Take a Walk

"Fairmount Joan's Pink Perpetual" photo from Fairmount

That is...a walk in a cemetery. This year marks the 125th anniversary of Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, Colorado.  Why stroll there...easy, it's a hidden gem, plus a peaceful place to walk and gawk. Surprisingly there are several more reasons to visit - the wildlife (tours below), the plantings (their roses and trees are outstanding), the history and stories, even the monuments are worth a look. Three structures have been named as official historic landmarks by the City of Denver including the Gate Lodge, the Little Ivy Chapel which were both built in 1890 and the Fairmount Mausoleum built in 1929.  

Wildlife at Fairmount, photo from www.FairmountHeritageFoundation.org   

Mark your calendar for these upcoming events at Fairmount Cemetery this spring-

April 8th, 22nd, May 13th and 29th

Join the Fairmount Heritage Foundation for the “History, It’s What’s For Lunch” walking tours. Tour begins at 12pm, at the Gate Lodge and last 50 minutes. Click here for more information.

April 18th
Join the Fairmount Heritage Foundation for a free Bird Walk with Denver Field Ornithologists, 8-11:30am. Reservations required as space is limited. Click here for more information.

April 25th & 26th
Fairmount is participating in the 11th Annual Doors Open Denver as an Insider Tour location. Join for history tours at 10am, 12pm and 2pm on both Friday (4/25) and Saturday (4/26). Check back for more information on how to register in advance for a tour.

125 Things to do at Fairmount click here.

A short list of interesting people buried at Fairmount are mentioned below. Read additional life stories at Fairmount or Riverside Cemetery - Fairmount Who's Who and Riverside Who's Who

• Lou Blonger (1849-1924), Saloon keeper, gambling house owner and Denver underworld kingpin
• Charles Boettcher (1852-1948), Businessman, philanthropist
• Frederick Gilmer Bonfils (1860-1933), co-founder of the Denver Post
• Helen Bonfils (1889-1972), businesswoman, philanthropist
• Henry Augustus Buchtel (1847-1924), Colorado Governor
• Temple Hoyne Buell (1895-19900, Architect
• William Newton Byers (1831-1903), founder and editor of the Rocky Mountain News in Denver
• Helen Worden Erskine Cranmer (1896-1984), journalist and author 
• John Elitch (1851-1891), founder of Elitch Gardens
• Mary Hauck Elitch-Long (1856-1936), founder of Elitch Threatre
• Emily K. Griffith (1868-1947), Educator
• Samuel Hartsel (1834-1918), Colorado ranching pioneer
• Robert Lee Howsam (1918-2008), co-founder of the Denver Broncos
• Lloyd J. King (1908-1960), Founder, King Soopers supermarket chain
• Lieut. Francis Brown Lowry (1894-1918), WWI Officer
• Elizabeth Iliff Warren (1845-1920), businesswoman, Iliff School of Theology

Fairmount Cemetery is located at 430 South Quebec Street (Quebec and Alameda). Riverside Cemetery is located at 5201 Brighton Blvd.  For more information about both cemeteries, visit Fairmount Heritage Foundation.