Larimer Square

Larimer Square is the 1400 block of Larimer Street. It was the heart of the original Denver City settlement. Named for the city’s founder, it served as its main street for more than three decades. By the 1890s, Sixteenth Street became the city’s top commercial address, and Larimer Street began a long period of decline. In the 1960s, preservationist Dana Crawford worked to save the block between Fourteenth and Fifteenth Streets from demolition by the Denver Urban Renewal Authority. The late nineteenth-century buildings of Larimer Square became a model for historic preservation through reuse.

Main Street

In November 1858, William H. Larimer, Jr. founded Denver City across Cherry Creek from the new town of Auraria. He created the Denver City Town Company and laid out a street grid. He named the main street after himself. Parallel streets were named after his associates in the company. Larimer and three others built cabins at the corners of what is now Larimer and Fifteenth Street. By the end of the year, a small cluster of shops and shacks had taken shape there. When Auraria and Denver City merged in April 1860, the ceremony was held on the Larimer Street Bridge across Cherry Creek.

A devastating fire roared through Denver in April 1863. Much of the new city was destroyed. Larimer Street survived the fire, solidifying its status as Denver’s most important thoroughfare. In the 1860s, businesses such as the Rocky Mountain News and the precursor of the Daniels & Fisher Department Store lined the street. It was also home to civic institutions such as the post office and the county jail.

Construction along Larimer Street boomed in the 1870s. In 1871 it became home to the city’s first streetcar line. Denver grew rapidly as it was connected to national rail lines. Money flowed down to the city from Rocky Mountain mines. The city’s best specialty shops, department stores, and restaurants all had Larimer Street addresses.

Multistory brick commercial buildings went up along the street in the 1870s and 1880s. Most of the surviving historic buildings in Larimer Square date to these decades. The oldest surviving building on the block is the Kettle Building (1873) at 1426 Larimer. It was originally home to a butcher shop run by George Kettle. Lincoln Hall (1887) at 1413–1419 Larimer housed a dance hall and later a harness shop. At the corner of Fifteenth Street, the Clayton brothers, George Washington and William, acquired the site of William Larimer’s original cabin. In 1882 they put up a four-story building that served as McNamara Dry Goods and then the Granite Hotel. In 1883 Denver had opened a large city hall at Larimer Street and Cherry Creek. Grahan’s Saloon (1889) catered to the city’s politicians.

Skid Row

In the 1880s, Larimer Street’s status as the city’s main street began to decline. Subtle shifts were occurring in the location of major commercial blocks and other buildings. In 1880, when Horace Tabor’s Tabor Block opened at the corner of Larimer and Sixteenth, the building faced Sixteenth rather than Larimer. The next year, the Tabor Grand Opera House opened at Sixteenth and Curtis. Tabor and his associates began to buy and develop property along Sixteenth Street. Over the course of the 1880s, they transformed it into a major shopping and entertainment street. Meanwhile, a similar transformation remade Seventeenth Street into a center for banking and hotels.

Despite these changes to Denver’s urban geography, Larimer Street remained preeminent until the early 1890s. After the Panic of 1893, its status quickly collapsed. When the city recovered from the crisis, all its growth was happening elsewhere. No new buildings went up on Larimer Street for decades. By 1900 it already had a reputation as Denver’s skid row.

Larimer Street continued its decline. In the early 1900s, the street’s central location and low rent attracted many small businesses. In 1926 business owners tried to change the street’s name to Main Street, which had a more wholesome connotation. The proposed change went nowhere. Instead, the street continued to lose its remaining respectable institutions. The city government moved to the new City and County Building at Civic Center in the early 1930s. By 1950 the dozen blocks on Larimer from Eleventh to Twenty-Third Street contained forty-six bars and liquor stores, fifty-seven flophouses, seventeen pawn shops, twenty-two secondhand stores, and ten missions.

Preservation and Revival

In 1958 the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) planned the Skyline Urban Renewal Project. This massive project called for the redevelopment of roughly thirty blocks. Everything from Speer Avenue to Twentieth Street between Curtis and Larimer Streets was to be demolished. The idea was to tear down old, dilapidated buildings in rundown areas to make way for new ones that would attract offices, hotels, shops, and other businesses. Voters rejected the project when it was first placed on the ballot in 1964. But after DURA obtained federal funds to cover the costs, they approved it in 1967.

Meanwhile, developer Dana Crawford had discovered the cluster of historic buildings along Larimer Street between Fourteenth and Fifteenth Streets. As Crawford has often said, she went there looking for antiques. Instead, she realized that the buildings themselves were antiques. She researched the area’s history and read about an area in St. Louis called Gaslight. In 1963, she decided to create a similar entertainment district on Larimer Street.

Crawford formed the group Larimer Square Associates with the goal of rescuing the 1400 block of Larimer Street from DURA’s demolition plans. The historic buildings would be remade into offices, restaurants, and boutiques. To transform the deteriorating block, the buildings were gutted and stripped of all modernizations they had accrued over the previous seven decades. New wiring, plumbing, and heating were installed, along with completely new interiors. Stonemasons, glassworkers, and other craftsmen were hired to help restore the buildings. Architect Langdon Morris, Jr. designed courtyards and arcades to help give the block a more open feel.

In 1969 the Skyline Urban Renewal Project began. In the entire project area, only two major historic structures survived. These were the Daniels & Fisher Tower and the buildings of Larimer Square. In the 1970s, DURA started a similar demolition on the southwest side of Cherry Creek. This made way for the Auraria Higher Education Center. In this phase, only Larimer Square and the Tivoli Brewery on the Auraria campus remained from Denver’s original main street.

Today

Larimer Square is the best preserved block of nineteenth-century buildings in downtown Denver. It served as an influential example of historic preservation through adaptive reuse. In 1971 it became the first historic district designated by Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission. In 1973 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2015 the restored Larimer Square celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. Today it is home to dozens of cafés, shops, galleries, and professional offices. It has restaurants run by top Denver chefs such as Jennifer Jasinski, Troy Guard, and Frank Bonanno. The ongoing success of Larimer Square helped spur similar projects, including Lower Downtown and Union Station. Offices, hotels, restaurants, and shops now occupy their renovated historic buildings, which owe a great debt to Dana Crawford and the Larimer Square Associates.

The 1400 block of Larimer Street is better known as Larimer Square. It was part of the original Denver City settlement. Named for the city’s founder, it was Denver’s main street for more than three decades. However, by the 1890s, Sixteenth Street became the city’s top business address. Larimer Street began to decline. In the 1960s, the Denver Urban Renewal Authority planned to demolish much of downtown. Dana Crawford worked to save Larimer Square. These buildings became a model for historic preservation.

Main Street

In November 1858, William H. Larimer, Jr. founded Denver City. The new town of Auraria was just across Cherry Creek. Larimer created the Denver City Town Company. He laid out a street grid. He named the main street for himself. Parallel streets were named after associates. Larimer and others built cabins at the corners of what is now Larimer and Fifteenth Street.

A devastating fire roared through Denver in April of 1863. Much of the new city was destroyed. Larimer Street survived the fire, remaining Denver’s most important street. In the 1860s, the Rocky Mountain News and what would become the Daniels & Fisher Department Store were on Larimer. It was home to the post office and the county jail.

Construction along Larimer Street boomed in the 1870s. In 1871 it had the city’s first streetcar line. Connected to national rail lines, Denver grew rapidly. Money flowed to the city from Rocky Mountain mines. The city’s best shops, department stores, and restaurants were all on Larimer Street.

Brick buildings with multiple stories were built on Larimer in the 1870s and 1880s. Most of the surviving structures date to this time. The oldest of these is the Kettle Building, built in 1873. Located at 1426 Larimer, it was home to George Kettle’s butcher shop. Lincoln Hall, at 1413-1419 Larimer, was built in 1887. This Second-Empire style building had first a dance hall and later a harness shop. William Larimer’s original cabin had been at the corner of Fifteenth and Larimer. The Clayton brothers, George Washington and William, bought the site. In 1882, they built a four-story building. It served as McNamara Dry Goods. Later, it was the Granite Hotel. Grahan’s Saloon, built in 1889, was a favorite of the city’s politicians.

Skid Row

In the 1880s, Larimer Street’s status declined. In 1880 Horace Tabor opened Tabor Block at the corner of Larimer and Sixteenth. The building faced Sixteenth, not Larimer. The next year, the Tabor Grand Opera House opened at Sixteenth and Curtis. Tabor and his associates transformed Sixteenth Street. It became a major shopping and entertainment street. Meanwhile, Seventeenth Street became a center for banking and hotels.

Despite these changes, Larimer Street still served as Denver’s main street. But in the Panic of 1893, everything changed. When the city recovered from the crisis, all growth was happening elsewhere. No new buildings went up on Larimer Street for decades. By 1900 it already had a reputation as Denver’s skid row.

Larimer Street continued to decline. In the early 1900s, low rent attracted many small businesses. In the early 1930s, City government moved to the new City and County Building at Civic Center. By 1950 twelve blocks on Larimer, from Eleventh to Twenty-Third Street, had twenty-two secondhand stores. There were fifty-seven flophouses, seventeen pawn shops, and ten missions. Most telling, those dozen blocks contained forty-six bars and liquor stores.

Preservation and Revival

In 1958 the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) developed a plan to demolish rundown areas called the Skyline Urban Renewal Project. The project would redevelop about thirty blocks, bringing new businesses. Everything from Speer Avenue to Twentieth Street between Curtis and Larimer Streets would be torn down. In 1964 voters said no. Then DURA got money from the government, and in 1967 voters approved the plan. Destruction was ready to begin.

Meanwhile, developer Dana Crawford had gone to Larimer Street. She went looking for antiques. Instead, she realized that the buildings themselves were antiques. She researched the area’s history. She knew about an entertainment area in St. Louis called Gaslight. In 1963, she decided to create a similar district on Larimer Street.

Crawford formed the group Larimer Square Associates with the goal of rescuing the 1400 block of Larimer Street from DURA’s demolition. The historic buildings would be remade into offices, restaurants, and boutiques. The buildings were gutted and stripped of all modernizations. New wiring, plumbing, and heating were installed. They were given completely new interiors. Stonemasons, glassworkers, and other craftsmen helped restore the buildings. Architect Langdon Morris, Jr. designed courtyards and arcades to help give the block a more open feel.

In 1969 the Skyline Urban Renewal Project began. In the whole project area, only two major historic structures survived. These were the Daniels & Fisher Tower and Larimer Square. In the 1970s, DURA focused on the southwest side of Cherry Creek. This area became the Auraria Higher Education Center. Here, only Larimer Square and the Tivoli Brewery remained from Denver’s original main street.

Today

Larimer Square is the best-preserved block of nineteenth-century buildings in downtown Denver. It serves as a model of historic preservation through adaptive reuse. In 1971, Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission made it their first historic district. In 1973, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2015 the restored Larimer Square celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. It is home to dozens of cafés, shops, galleries, and offices. Top Denver chefs have restaurants there. Larimer Square helped save other parts of Denver, such as Lower Downtown and Union Station. Offices, hotels, restaurants, and shops now are in these historic buildings. Dana Crawford succeeded in saving Larimer Square, helping make Denver what it is today.

Larimer Square is the 1400 block of Larimer Street. It was part of the original Denver City. For more than three decades, it was Denver’s main street. But by the 1890s, Sixteenth Street became the top address. Larimer Street declined. In the 1960s, downtown Denver was going to be torn down. Dana Crawford worked to save the Square.

Main Street

In November 1858, William H. Larimer, Jr. founded Denver City. Larimer created the Denver City Town Company. He laid out a street grid. He named the main street for himself. Larimer and others built cabins. These were at the corner of what is now Larimer and Fifteenth Street.

In April of 1863, a fire roared through Denver. Much of the city was destroyed. Larimer Street survived. It stayed as the foremost street. In the 1860s, the Rocky Mountain News was on Larimer. So was the post office and the jail. By 1871, it had the city’s first streetcar line. Denver grew rapidly. It was connected to national railroads. All the city’s best shops were on Larimer Street.

Tall brick buildings were built in the 1870s and 1880s. Most of the old buildings still on the street are from this time. The oldest is the Kettle Building. It was built in 1873. At 1426 Larimer, it was George Kettle’s butcher shop. Lincoln Hall is at 1413-1419 Larimer. It was built in 1887. This building had a dance hall. Later, it had a harness shop. William Larimer’s cabin had been at the corner of the block. The Clayton brothers bought that site. In 1882 they built a four-story building. It was McNamara Dry Goods. Later, it was the Granite Hotel.

Skid Row

But in 1880, Horace Tabor opened Tabor Block. It was at the corner of Larimer and Sixteenth. The building faced Sixteenth, not Larimer. The next year, the Tabor Grand Opera House opened. It was at Sixteenth and Curtis. Tabor transformed Sixteenth Street. It had shopping and entertainment. Seventeenth Street had banks and hotels.

Larimer was still Denver’s main street. But in the Panic of 1893, everything changed. When the city recovered, growth happened in other places. For years, no new buildings went up on Larimer. Drunks hung out there. By 1900 it was known as skid row.

Larimer Street got even worse. In the early 1930s, city government moved. It went to the new City and County Building at Civic Center. By 1950 twelve blocks on Larimer, from Eleventh to Twenty-Third Street, were very run down. Most regular stores were gone. Instead, there were thrift stores, pawn shops, and cheap hotels. There were Christian missions to try to save the people living on the street. The street’s twelve blocks held forty-six bars and liquor stores.

Preservation and Revival

In 1958 the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) had a plan to demolish rundown areas. It was called the Skyline Urban Renewal Project. This would bring new businesses. About thirty blocks would be redeveloped. From Speer Avenue to Twentieth Street between Curtis and Larimer Streets, everything would be torn down.  In 1964 voters said no. Then DURA got money from the government. In 1967 voters said yes. Destruction was ready to begin.

But Dana Crawford, a developer, had gone to Larimer Street. She loved old buildings. She went looking for antiques. Instead, she knew the buildings were antiques. She knew about a part of St. Louis called Gaslight. It had stores and restaurants. In 1963 she decided to create something like that on Larimer Street.

Crawford formed a group called Larimer Square Associates. They wanted to rescue the 1400 block of Larimer Street. They would not let DURA tear it down. Instead, the buildings would be remade. They would become offices, restaurants, and stores. New wiring, plumbing, and heating were installed. Architect Langdon Morris, Jr. designed courtyards. These helped give the block an open feel.

In 1969 Skyline Urban Renewal Project began tearing down buildings. Only two major historic structures survived. These were the Daniels & Fisher Tower and Larimer Square.

Today

Larimer Square was not torn down. The buildings were reused. It is a model for saving historic buildings. In 1971, Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission made it their first historic district. In 1973 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Larimer Square was restored in 1965. In 2015 it celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. It is home to dozens of cafés, shops, galleries, and offices. Top Denver chefs have restaurants there. Larimer Square helped save other parts of Denver, such as Lower Downtown and Union Station. Dana Crawford succeeded in saving Larimer Square, and that helped make Denver what it is today.