History

A Story Etched in Stone

Our History

Hotel Teatro is located in a renovated landmark and is set in the heart of Denver, nicknamed locally as “LoDo,” or the Lower Downtown District.

A Living Legacy

From Trolleys to Theatre

In 1863, Denver’s Governor Evans built a brick cottage for his family at 14th and Arapahoe streets in Downtown Denver. The Evans family continued their quest to build up Denver by donating 4 blocks up Arapahoe Street, where they established the Denver Seminary. The Seminary moved to its University ParkCampus in the 1880s, and has since evolved into the University of Denver.

In 1911, two architects retained by Evans – William E. and Arthur A. Fisher– set out to design an eight-story office tower for the Denver Tramway Company and adjacent three-story car barn. The design combined modern construction and a traditional Renaissance Revival-style edifice of glazed red brick and white terra cotta. Marble trim and brass fixtures graced the 42,000-square-foot tower. The first-floor lobby led to the offices of the Treasurer and Train Master, while physicians and a legal department occupied the second floor. The eighth floor was inhabited by the president, whose boardroom was lined with oak and marble.

Much Denver history revolves around the Tramway building, which has been designated both a Denver and a National Registered Landmark. During the Tramway strike in 1920, the building became a fortress with armed guards on the roof protecting those housed inside. After the strike ended, management reinstated service in August 1920.

The Denver Tramway trolleys were in service in Downtown Denver from the 1880s until June 3, 1950. Too elegant and sturdy to be demolished, the Tramway offices were soon used by the University of Colorado at Denver.

The Tramway Building’s official “reincarnation” kicked off in 1994, when the building was purchased by the Tramway Hotel, LLC. With the assistance from a grant from the State Historical Fund, reconstruction began in 1997 to transform the Tramway building into a hotel. After a significant rehabilitation, the landmark reappeared in 1999 as the 110-room Hotel Teatro.

In 2014, Hotel Teatro refreshed its lobby and first floor with local designer Studio Frank, blending rustic and contemporary styles. The hotel now features The Nickel, a full-service restaurant that offers seasonal, locally-sourced menus, house barrel-aged spirits, a coffee roasting program, and the original streetcar fare vault. Named after the early 1900s nickel streetcar ride, The Nickel brings warmth and familiarity to every guest, alongside the exceptional service and amenities Denver’s Original Boutique Hotel is known for.