To be Denver’s premier destination for Western storytelling and educational experiences.
To educate a diverse community through experiences which promote preservation, interpretation and enjoyment of Denver’s Western heritage.
Four Mile Historic Park is a portal to Denver’s Western heritage, with historically accurate replicas, a working farm with horses, goats, chickens and pigs, and serving as the site of Denver’s oldest standing structure, the Four Mile House.
Today, more than 28,000 guests attend various education programs, partnerships, and signature events. Visitor demographics are trending to mirror the overall demographics of Denver. Four Mile Educators primarily focus on school programs for K-12 youth, and the Park offers staff-led tours of the House. Passionate volunteers provide demonstrations such as blacksmithing, cooking, and wool spinning to give visitors a real-life experience of frontier living. Many Coloradans share early memories of visiting the Park on an elementary school field trip, panning for gold, and enjoying their first wagon ride as their introduction to state history.
Four Mile Historic Park stands apart as a historic landmark and refuge from the hustle-bustle of modern life in the city. Take a break to stroll the grounds, have a picnic, and enjoy this stand-alone destination for historic preservation.
As the Four Mile House celebrates its 160th year, the Park is pleased to share the history of the site, which stretches much further back than the construction of the house.
The site along Cherry Creek that would one day be claimed by the Brantner brothers is used occasionally as a campground for Native people.
The Cherokee Trail route is established by a wagon train headed toward the California gold fields where the Four Mile House would ultimately be built.
Brothers Samuel and Jonas Brantner build the two-story log cabin along the Cherry Creek that would become the Four Mile House, offering services to travelers along the Cherokee Trail.
Mary Cawker purchases the Four Mile House from the Brantner Brothers and opens an inn for travelers along the Cherokee Trail. With dances on the second floor, it becomes a hub for local activity.
The Butterfield Stage Company begins scheduled service along Cherry Creek and Cawker’s house becomes the last “mile stop” along the route to Denver.
Four days of floods in May inundate farmland around Denver and leave the Four Mile house stranded on an impromptu island. When the floodwaters recede, Mary Cawker sells the property to Millie and Levi Booth for $800.
Levi Booth builds the Bee House as a dwelling for the family and farmhands, but is later converted into the center of operations for Millie’s beekeeping enterprise.
The Booths continue to operate a successful stagecoach stop and prosperous farm. Levi Booth is noted as the first to pull water from the creek through a makeshift irrigation ditch.
The completion of the first railroad between Denver and Cheyenne abruptly ends regular stagecoach service along the Cherry Creek route and the Booths turn their efforts toward farming.
Levi Booth completes his own Success Ditch, which becomes the farm’s main water supply and provides enough irrigation to plant an orchard.
The Booths build a fashionable brick addition to the original clapboard-sided log cabin that had served as the core of their home. Over time, the property grew to more than 600 acres.
Millie Booth passes away, leaving her considerable estate of 400 acres, water rights, and cultivated farmland to family.
Four Mile House and other significant structures on the site, including the Bee House, are recorded in the Historic American Building Survey.
The original structure of the Bee House (a testament to the entrepreneurship of pioneering women) is consumed in a fire.
Four Mile House receives Historical Monument Designation from The Daughters of the American Revolution Peace Pipe Chapter.
Four Mile House is designated a Denver Landmark on December 27th.
Four Mile House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 3rd.
The City and County of Denver acquire Four Mile House and surrounding property. Preservation efforts begin.
Archaeological investigations begin and reveal the foundations of several lost buildings including the Bee House, which burned down around 1939.
The nonprofit Four Mile Historic Park Inc. is formed to care for the property and develop the museum.
Four Mile Historic Park is dedicated to the citizens of Denver as a public park, and the museum opens.
Architect Edward D. White Jr. reconstructs the Bee House based on family photos and archaeological evidence collected from the site.
Denver’s Mayor Federico Peña signs a citation recognizing the Founding Members of Denver’s Four Mile Historic Park for, “their vision and foresight that preserved this unique place in the history and development of Denver.”
The Colorado Historical Society awards 4MHP with the Josephine H Miles History Award for the advancement of Colorado history. The same year, 4MHP receives an award for merit for outstanding community contributions from the El Pomar Foundation.
Four Mile Historic Park receives the Fred A Rosenstock Award for outstanding achievements in and contributions to Rocky Mountain history from the Denver Posse of Westerners.
Four Mile Historic Park receives Westword’s Best Little Parties on the Prairie Award.
9News declares Four Mile Historic Park one of Colorado’s best summer camps.
Mayor John Hickenlooper declares Four Mile Historic Park one of 12 partners in the Five By Five Program, providing Denver Head Start and Early Head Start children and their families with year-round access and educational opportunities at no cost.
Four Mile Historic Park becomes a Denver Story Trek partner in collaboration with Historic Denver’s Molly Brown House Museum, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, Black American West Museum, and Byers-Evans House Museum – bringing unity to Denver art and culture organizations through history.
Westword declares the park Denver’s, “Best Trip Back In Time”.
The Park receives the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce Nonprofit of the Year Award for 2015.
Four Mile House celebrates 160 years. Four Mile Historic Park honors the first Executive Director and employee, Charlie & Karin Woolley at the annual Rendezvous Gala.
Rediscovering and sharing Colorado’s history is a multifaceted task which requires a passionate team of responsible stewards. Four Mile Historic Park is proud to have assembled a team of enthusiastic leaders dedicated to the task.
Meet the Staff & Board
When you become a member of 4MHP, you become a part of a community that protects this extraordinary window into the past and gain access to exclusive privileges.
Your support for Four Mile Historic Park powers youth and community education programs, interpretive research, and preservation of the Museum and collections.
Become a steward of Colorado’s history and Four Mile’s unique story by joining our indispensable team of volunteers.