Aurora, Colorado Historical Landmarks

The Melvin School is one of many historical landmarks in Aurora, Colorado

History is always fun for me, and although I’m not a history buff, I love to learn and look at old pictures and buildings and learn the story.  Anywhere you go, there is a story about the area and Aurora, CO real estate is no different. Let me share what I have learned about my hometown, Aurora.  If you live here or planning on relocation to Aurora,  you can follow in my footsteps and discover something about our local history.

Here is a list of landmarks in Aurora, a Denver suburb.  I hope you’ll take the time to visit them.

DeLaney Farm

170 S. Chambers Rd. – This is 158 Acres and is a restored farm originally used for raising horses, dairy cattle and livestock. It’s one of the more popular sites to visit.

John Gully Homestead House

170 S. Chambers Rd –  Oldest surviving house in Aurora built in 1866.  The family raised cattle and horses.

Coal Creek Schoolhouse

170 S. Chambers Rd – Surrounding area schoolhouse.

William Smith House

412 Oswego Ct – William Smith was the founder of Aurora Public Schools and he raised sheep around his property. One of the more popular sites.

William Smith School

10000 E. 13^th Ave – Aurora’s first high school was located here.

Fox Arts Center

9900 E. Colfax Ave – Originally a theater, a fire forced the closure in 1981 and it’s now a performing arts center.

H.M.Milliken House

1638 Galena St – Milliken was the first mayor of Fletcher and this was his home.

Italian Villa

1785 Hanover St – Originally built as an Italian restaurant, but was converted to a residence.

Thomas F. Gilligan House

1455 Beeler St – Westinghouse and General Electric built this house to showcase “electricity” in homes.

Centennial House

1671 Galena St – This is the oldest of the 9 remaining homes that Fletcher built for his town.

Fuller House

2027 Galena St – One of the 9 homes that Fletcher built near Marshal Cowing House.

1580 Dallas St – A home showing the economic differences from one side of the street to another.

Hornbein Building

9901 E. 16^th Ave – Aurora’s first independent library building still in use.

Robidoux House

1615 Galena St – An excellent example of Craftsman architecture built by the widow of a successful farmer and rancher from Kansas.

St. Therese School

1200 Kenton St – Aurora’s first Roman Catholic Parish. Built in response to Aurora’s growth after WWII.

Bicentennial Art Center

13655 E. Alameda Ave – Formerly Lowry AFB building 1600 and is now an art center.

Red Cross Building and Memorial

12862 E. Montview Blvd – Used as a place of refuge from the army life for relocated soldiers recuperating at Fitzsimons hospital.

Lowry Building 880

1016 Boston St – Built during wartime, it was intended to last 5-7 yrs.

Guardhouses at General’s Park

Colfax and Peoria – Guardhouse at what was once the main entrance to Fitzsimons General Hospital

Waterfowl Preserve at General’s Park

1561 Quentin St – Designated as a preserve after the Commanding officer of Fitzsimons received a pair of mallard ducks as a gift.

American War Mothers National Memorial House

1601 Peoria St – Built and operated as a place for mothers, children and significant others could stay while visiting wounded soldiers.

Melvin School

4950 S. Laredo St – This School originally served the community of Melvin but was moved to make room for Cherry Creek Reservoir and is now on the ground of Smokey Hill High School.  One of the more popular places to see

Toll Gate Creek Archaeological Site

2141 S. Kittredge Way – After 2 local boys found a Native American Grave, the site was excavated.  The area was used as a water source for ancient people and a migration path that allowed them to hunt animals.

Smoky Hill Trail Historic Marker

24000 Smokey Hill Rd – The shortest route from Denver to Kansas was used by travelers setting out for gold in Colorado.

KOA Building

18500 E. Colfax Ave – The building was built and housed KOA radio, the first radio station in Colorado.

Trolley Trailer No. 610

In process of restoration – Representing the Denver Metro streetcar industry

If you’re like me, many times I get caught up in the mainstream things to do and whether it’s the pace of life, or the comfort of knowing what our schedule looks like or purely not knowing what all the options are. As a result, most of us tend to gravitate to the things we know.  Maybe this post will open a few options to take in over a weekend or a few here and there over time.