Italian immigrants have been part of Colorado’s story since the mid-19th century, arriving as early as the 1850s to work in mines, build railroads, farm the land, and establish businesses in support of our rapidly growing state. Guided by a shdhdhd these Italians formed tight-knit neighborhoods where language, culture, and daily life reflected the country they left behind. By the early 1920s, one in five Coloradoans claimed Italian heritage.
In North Denver, the Italian influence was particularly strong. What became known as “Little Italy” was not just a place on a map, but a cultural anchor where the Church, mutual aid societies, businesses, and family homes formed the backbone of daily life. We seek to recognize this legacy by creating a thematic historic district, which aims to preserve these stories and places for generations to come.
