ColfaxAvenue.com is THE place to go to find out amazing and mind boggling things about the longest commercial street in the United States. As a reward for your visit, you will be able to feast your eyes on the one-and-only, lovely-and-talented "MISS COLFAX" of the month!Playboy magazine once called Colfax Avenue, "the longest, wickedest street in America". Named after Vice President under Ulysses Grant, Schuyler Colfax, the street runs through Strasburg, Bennett, Watkins, Aurora, Denver, Lakewood, and Golden, Colorado. Schuyler was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln, was present at the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, and even had breakfast with the President the morning of his assassination before catching a train out to California.
Once named "Golden Road" because of the miners that followed the street to their fortunes in the nearby mountains, Colfax Avenue was the grandest boulevard west of the Mississippi River. The state capitol and the Denver Mint are still on Colfax today.
In the 1940s, Jack Kerouac wandered along Colfax with Denverite Neal Cassady, writing sections of his classic "On the Road", and mentions visits to numerous Colfax bars. These early Beats left behind a unique artistic legacy as expressed by the painters, poets and musicians that continue to be inspired by the street.
Colfax Avenue fell on hard times in the 60’s and 70’s, when a new interstate freeway (I-70) was built, directing traffic that once drove down Colfax (historic HWY 40) away from the street. At this time, Colfax garnered a bad reputation as stories of prostitution, drugs, and mayhem abounded. If it’s happening in Denver, it’s happening on Colfax Avenue.
Now the old girl is making a comeback. New zoning measures, and new businesses have been popping up everywhere. Plans included the inaugural Colfax Marathon, which took place on May 21, 2006, the opening of a new Tattered Cover bookstore, and Chamberlain Heights, the first new residential development on Colfax in over 75 years!
A BIT of revitalization is cool, however, we LOVE Colfax just the way she is, blemishes and all, and strongly encourage developers and business owners to be respectful of the history and integrity of our one-of-a-kind avenue, her architecture and even more importantly, her unique, inherent CULTURE.
This revitalization is bringing displacement of tenants of the former low rent buildings. Please, give generously of your time and/or cash to help our Colfax Avenue Fellows in need.
Our recommendation is www.colfaxcommunitynetwork.org.
Thanks!
Visit our website dedicated to all things Colfax at www.ColfaxAvenue.com.
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