Curtis Park was Denver's first park.
Land for it was donated by real estate investors hoping
that the park would entice people to build homes in
the new area. It soon became the residential district
for the growing city. From the 1870s to the 1900s,
Curtis Park was a neighborhood of the middle and upper-middle
class. The diversity of class is reflected in the
variety of house sizes, ranging from small cottages
to large mansions. In subsequent years, the area was
often considered "seedy." With the "historic"
designation in 1975, the neighborhood saw the return
of the middle class. Residents are attracted by the
charm, the unique style of homes and close proximity
to Downtown.
Curtis Park has more single-family residences
than the typical row-houses found in older cities.
Among the many styles represented are Queen
Annes, Italianate
Villas, Eastlake, and a variation of the Rowhouse.
Details like tin shingles, cresting, mansard roofs
and intricate bracketing evoke European memories.
The garden community still shows the early settlers
interests in elms, maples, Harrison's yellow roses,
iris, day lilies and peonies - all foreign to the
local horticulture. Mansions anchor corners in many
blocks with cottages interspersed.
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