Red Rock Canyon Stone in Denver’s Historic Buildings

On the Quarry Pass Trail in Red Rock Canyon Open Space, you can walk through the Kenmuir Quarry which was operated by the Greenlee family of Denver. This was the largest quarry in Red Rock Canyon. Kenmuir stone was an expensive building stone because of its color and because it was easily carved. And, since Denver had many more wealthy residents than Colorado Springs during during the years 1888 to 1893 when much of the stone was quarried, there was more Red Rock Canyon stone used in Denver buildings than in Colorado Springs buildings. Some of Denver’s most striking buildings built from 1888 to 1893 incorporate stone from Red Rock Canyon.

Although the 1893 recession had little impact on the Pikes Peak Region, it did cause two of Red Rock Canyon’s quarries to close because so much of their stone was shipped outside of the Pikes Peak Region. After 1893, the Kenmuir quarry was the only Red Rock Canyon quarry which continued to operate. And, its business never recovered to what it had been before 1893.

Croke-Patterson-Campbell Mansion

428-430 East 11th Avenue
Built: 1891
Built for:  Thomas E. Croke (State Senator)
Architect: Isaac Hodgson

LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Creswell Mansion

1244 Grant Street
Built: 1889
Built for: Joseph Creswell  (President, Colorado Marble & Mining Company)
Architect: John J. Huddart

LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Keating Mansion

1207 Pennsylvania Street
Built: 1891
Built for: Jeffrey & Mary Keating
(Developer, founder of McPhee & McGinnity Lumber Company)
Architect: Reiche, Carter & Smith

Lehow-Crebbin House

1407 Humboldt Street
Built: 1893
Built for: Oscar Lebow (?)   (Rancher)
Architect: William Lang (?)

More Denver Buildings

Daly House
Sheedy Mansion
Milheim House
Whitehead-Peabody House