By Lauren Penington
The Denver Post
DENVER — A historically all-Black fire station in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood has been added to the National Register of Historic Places, History Colorado announced Tuesday.
Fire Station No. 3 is the longest continually running firehouse in the city, owned and operated by the Denver Fire Department since 1931, and was Denver’s only all-Black firehouse, according to a news release from History Colorado.
All-Black fire crews operated out of the station — also known as the Pride of the Points — between 1931 and 1957 when the Denver Fire Department was desegregated.
“This designation honors the resilience and contributions of African American firefighters who served this community during a challenging time in our history and underscores the importance of Station No. 3 as not just a facility, but a heritage site that reflects the bravery and dedication of all firefighters who have served for generations,” Denver Fire Chief Desmond Fulton said in the release.
While many of the structures surrounding Fire Station No. 3 have been redeveloped, the firehouse at 2500 North Washington Street has maintained “an incredible level of historic integrity,” History Colorado officials said.
The old-time appearance helps maintain the community’s connection to the station’s “historic role as an oasis where the Black community could go for safety” and everything from car repairs to haircuts during Denver’s segregated past, History Colorado officials said.
“Station No. 3 has been, and still is, a cornerstone of the Five Points neighborhood,” said Terri Gentry, engagement manager for Black communities at History Colorado. “Its story is one of courage, dedication and love in the face of discrimination.”
The firehouse at 2500 North Washington Street was chosen for the register as part of History Colorado’s “Colorado Heritage for All“ initiative, according to the release.
The goal of the initiative is to identify 150 unrecognized spaces and places that tell the stories of communities of color, women and LGBTQ+ Coloradans, and to add all of these sites to the state Register of Historic Places by the end of 2026.
“Fire Station No. 3 is a beautiful building that is a testament to the bravery and community leadership of the all-Black firefighting crew with decades of service,” said Dawn DiPrince, president of History Colorado and state historic preservation officer, in the news release. “Our Colorado Heritage for All Initiative is dedicated to ensuring important history like this is represented in the official historic memory and exists far into the future.”
The nomination to add the firehouse to the state and national historic registers was filed in May and approved in July, according to state records.
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