Communities
State
Government
Federal
Representation
Colorado
Information
All Rights Reserved
Colorado Casa REALTORS®
and Broomfield-Designers.com
All Rights Reserved
Littleton
WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC LITTLETON
Our
tour begins at Littleton's Depot art center, at 2069 W. Powers Ave. This
restored 1888 Santa Fe depot once handled the passengers and freight from
30 trains a day. Now it and the bright red caboose (of 1898 vintage) house
and art gallery managed by the volunteer Littleton fine arts guild.Walk east two blocks on Powers Ave. to South Prescott and then South to Littleton Boulevard. The Littleton Heights neighborhood dates back to the early 1900s, with a variety of housing styles. Ralph Moody, author of Little Britches , described this area in his famous book as "the big houses up on the hill," where he sold pies door to door.
At Littleton Blvd. walk west to the old Arapahoe county courthouse. Built in 1907, the blonde brick courthouse with metal cupola was the pride of Littleton, with a panoramic view from its steps. Beginning in 1948, the courthouse was surrounded by annexes added on the north and west sides. It is now vacant.
Littleton's centennial sculpture stands in the island southwest of the courthouse. Erected to commemorate Littleton's 100th year of incorporation in 1990, the statue's four figures depict the passage of time, from the parents in pioneer dress to the tee-shirted young boy holding a model rocket.
Until the railroad depression was completed in 1987, cars lined up every day to stop for frequent trains crossing Littleton Blvd. and South Prince St. Now the coal trains heading south and north are hardly noticed.
The view from the railroad depression bridge leads west down Main St. to snow-covered Mt. Evans. Main St. has been the heart of Littleton since the 1880s. Historians say these three blocks of turn-of-the-century buildings are one of the finest examples of "Main St. America" in the metro areas.
On the left, Bega Park is named for Littleton's sister city in Australia. Concrete maps in the fountain show the locations of the towns of Bega and Littleton.
From Bega Park, continue either west on Main St. or take a side journey north on Rio Grande Ave. to the Littleton city center and around restored depot building. The former D&RG depot was built of Castle Rock stone in 1871.
Back on Main St., the red brick building at the northwest corner of Main and South Sycamore was built as an automobile showroom in 1919 by I.W. Hunt. In 1983, it was restored as the Little Town complex and now houses the offices of the Littleton Independent, which has been Littleton's hometown newspaper since 1888.
Littleton's former town hall building, at 2450 W. Main, is now the home of the Town Hall arts center. Designed by prominent architect J.J.B. Benedict in 1920, the Italianate-style building features terra-cotta arches, decorative ironwork, and a tile roof. Notice the detail of the columbines and eagles on the second story. This building has been placed on a registry of historic landmarks.
The Coors building, at 2489 W. Main, was built by Adolph Coors in 1905 for use as a tavern. Metal plates with the Coors name are visible above the second story. In 1993 this building was restored to its original exterior and designated a local historic landmark.
Across Nevada St., the north side of the 2500 block of Main St. should be noted for the elegant detail on the cornices of the buildings. At 2569 and 2579 W. Main is the former Batschelet building, built in 1908. They building was designated a local historic landmark in 1994 and its façade was restored in 1995. Across Main St., at 2516 W. Main, is the former Lemke meat market. This building received local historic designation in 1993.
The Carnegie library building, anchors the west end of Main St. Funded by a grant from the Carnegie foundation in 1917, this Italianate-style building also was designed by J.J.B. Benedict and is also a historic landmark. After Littleton's book collection moved to the Bemis public library at 6014 S. Datura in 1965, the Carnegie building was used for a police station and later housed several restaurants. Note the decorative terra-cotta above the doorway.
The Platte River flowed just west of the library until 1938, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers relocated the river further west to make room for a widened Santa Fe Drive Greenway Trail.
Diagonally Across Rapp Street from the Carnegie Library is the Masonic Temple, home to gatherings of the Masonic Lodge, which has been active since 1924. The handsome white clapboard building at 5728 S. Rapp Street was one of the first buildings in Littleton. Built in 1872 for J.D. Hill's general store, it was later occupied by the post office and various churches.
Main Street and South Rapp Street were part of the original highway from Denver to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Cross Alamo Street and walk one-half block down Rapp Street to see the stone home of Richard Little, founder of Littleton, at 5777 S. Rapp. A Financial service agency now occupies Little's house.
The Columbine Mill at 5798 S Rapp, was built in 1901. The last surviving grain elevator in the Littleton area received local historic landmark designation in 1994. At 5878 S. Rapp is the Edward Montgomery house, the oldest house in Littleton, built in 1872.Return to Alamo Street. The building at 2675 W. Alamo is part of the former Littleton Creamery, built in 1884. Note the historical plaque above the front door.
The H.S. Leach house, built in 1888 at the southeast corner of Alamo and Curtice, typifies the ornate housing style popular in the Victorian era. It features bright yellow siding, powder blue fish scale shingles, and beige and brown trim work. The former Bozarth house at 2506 W Alamo and the former Sanford house at 2505 W Alamo are also restored historic buildings.
Prince Street was named for Richard Little's favorite horse. If you walk south along Prince for several blocks you reach the Littleton Cemetery, which contains gravestones dating back to 1869, as well as the grave of Alferd Packer, Colorado's notorious cannibal. To view an outstanding example of a Victorian "painted lady", in white with rose and blue trim, walk several blocks north 5503 S. Prince. The former Duncan house, built in 1908, was designated a local historic landmark in 1995.
A quick walk back to the Depot brings you to the end of the waslking tour, but there's much more to learn about Littleton's history. Don't miss the Littleton Historical Museum, located on 14 acres at 6028 S. Gallup.
Littleton Historical Museum
The Littleton Historical Museum is located on 14 acres at 6028 S. Gallup. This living history museum contains working farms of the 1860's and 1890's, and Littleton's first schoolhouse (an 1863 Log Cabin), a blacksmith shop, ice house, and changing exhibits.
At the museum is the Isaac McBroom cabin, built in 1861 of hand-hewn logs with a wattle and daub chimney. An 1889 Victorian "painted lady" displays seven different paint colors, ranging from salmon to chocolate brown. And even the museum building itself is architecturally significant. Designed in 1950 as a private home by Denver architect Joseph Marlow, the glass and stone building is reflective of the Bauhaus style, with wide overhangs, thin columns and an open, airy feeling.
Please choose a community below to continue;
-South Park -Sterling -Back to Communities Main
