Be a part of history.
Long before the neighborhoods of Washington Park, Baker, and Englewood were founded, the Town of South Denver was once its own town, bursting with ambition, innovation, and the want to create a separate identity from Denver. In just a few years in the late 1800s, it became a hub for streetcars, civic progress, and an experiment in ambition in order to create a healthy, safe, transit-oriented suburb. It was home to entrepreneurs, civic minded leaders, and working families who helped shape what South Denver would become. Even South Broadway’s reputation as the “Miracle Mile,” has been largely forgotten.
The proposal for the South Denver Historic Museum is a community-led effort brought about by passionate residents who believe this would create an added cultural and historic benefit to our area. The creation of the South Denver Historic Museum aims to preserve and celebrate the forgotten history of South Denver while creating a vibrant, sustainable community destination. Housed in the grand historic property at 749 S. Lincoln Street, the museum will serve as a cultural hub through exhibits, tours, and rentable spaces, supplemented by profitable revenue streams such as a coffee shop, gift shop, and special events.
The museum will celebrate underrepresented stories including of the site of Colorado’s first gold discovery by Mexican settlers, the once-independent Town of South Denver (1886–1894), The National Mining and Industrial Exposition, Streetcars, Horsecars, Gates Rubber Company, LGBTQ+ activists, African-American baseball teams, Native ceremonial lands, and more.
These stories will bring forward a rich and diverse local narrative that is often overlooked in broader Denver history
We’re looking to partner with a local coffee company for the on-site coffee shop to provide profitability to the museum.
With a Re-zoning, the garage can be converted to a coffee shop:
This area is a coffee shop “Deadzone”. The closest coffee shop is .4 miles out of the way of the RTD route.
The coffee shop can capture commuters walking to RTD’s Broadway Station, or on their way to the National Women’s Soccer League Games.
Coffee shop is accessible from the Alley without the museum needing to be open which offers additional opportunity for longer businesses hours and more profitability.
Converts the backyard to useable space for dining, co-working, for an active use throughout the day.
A community hub that allows others to learn their own history, as well as share it.
Modeling after similar ideas in regards to genealogy, a historical library will be set up. The goal is to provide assistance and guidance for neighbors to research their own homes, family, or History.
A research center would help bring curious into the museum for other purposes, making it an active and community-oriented space.
A “Storytelling” section will be set up to allow those who are looking for a place to share their family stories and history. These stories often are forgotten within a few generations, and we will help capture the neighborhoods history before it disappears.
A robust giftshop will offer the best of South Broadway by partnering with local artists and minorities. Each item will be curated to make it more than just your average museum giftshop.
The goal is to be the first thought with neighbors need a thoughtful gift, a housewarming present, or a little something for any other occasion.
These exclusive items would help drive interest, retain frequent customers, and become a pit stop for all those who are visiting the area to grab some exclusive South Broadway Merchandise.
Make a donation
Support our mission and help see this beautiful house transformed into a community asset by contributing today.
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Leave your mark on this project by adding your name or a loved ones name onto a brick.
4” x 8” Bricks
Three (3) lines of text up to 20 characters per line.
The brick will be placed on the new brick patio within the backyard garden.
Tax-deductible acknowledgment for the value of your donation.
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This generous support level includes:
First year of museum membership for free (Value: $200)
Commemorative T-Shirt
Tax-deductible acknowledgment for the value of your donation.
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This generous support level includes:
First year of museum membership for free (Value: $200)
Commemorative T-Shirt
Name on the commemorative plaque within the building
Tax-deductible acknowledgment for the value of your donation.
Note: Any donation between $1000- $4,999 receives this benefit
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This generous support level includes:
Lifetime Family Membership to the Museum
Commemorative T-Shirt.
20% Discount at the Giftshop
Name on the commemorative plaque within the building.
Name/Logo listed on the website for the first 3 years as an inaugural donor.
Tax-deductible acknowledgment for the value of your donation.
Note: Any donation between $5,000 - $9,999 receives this benefit
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This generous support level includes:
Lifetime Honorary Family Membership
Commemorative T-Shirt.
20% Off Discount at the Museum Store
Name on the “Founders Wall” commemorative plaque within the building.
Name/Logo listed on the website for the first 3 years as an inaugural donor.
Access to exclusive events such as the opening tour.
Tax-deductible acknowledgment for the value of your donation.
Note: Any donation between $10,000 - $24,999 receives this benefit
-
This generous support level includes:
Lifetime Honorary Family Membership
Commemorative T-Shirt.
20% Off Discount at the Museum Store
Name on the “Founders Wall” commemorative plaque within the building.
Name/Logo listed on the website for the first 3 years as an inaugural donor.
Access to exclusive events such as the opening tour.
Complementary room rental of the museum (one per year).
Naming rights to the Art Galleries (Limited to the first two Founders)
Tax-deductible acknowledgment for the value of your donation.
Note: Any donation above $25,000, please reach out to us to discuss your custom benefits package.
Donate your services, labor or “In-Kind Donations”
The South Denver Historic Museum is transforming a beloved Queen Anne home into a vibrant, community-driven museum — and we need your help to build it. We’re calling on licensed contractors, construction companies, tradespeople, and suppliers to donate their time, skills, services, or materials to make this project possible.
Contractor/Skilled Labor Partnership
We’re looking for support in the following areas:
Consider donating your service fee or project management fee to help our fundraising go even further.
Consider donating a few days of your labor to help move the project along such as:
Stripping of wood and restoration of the historic moulding
Tearing down and stump grinding of trees
Exterior painting services
Construction Supervision
Restoration of the historic flooring
Let us know how you would like to help!
Donation of Extra Materials
A little goes a long ways! Consider a donation of materials such as:
Extra full sheets of drywall
2 x 4s in good condition
Extra Red bricks
Extra bags of concrete
In return, you’ll receive sponsorship benefits including:
Name recognition on our “Builders Wall” which will commemorate those who helped rebuild and transform this house.
A custom recognition sign at your project site during renovations (The house sees approx. 27,000 cars drive by it per day!
Tax-deductible acknowledgment for the value of your donated labor, materials, or equipment.
Invitations to our exclusive “Founders & Builders” event
Help us with a Letter of Support
We’d love to hear your support for the project. Please consider writing us a letter of support for us to submit with our grant applications and funding requests.