Denver Union Station, The Crawford Hotel, The Oxford Hotel, and the Crawford family will commemorate the remarkable legacy of renowned Denver urban preservationist Dana Crawford with a community celebration on Sunday, Feb. 23. Open to all, attendees are encouraged to register in advance here.
Crawford passed away last month at the age of 93. She was an award-winning preservationist who initiated a concept of urban renewal that was one of the first of its kind in the United States. She pioneered the redevelopment of Denver’s historic Larimer Square in the mid-1960s, creating a leading shopping and dining district from the neglected and abandoned buildings on Denver’s original main street.
The event will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Great Hall at Denver Union Station and will include memories shared by Crawford family members and Colorado dignitaries.
The event will feature a jazz band, a video tribute and more. A Denver brass band will lead a traditional New Orleans-style parade between the outdoor plaza at Denver Union Station and The Oxford Hotel along 17th Street.
Crawford was a member of the team that revitalized The Oxford Hotel in the 1980s. Originally opened in 1891, the award-winning LoDo hotel continues to welcome guests to its 80 uniquely decorated guest rooms, the Cruise Room and steakhouse Urban Farmer.
She was also a member of the Union Station Alliance, which led the efforts to revitalize Denver Union Station. Originally opened in 1881, Denver’s landmark train station reopened to great fanfare in July 2014 after a $54 million renovation that included the creation of The Crawford Hotel, which was named in her honor. Denver Union Station completed an extensive refresh last year, including updates to the soaring Great Hall, the Cooper Lounge and a luxurious redesign of each of the hotel’s 112 guest rooms.
At the event, donations will be accepted in support of the Union Station Foundation, which has the mission of cultivating long-term partnerships to support Denver Union Station as a gathering place, preserving downtown Denver’s rich history, sustaining the environment and enhancing the local education system.
For more information on the Dana Crawford Community Celebration, please visit www.denverunionstation.com/events/dana-crawford-celebration-of-life/.
