VICTORIAN HOMES BUILT BY THE CRAFTSPEOPLE WHO BUILT DENVER
Whittier
Named for abolitionist poet John Greenleaf Whittier and built by the carpenters, bricklayers and metalworkers who built the rest of Denver, this historic neighborhood between Five Points and City Park has been ethnically integrated since it was founded.
Whittier grew during Denver’s rapid expansion from the 1870s through 1893, shaped in part by an 1863 fire ordinance that required brick construction over wood frames. The neighborhood takes its name from Whittier Elementary, itself named for abolitionist poet John Greenleaf Whittier. From its earliest days, the neighborhood was ethnically integrated, and its first residents were largely middle-income craftspeople: carpenters, bricklayers and metalworkers whose skill shows up in some of Denver’s finest downtown buildings.
A school building that made history twice
The original Whittier Elementary, built in 1884 and designed by Robert Roeschlaub, was significant enough to be presented at the 1884 World’s Fair. In 1938, Marie Anderson Greenwood became the city’s first African-American teacher there, breaking a barrier that opened the door for the educators who followed her.
The housing stock is early-twentieth-century craftsman architecture with real decorative detail, spacious lots and wide streets that reflect the neighborhood’s early development pattern. Five parks serve the community: Fuller Park, George Morrison Sr. Park, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams Park, Madame CJ Walker Park and Frederick Douglass Park.
Whittier sits between Five Points and City Park, with RTD’s D Line light rail at 30th and Downing putting downtown a few minutes away. I send buyers here when historic Victorian character and proximity to downtown matter more than a brand-new kitchen.
Whittier highlights
- Historic Whittier Elementary
An 1884 Roeschlaub-designed school shown at the 1884 World’s Fair - Five neighborhood parks
Fuller, George Morrison Sr., Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, Madame CJ Walker and Frederick Douglass - A century of integration
An ethnically diverse community since its founding in the 1870s and 80s - Craftsman-built homes
Carpenters, bricklayers and metalworkers built their own neighborhood - D Line access
Light rail at 30th and Downing, a few minutes from downtown
“The people who built Denver’s finest buildings built their own houses in Whittier first. The craftsmanship still shows on the front porches.”
Central Denver
Discover Whittier
Local spots worth knowing
Historic Whittier Elementary
An 1884 school building with a genuine claim to Denver history.
Fuller Park
A neighborhood park with a dog park, one of five serving Whittier.
Manual High School
A neighborhood high school serving Whittier families.
D Line at 30th & Downing
Light rail access a few minutes from downtown.
Five Points
A short walk south for dining and Denver’s historic jazz district.
City Park
A short drive or walk north to one of Denver’s largest parks.
Who buys in Whittier
Whittier draws buyers who want genuine Victorian and craftsman character close to downtown.
Buyers who want real Victorian and craftsman architecture, not a reproduction.
Buyers who want a similar central Denver location for less.
Buyers who value the five neighborhood parks and proximity to City Park.
New construction near Whittier
Whittier’s housing stock is almost entirely historic, so new construction here is limited to occasional infill and renovation. For ground-up new construction close to downtown, RiNo just to the east has active building.
Interested in Whittier?
Let’s talk about what’s available near the historic core right now, and whether Whittier or a neighboring central Denver neighborhood fits what you’re looking for.