Letters of Support
We have a great group of neighbors and support from the surrounding neighborhoods who would love to see this project come to life. Read their thoughts and letters below:
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.
“As a South Denver resident and someone who spent the early part of my career in museum development... I’ve seen what community-rooted museums can do when they’re built with intention. The vision you’ve laid out checks the boxes I’d want any new institution to take seriously: a clear sense of place, a commitment to underrepresented stories, a sustainable revenue model, and a plan for the building to function as an active community hub rather than a quiet archive.
The stories you’re planning to surface are exactly the complex, honest local history that South Denver deserves to see told in one place. The fact that so much of this has been forgotten is precisely the argument for doing it now.
I’m also really encouraged by the practical thinking in your planning. Pairing exhibits with a coffee shop, gift shop, research library, and rentable space reflects a modern understanding of what makes small museums financially durable.
Too many promising projects stall because the business model was an afterthought. This one clearly isn’t. Please consider this letter a strong endorsement of your work.”
“The South Denver Historic Museum will at last give the valuable programs of this diligent group a home for
events and for sharing artifacts of their research with the public. It will be an important community center, adding a sense of belonging and pride to a historic part of the Denver metro area. I believe the museum will create a sense of civility and citizenship that will bring the surrounding neighborhoods together in positive ways that will help with problem-solving,
neighborly cohesion, and deep appreciation of institutions and history. I think one potential incidental outcome will be reduction in crime in the area, as people recognize the humanity of others. The museum will become an important and valued community asset.”
“I will enthusiastically support your Museum. I’ve known that house for years and always wondered when someone was going to do something with it and I can’t think of a better use that to use that prominent location to create a museum.”
“This historic home, well-preserved, in a prominent location and with suitable interior spaces, is an ideal location for the museum. It will be steps from Denver’s second largest transit hub and in an area with an important part in South Denver’s
history.”
“Having worked with the board president on various community initiatives, I can attest to her dedication, vision, and ability to bring complex projects into fruition. Her track record of community advocacy and her deep understanding of our neighborhoods history makes her the ideal leader for this initiative.
This is more than just preservation, this is an investment in our community’s future, ensuring that the entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and civic mindedness continues to inspire new generations.
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“I am a neighborhood resident and got a flyer for the potential museum in South Denver. I think this is a lovely idea and would be a great addition to the neighborhood. If the food and drinks are quality you will definitely have a gem on your hands. I am so excited for the potential of this project.
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“We would love to see a museum with crowd sourced history and imagery that people might had found
renovating their historic home. I believe the area needs designated historic districts to preserve the stories of South
Denver. Between 1200 S Block of Broadway and farther South to maybe the 1900 Block.”
“Allow me to share a taste of what museum-goers may learn…. It makes sense to celebrate South Denver’s history in an area where gold discoveries were profitable prior to Denver’s founding; where colorful characters such as James Beckwourth and William and Elizabeth Byers established homesteads; where market gardens contributed to the sustenance of early Denver; and where many prominent Denverites settled. The building at 749 S. Lincoln sits barely a half-block from the site of the massively-popular 1882 National Mining and Industrial Exposition. The Exposition’s sporting fields then became Merchants Park, where Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig played. Yet the Exposition also spawned rowdy taverns, inspiring the formation of teetotal South Denver. Later, as the automobile gained prominence, it profoundly reshaped Denver and hundreds living here made crucial parts at the Gates Rubber Company or Model Ts at Ford. South Broadway nurtured experiments in car-centric retail, contributions to war efforts, the
construction of the Valley Highway (I-25), and then the implementation of light rail. The Gates site and Broadway Park are now poised for redevelopment, promising an even larger engageable audience. The South Denver Historic Museum will help anchor a rapidly changing
area and provide a lasting, tangible history resource for neighbors and visitors.”
“This would be a great addition to the community, continue to revamp and expand the deep history and network
of our neighborhood and Denver as a whole.”
“This is wonderful, and I hope to see this vision become a reality! I lived right across the street for years”
“A fellow history researcher and neighborhood activist, leads this initiative. I share with her how appreciation of history strengthens communities. We have collaborated
on several projects where she has demonstrated unflagging enthusiasm, pragmatism and commitment in bringing neighbors together and educating them about local history. I
wholeheartedly endorse her involvement in this project.”
“The Board has engaged actively with Historic Denver and other preservation professionals to identify a
future for the property that reflects its historic and architectural significance. These efforts include:
• The development of a landmark designation application, which has been reviewed and is nearing completion, pending final edits and submission.
• An ongoing vision to convert the home into a community-serving museum, highlighting the history of South Denver.
• Outreach to preservation-minded buyers and potential funders.
• The creation of planning materials, including a pitch deck and business case, for adaptive reuse of the property.
• Continued historical research and public engagement to document and share the building’s significance.
The home at 749 S. Lincoln is believed to have been designed by noted Denver architect Benjamin D. Chambers and is a rare remaining example of pre-annexation residential
architecture in South Denver. The proposed reuse of the building as a small cultural museum would not only retain its character but also serve public educational and historic storytelling goals.”
“I lived in the neighborhood for many years. I was always obsessed with 749 S. Lincoln. I’m so happy it has been saved from demolition.”
“I live a few blocks away and I’ve always wondered what was going on with this house, I’m so happy it’s being
saved.”
“Happened upon your IG page. Love this idea! My great grandfather was the minister at South Broadway Christian Church (23 Lincoln St) and our family history continues in South Denver from there!”