Denver’s new Chinatown mural is complete. Here’s what it looks like

The mural honors the city’s historic Chinatown and its residents.
2 min. read
A mural by Nalye Lor on the side of Denver Fire’s station 4 downtown. June 21, 2023.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

After over two months of painting and a lot of rain delays, Denver's newest mural has been completed.

The mural, painted on a brick wall outside Denver Fire Station 4 near Sakura Square, honors the city's historic Chinatown and commemorates the present and future Asian Americans community.

Commissioned by Colorado Asian Pacific United, a coalition of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Denver, the mural is among the first steps taken by the group to educate the community about the history of Denver's Chinatown that once stood on what's now known as Lower Downtown.

A mural by Nalye Lor on the side of Denver Fire's station 4 downtown. June 21, 2023.
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

In the late 1800s, spurred on by extreme anti-Chinese sentiment and heightened political discourse against immigrants, white rioters murdered Look Young, a Chinese worker. The attack began with a bar fight and ended with the mass burning of Chinese-owned properties.

Joie Ha, Vice Chair on the CAPU board and mural project manager, said they hope to continue adding murals and installations to the area to increase visibility.

"We're also going to be finishing the installation of our historic markers that are going to be throughout downtown Denver, marking key locations of the historic Chinatown," Ha said. "We're hoping to have that done by end of July."

CAPU plans to host a community celebration in mid-August commemorating the new mural and other projects. Check back later details on the celebration.

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