Lower Downtown Historic District - Denver, CO, USA
Posted by: 
Outspoken1
N 39° 45.034 W 104° 59.828
13S E 500245 N 4400072
This plaque speaks of the changing character of this business area of lower downtown Denver. The annual National Western Stock Show parade passes this marker.
Waymark Code: WM14GKJ
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 07/05/2021
Views: 0
The plaque reads:
LOWER DOWNTOWN
HISTORIC DISTRICT
Established 1988
MARKET STREET AREA
Market Street has one of the most colorful histories in all of
Lower Downtown. It has seen three name changes, periods of
splendor, decline and rehabilitation. Market began as McGaa
Street, named for William McGaa, an original member of the
Denver Town Company. In 1866, the street name was changed to
Holliday, after the stagecoach king who built the depot at
Fifteenth and Market Streets, now Downtown's oldest structure.
Many prominent businesses were located in this area, including
the Mint, Constitution Hall on Blake Street, local newspapers
and banks. the Inter-Ocean Hotel, located at 16th and Blake, was
owned and operated by Barney Ford, a notable citizen of Denver's
Black Community. Ford, a former slave, was an influential Black
pioneer.
In the late 1800s as the center of commerce relocated to Larimer
and 16th Streets, Market fell into a period of decline. One of the
more famous establishments included the Palace Theatre,
located on Blake, Denver's most notorious gambling hose. Opium
dens, saloons, gambling houses and brothels were commonplace.
Shocked, the Holliday family insisted the street name be changed.
Thus in 1887, Holliday Street was renamed Market Street.
By the 1970s, after decades of decline, Market Center in the 1600
block of Market Street was rehabilitated. Across the street the
Regional Transportation District located its headquarters and a
transit plaza - where once bars, brothels and pioneer businesses
flourished.
Group or Groups Responsible for Placement:
Denver Landmark Commission
County or City: Denver
Date Dedicated: Not listed
Check here for Web link(s) for additional information: Not listed
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