Globeville

Museum of Memory

Globeville-Elyria-Swansea Memory Project

In 2018, we engaged with residents living in the neighborhoods of Globeville and Elyria/Swansea to conduct a Neighborhood Memory Project. We heard the stories of more than 30 residents who collectively captured the community history of this place. By collecting and sharing these stories, we sought to foster community cohesion and shared identity making. This project is a collaboration between the History Colorado Center and community members from the Globeville-Elyria-Swansea Neighborhood.

Immigrant communities have long made Globeville their home. Eastern Europeans came in the late 1800s to work in the smelting and meatpacking industries that thrived along the South Platte River. Though Globeville officially became part of Denver in 1891, barriers like railroad lines and the river cut the neighborhood off from the rest of the city. Globeville's isolation increased in the 1960s when Interstates 25 and 70 sliced it into four distinct areas. When the descendants of Globeville's early residents sold their homes, a new generation moved in. Many of the new residents came from Latin American countries, bringing their own cultures and traditions. Today, Globeville is one of Denver's most richly diverse communities. 

 

Videos

Explore the full playlist of oral histories by clicking the ☰ icon in the top right section of the video player.

 

Explore more about this project in History Colorado's online collection.

Search for “Globeville-Elyria-Swansea Neighborhood Memory Project” or with Object ID: 2019.58.1