also owned Douglas County Lava Quarries in Castle Rock. It was then purchased in 1902 by Vasco L. Chucovich, an immigrant from Yugoslavia. After Chucovich passed on in 1933, the house was embroiled in a probate court for some time until it was acquired by lawyers William Myrich and Norton Fichey who turned the place into their office. The two were also responsible for getting the house listed in the National Historic Registry. At one point, this house was also turned into an Airbnb.
Age: 130
Location: 1626 Washington Street
Another creation by architect William Lang, this residential townhouse was built in 1890 and is one of five townhouses along Washington Street. This historic home features Lang’s unique mix of architectural styles that feature symmetries, a narrow sandstone facade, two arched windows at the first level and five tall windows at the second, as well as an eclectic stepped gable end with intricate details on the windows of the third level.
Age: 131
Location: 1618 Ogden Street
This historic home was built in 1891 using pressed red brick and features elements from Queen Anne and Neoclassical architectural styles. Extensive sandstone trim lines this home’s roof edges. Prominent elements are Doric columns, ribbon medallions, and swags. There is also a rounded corner porch. This house was the original property of real estate developer John S. Flower.
To see more of Denver’s historic homes, check out this interactive map.
Whether as landmarks or as residences, historic homes in Denver never fail to captivate with their elegant Old-World charm and rich past. If you’re interested in owning one, make sure to come to a real estate professional who specializes in historic homes. In Denver CO, that would be me – Mark Muller, Denver Realtor, historic homes specialist, and pricing strategy advisor. Having lived and worked in Denver for almost 30 years and focusing on luxury and historic real estate, I can provide unparalleled knowledge and expertise on the best historic homes for sale in Denver, Colorado, as well as personalized service in dealing with clients.
Let me be your guide in your search for a historic home! Call me at 303.941.6926 or send me an email here.
