A single week in late November of 1867 made the Denver we know and love possible. The Union-Pacifc railroad had announced that its transcontinental track would go through Cheyenne and not Denver. The decision put Denver's aspiration to become a great city in doubt. Luckily for Denver (and unfortunately for Cheyenne), there were more twists and turns to come in the history of the railroads' expansion across the west.
That history is embodied by a building that Denverites know well, but know little about: Union Station. Tomorrow is the premiere screening of a new documentary film that tells its story, and the broader narrative of how Denver's history arrived at the present moment along the ribbons of steel that pass through Union Station. What's more, it looks like they will carry us to our future as well.
February 5th, 2010
Hyatt Regency Denver
650 15th Street, Denver
Get Tickets
The 'Ken Burns of Colorado,' filmmaker Jim Havey (my father) has done a number of films on Denver subjects like Colfax Avenue, and Downtown. His latest film, Denver Union Station: Portal to Progress premieres at the Hyatt Regency on Friday February 5th. Having been at the premieres for many of his other films, I can tell you that they are themselves, events for the history books.
It is not everyday that a crowd of nearly 1,000 Denverites who love their city assembles to deepen their understanding of where we all came from, and where we'd like to go. An air of appreciation for who and what we are pervades the space as the weight of a city's history is felt by all. These are special events of great significance to Denver, and if you haven't been to one yet, I encourage you to join us. You will not be disappointed.
For a bit more background on the film, and a look at the filmmaker, you can find a clip from 9News from earlier this week profiling the event here.