The Centennial House was full of excitement and energy on Jan. 11 when people gathered to celebrate CU Denver’s 50th birthday and to learn more about plans to restore and revitalize the home. Carpets have been pulled up to reveal wood floors. Walls have been stripped to expose the handiwork of the artisans who built the home in 1876. People admired the exposed brick, the doorframes that opened the building’s layout, and the windows that showed glimpses of the Ninth Street Historic Park outside.
Chancellor Michelle Marks welcomed the crowd to celebrate the university’s future while recognizing its past. “An anniversary is an important moment to honor our past and look forward to the future,” Marks said. “This past half century, CU Denver has woven itself into the fabric of this place and the many communities who call it home. We’re very proud of that fact. But we also know that our work to be better stewards of our resources, including these Ninth Street homes…is critical to our future.”
CU Regent Nolbert Chavez shared updates on the restoration work and announced that one of the homes’ walls will be covered with a mural that honors the Auraria neighborhood’s history. Aurarian families will have the opportunity to select the artist, and more details on that project will be announced soon. Chavez also read a poem that he wrote about the Centennial House’s journey, which you can listen to in the video below.