Members of Denver’s historic preservation community gathered May 11 to celebrate the naming of CU Denver’s historic preservation academic program as the Dana Crawford Preservation Program. The reception was held at the Cooper Lounge within historic Union Station, and brought together many friends and supporters who trace their interest and involvement in historic preservation to Dana Crawford and her extraordinary work.
“It is a remarkable distinction for our nationally recognized historic preservation program to bear the name of Dana Crawford,” said Michelle Marks, PhD, chancellor of CU Denver. “Her legacy can be seen and felt throughout Denver, which is an inspiration to so many of us, including our students and faculty in this field.”
Crawford was one of the founding members of Historic Denver and is considered personally instrumental in saving and revitalizing the 1400 block of Larimer Street (now Larimer Square). She also helped form the Union Station Alliance that re-envisioned Denver’s century-old Union Station and was the driving force behind many historic preservation efforts in Denver and Colorado. She is the recipient of the prestigious Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Humanities by CU Denver.
“Adding Dana Crawford’s name to our historic preservation program is an extraordinary honor for us,” said Nan Ellin, PhD, dean of CAP. “Her impact on historic preservation and placemaking, particularly for Denver, cannot be overstated, and has inspired the creative pragmatic approach we cultivate in our students.”
Beginning June 1, CAP will host “Dana Crawford and All That Jazz” in its 2nd Floor Gallery. The exhibition features photos and archived conversations with Crawford that illustrate her remarkable impact and legacy.
CU Denver has a history of supporting and engaging with the historic preservation community. Recently, the university announced plans to renovate six historic homes located along Ninth Street on the Auraria campus. With help from Historic Denver, the homes were saved from demolition in the 1970s when the campus was built and renovating them illustrates the university’s continued investments in the city’s physical and social landscape.