Sep 22, 2024 - Things to Do

The history of Denver's Baker neighborhood

John Frank

Fire Station No. 11 in Baker was built in 1936 and is the second oldest operating in the city. Photo: John Frank/Axios

The Baker neighborhood took its name in the 1970s from the junior high school, which honors James Hutchins Baker, the first principal of Denver High School (now East High), according to research compiled by the Denver Public Library.

The intrigue: William Byers, a surveyor and farmer, is credited with establishing much of the current Baker neighborhood. He later published the state's first newspaper, the Rocky Mountain News, which shuttered in 2009.

The vibe: The neighborhood is known for its Queen Anne-style homes and Victorian architecture.

It is bordered on the west by the South Platte River and extends East to Broadway. Its northern border is 6th Avenue and it goes south to Mississippi Avenue.

Flashback: Once known as "South Side" or "South Broadway," the neighborhood became home to "sketchy bars and sex establishments" in the 1960s, the research notes, as those businesses were pushed out of downtown.

Dig in: In the late '70s, the neighborhood started to rehabilitate its image with new businesses, clubs and galleries. A portion of the neighborhood became a historic district in 2000 to protect its legacy architecture.

What they're saying: "Today, an easy stroll throughout the Baker Neighborhood will conjure memories of pioneers, educators, and architectural movements as their histories echo throughout the area," the library research concludes.

"The neighborhood's allure not only resides in Baker's historic charm, but also in the newer developments being added to the area."

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The history of Denver's Baker neighborhood

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