Noteworthy Mention of the Auraria

Auraria neighborhood is located in central Denver adjacent to Lower Downtown. Home to Auraria Campus and the Pepsi Center, there are a select few residences that are in the neighborhood itself. Auraria was founded by miners from Auraria, Georgia and is derived from the Latin word for gold, “aurum”.

History and Homes of Auraria Neighborhood

Auraria campus is home to three separate higher education institutions enrolling approximately 44,000 students. The Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Colorado Denver share classroom space and general services on the campus. The colleges offer multiple degrees from two-year associate certificates to Ph.D. degrees.

There are many historic places in the Auraria neighborhood. The Tivoli is a Denver landmark brewery that recently started brewing its beer again after it was shut down in 1966. The Ninth Street Historic Park is the oldest restored block of residences in the city. Emmanuel Gallery holds the distinction of Denver’s most senior church building, which was constructed in 1876 and currently serves Auraria as a shared art gallery for the three schools.

Recreation and Culture

The Pepsi Center is home to Denver’s various sports teams including the Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, and Colorado Mammoth. The Pepsi Center also hosts regular concerts featuring tops bands and musicians, and events including Cirque du Soleil.

You can also enjoy the amusement park of Elitch Gardens which has been in Denver for over 125 years and is one of the oldest urban amusement parks in the country. The South Platte River trail is adjacent to the Auraria neighborhood where you can walk, run, bicycle and even rollerblade.