As Denver gears up for another festive season and the streets start twinkling with holiday lights, the Denver Police Department took to social media to offer a gentle reminder of the city's once heralded title as the "Christmas Capitol of the World." Much of this reputation can be traced back to a century ago, when David Dwight Sturgeon, a Denver resident, painted light bulbs in seasonal colors and adorned an outdoor pine tree to comfort his sick child. The simple but heartfelt gesture was at 4408 West 38th Avenue, which quickly captivated the community and sparked a holiday lighting revolution in Denver, as per Denver Police Department.
The act of familial love that Sturgeon demonstrated on that Christmas Eve set a precedent, and by the following year, his neighbors were emulating his illuminated display. Recognizing the growing enthusiasm, Denver embraced the trend comprehensively, launching the first outdoor lighting contest in 1918 and continuing to innovate with a host of festive arrangements, including replacing lights in Civic Center Park with colored globes and installing an illuminated Christmas tree in front of the State Capitol in 1920. These events gradually solidified Denver’s fame as a yuletide beacon. Gradually, bolstered by these efforts, Denver became known far and wide for its holiday spirit by the late 1920s.
Looking back through historical photos, like the one shared from the Denver Public Library Digital Collections, captures the extensive holiday lights and decorations at the Civic Center Park and the City & County Building back in 1939. These visual recollections not only ignite the holiday spirit but also serve as a testament to a legacy that began with a single lit tree and expanded to influence an entire cityscape.
