LOOK: Our favorite historic photos of pre-Mall 16th Street, from streetcars to sunsets

I skimmed through thousands of photos of 16th Street that the Denver Public Library has graciously made available.

Sep. 01, 2016, 6:51 am

3 min. read

View of the Feltman and Curme shoe store at 610 16th Street, circa 1930s. (Denver Public Library/ Western History Collection/ X-24550)

I skimmed through thousands of photos of 16th Street that the Denver Public Library has graciously made available. Here are my favorites, in chronological order. Some have been cropped.

A view down 16th Street circa 1890s. The old Arapahoe County courthouse is front left. The Kittredge Building is the most prominent of the structures on the right side of 16th Street. (Denver Public Library/W.H. Jackson sample album/R7003009825)

A view of Curtis Street from 16th Street in Denver sometime in the late 19th century. (William Henry Jackson/Denver Public Library/History Colorado, William Henry Jackson Collection/3803; 86.200.2246)

The First Regiment of Colorado Infantry marches along 16th Street before deploying to the Spanish-American War in 1898. (Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/GB-8446)

16th Street used to cross the South Platte River on this viaduct, shown circa 1890s. The castle-looking building to the left is the present site of "Stoner Hill" in Commons Park. Union Station is behind it. (Denver Public Library/William Henry Jackson Collection/CHS.J41)

Night view of 16th Street illuminated with decorative lights for a Knights Templar meeting held August, 1913. (Denver Public Library/L. C. McClure collection/MCC-1954)

An Armistice Day parade on 16th Street marks the end of World War I in 1918. For some reason, an effigy is hanging. (Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/X-18719)

The entrance of the Denver Theater at 510 16th Street in 1929. (Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/X-24595)

16th Street in the 1930s. (Denver Public Library/Harry M. Rhoads photograph collection/Rh-5368)

View of the Feltman and Curme shoe store at 610 16th Street, circa 1930s. (Denver Public Library/ Western History Collection/ X-24550)

People crowd the 16th Street entrance of the Denver Theater at 510 16th Street in 1934. Note that the car has loudspeakers on its roof. (Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/X-24602)

16th Street in 1938. (Otto Roach/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/X-23375)

Electric trolley buses drive 16th Street circa 1940s. (Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/X-23364)

Sunrise on 16th Street on May 3, 1950. (Bill Peery/Denver Public Library/Western History Collection/X-23377)

Covered wagons on 16th Street during the Centennial Fiesta to celebrate Colorado's 83rd birthday as a state on August 12, 1958. (Dick Davis/Denver Public Library/Rocky Mountain News Photograph Collection/RMN-055-6822)

A huge parking lot on 16th Street near Glenarm Street. The newly installed Mall is on the left. (Roger Whitacre/Denver Public Library/Roger Whitacre photograph collection/Z-10470)

Andrew Kenney

Andrew Kenney became the supervising editor of Denverite in 2024. He covered state politics for Colorado Public Radio as a reporter from 2019 to 2024, and previously was a reporter at The Denver Post, Denverite and The (Raleigh) News & Observer.