LoDo Throughout the Years

Lower Downtown Denver, commonly known as LoDo, is the city’s oldest neighborhood and today beautifully highlights its rich, complex history.

LoDo traces its origins to 1858, when William H. Larimer staked a claim on the bluff overlooking the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, which he named Denver City. Larimer Square, now a vibrant, preserved block of Victorian buildings, was the heart of the early settlement.

During the late 19th century, LoDo thrived as a commercial hub fueled by mining, railroads, and trade. Warehouses, saloons, and hotels sprang up to serve the booming economy and its transient, often rugged clientele.

By the mid-20th century, however, LoDo had fallen into decline, and many of its historic buildings were facing demolition in favor of urban renewal projects. In the 1980s and 1990s, preservationists and developers—most notably, Dana Crawford—began revitalizing the area, culminating in the 1988 passage of the Lower Downtown Historic District ordinance, which protected the architectural character of the neighborhood.

In the subsequent decades, LoDo has experienced a dramatic transformation, emerging as one of Denver’s most dynamic neighborhoods. Anchored by landmarks like Larimer Square, Union Station, and Coors Field, LoDo blends historic charm with a modern urban live-work-play ethos, with a mix of apartments, lofts, offices, restaurants and bars, and entertainment venues. Today, LoDo stands as a model of historic preservation and forward-thinking development and is a cultural centerpiece of Denver’s urban identity.