9th Street between Curtis and Champa Street
Ninth Street Historic Park is not only a campus landmark, but was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Though today Denver is the indisputable “Queen City of the Plains,” it faced serious competition from its neighbor on Cherry Creek’s west bank, Auraria. Named by optimistic gold-seekers after their Georgia home, Auraria, the “City of Gold,” started life as a collection of log cabins in 1858. By 1860, Auraria’s population had outpaced Denver’s, and that year residents of both settlements voted to merge. What stands here today is one of the oldest restored residential blocks in Denver. The historic landmarks are a reminder of an era when the Auraria community bustled. The 14 structures on Ninth Street Historic Park represent middle-class housing of the late 19th century. The two earliest houses were built in 1872 and several others are territorial, built before Colorado became a state in 1876. These buildings now house various university offices, including the University Honors and Leadership Program. On the corner of 9th Street Historic Park is Fat Jack's Subs, a popular place to grab a bite to eat and study.