Touring Denver’s Oldest House

For years I drove by the signs pointing to the park. I had every intention of visiting it at some point as I lived so close, but never really made it there as something else always seemed to attract my attention. But, over five years after moving from my old apartment, I decided to make my way back to the area and check out the Four Mile Historic Park. I’ve read a lot of Colorado history books lately and was interested to see how this place fit into the grand scheme.

I had some time to kill and it was a beautiful January day with temperatures in the 60s, so I decided to head over to the park for an hour or two. Coworkers had told me how much they liked it, and the signs stuck in my memory, so I figured it was a good place to go that I hadn’t seen before in a city that seems to have no shortage of interesting places.

I pulled into the parking lot for the park, next to a few other cars that were there, but figured it’d be a slow day as it was the middle of the week in the winter. My assumption was correct, for good and bad, I soon found as I walked into the lobby to find the two employees relaxing and jawing with each other as though I had walked into a small town barber shop. They were quite surprised to see me and almost seemed to wonder if I was lost.

I was greeted pleasantly though and given a bit of history from one of the men before I headed in to check out a small display. I was quite impressed with it as it explains the history of the house all in relation to the history of Colorado and the movement west. Despite being small, it was very informative and put together really well. But, as that’s not what I came to see, I headed outside to the snow in my shorts and tshirt.

I walked the grounds rather quickly as there was no special event that day. Sometimes, generally during the weekends, there are special events there that bring in crowds. Today though I had it to myself, save the two cats that meowed at me as they rubbed up on my legs outside the oldest house still standing in Colorado.

Built in the 1850s by two brothers settling the area, it’s not a particularly old house all things considered. But as most places in the west part of the United States are generally younger due to the time settlement happened, it’s got some age to it. The building has been well cared for though by the Colorado Historical Society and is definitely worth a visit, especially if there’s an event at the park.

There are several other structures on the grounds used to exhibit how settlement, mining and stagecoach life was like back in the 1800s, but none of them are originals. Some are built on the spot where they once stood, like the outhouse, thanks to some historical research and digging in the area. Yeah, I know that’s a bit nasty, but that’s how it is with this one. Some other buildings though, like the tipi, were added to the grounds to give historical perspective.

As I pulled out of the parking lot an hour or so later I was happy and content with my visit. It was definitely a good park, especially since it’s free, and one that I’d like to go back and see again when they have a special event, like during the Fourth of July celebration. I have a feeling that it’d be a great place, right along the banks of the Cherry Creek, for a picnic and a relaxing afternoon…kinda along the lines of the Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield.