Denver’s iconic Oxford Hotel is celebrating renowned urban preservationist Dana Crawford with a new “Saving the Soul of Denver” window.
On display in LoDo facing 17th Street until mid-September, the window pays homage to Crawford, who became an investor in The Oxford in 1980 and helped oversee a major renovation that brought the historic hotel back to its original grandeur in 1983. Last month, The Oxford was named the Favorite Hotel in Denver by Travel + Leisure in the 2023 World’s Best Awards and was also included on Travel + Leisure’s list of 100 Favorite Hotels in the World.
Crawford is 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 festive shopping and dining district from the neglected and abandoned buildings of Denver’s original main street. Since then, Crawford has redeveloped more than 1 million square feet of historic property in Denver, including the Acme Lofts, the Edbrooke Lofts, the Flour Mill Lofts and the Cooper Flats Condominiums.
In 2011, Crawford created the Union Station Alliance, the group that led the $54 million revitalization of the landmark Denver Union Station. Originally opened in 1881, the elegant Beaux Arts transit center re-opened in July 2014. It is now home to more than a dozen Colorado-based restaurants and retailers and the award-winning Crawford Hotel, which was named in her honor. Denver Union Station has earned numerous accolades over the past decade, including being honored with Urban Land Institute’s Global Award for Excellence in 2016 and being named a Top Denver Hotel in several Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
In 2018, Crawford received the Colorado Governor’s Citizenship Vanguard Legacy medal honoring individuals who have made enduring contributions to the state’s strength and vitality.
The Oxford anchors Denver’s popular LoDo District with 80 luxurious guest rooms and 10,000 square feet of elegant event space. Guests can dine at the award-winning Urban Farmer Denver, a modern farm-to-table steakhouse that mixes local and responsibly sourced ingredients with a down-to-earth soul, and enjoy cocktails at The Cruise Room, Denver’s quintessential martini bar that originally opened on the day Prohibition ended in 1933. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Oxford is also home to The Oxford Club & Spa, which offers a comprehensive spa and fitness experience. For more information, please visit www.theoxfordhotel.com.
