The Secrets Beneath Denver's Oldest Operating Cemetery
At first glance, Riverside Cemetery’s parched plots might appear to be abandoned — but a closer look reveals the graveyard is actually ahead of the curve when it comes to water conservation. The dusty burial ground is also the city’s oldest-operating cemetery, home to headstones for some of the Mile High’s earliest and most important figures — including Clara Brown and Silas Soule, and the most Civil War veterans of any graveyard in the state. As Memorial Day approaches, Skyler McKinley went digging around to find out more about the long lost history of important Denverites and what the future could look like if more cemeteries embraced an environmentally-conscious approach.
Read Skyler’s cover story on Riverside Cemetery for Westword this week. Bree and Skyler also talked about the Tabor Grand Opera House, which once stood at 16th and Curtis Streets.
We’re doing our annual survey to learn more about our listeners. We’d be grateful if you took the survey at citycast.fm/survey — it’s only 7 minutes long. You’ll be doing us a big favor. Plus, anyone who takes the survey will be eligible to win a $250 Visa gift card–and City Cast Denver swag. Thanks!
For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.
Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver
Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver
What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
A New Owner Bought Park Hill's Most Notorious Strip Mall. Is Gentrification Coming Next?
A grocery store or a bar? This is the question at the center of the future of The Holly, a shopping center in Northeast Park Hill. The ge...
The Spicy Story Behind One of Denver's Most Famous Green Chiles
Green chile is a staple of Colorado cuisine – both the pepper itself and the spicy, soupy stew used to smother everything from burritos a...
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Philly Is Reducing Violence With Parks — Presented By City Cast Denver
Would Denver be better with fewer vacant, blighted lots? In Philly, the answer is overwhelmingly yes, with significant drops in crime and...
Could City Workers Get A Raise? Plus, New Buyers for The Mercury Cafe, and Another Bear Attack
The Mercury Cafe is back! Again! This time around, the buyers are asking the community what they want from this legendary space before mo...
Denver’s Shining Star Chefs, Burrito Haters, and Is Downtown a Convention Destination?
Denver chefs and restaurateurs celebrated this week when both the Michelin Guide announced its 2026 winners and the New York Times droppe...
Young Coloradans Really Dislike AI and More Takeaways From a New Poll
A new poll out this week says Coloradans have strong feelings about AI and data centers, offering an interesting look at how age, politic...
Downtown's Ups and Downs, Liquor License Losers, and Mesa Verde's Massive Repatriation
Thirty-six years after the passage of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, Mesa Verde National Park is returning m...
Will Denverites Move Downtown For This Developer's Utopian Dream?
While office vacancies remain high downtown, one developer thinks this excess of commercial real estate could be better used as housing....
‘Your City Could Be Better’: How Las Vegas Is Handling Record-Breaking Heat — Presented By City Cast Denver
It may not feel like it right now, but extreme heat is coming for Denver, and Las Vegas might have the answers you need. An already sizzl...
Anti-Trans Hysteria Coming to Your Ballots, Victor Marx's AI Fail, and No Comedy Fest This Year
Ballots will be in the mail in less than a month, and there are a lot of initiatives for voters to consider – including Proposition 134,...