Cheesman Park, situated in the heart of downtown Denver, Colorado, is a breathtaking destination surrounded by stately Capitol Hill mansions. Visitors flock to this picturesque location daily to admire its beautiful gardens and soak in the panoramic views spanning 150 miles from the pavilion. However, beneath the park’s serene exterior lies a haunting history intertwined with the land it occupies.
Originally, the land belonged to the Arapaho Indians until General William Larimer claimed it in 1858 as part of the St. Charles Town Company, which he renamed Denver. Larimer set aside 320 acres for a cemetery, known as Mount Prospect Cemetery. In 1860, a treaty was reached with the Arapaho Indians, allowing the Federal government to obtain the land. Subsequently, the area was sold to the city of Denver for $200 and renamed Denver City Cemetery. Sadly, due to neglect, the cemetery fell into disrepair and became overrun with weeds over time. Real estate developers saw an opportunity and lobbied to purchase the land, advocating for its transformation into a park. In 1890, Congress granted permission, and the cemetery was officially transformed into Congress Park. Families of the deceased were given a three-month period to relocate their loved ones’ remains. Regrettably, not all families could afford the cost, resulting in over 2,000 bodies remaining in the cemetery.
By 1907, the park was completed, but remnants of its macabre past continued to linger. It was in 1909 that Gladys Cheesman-Evans and her mother donated a marble pavilion to honor Denver pioneer Walter Cheesman, leading to the park’s renaming as Cheesman Park. Shortly after the exhumation of bodies in 1893, reports emerged from residents living near the former cemetery, detailing strange occurrences such as knocking on doors and windows by restless spirits. These disturbed entities, unable to find peace, are believed to still occupy the park to this day. Witnesses have reported sightings of perplexed apparitions aimlessly wandering through the park, perhaps searching for solace or resolution.
Cheesman Park’s haunting history has captured the fascination of locals and visitors alike, adding an eerie element to the park’s natural beauty.
Located at:
1599 E 8th Ave, Denver, CO 80218, United States
Sources:
– “Cheesman Park” – Haunted Places
– “Cheesman Park” – Denver Parks and Recreation, https://www.denvergov.org/Government/Departments/Parks-and-Recreation/Parks/Find-a-Park/Park-Details/158
– “Cheesman Park” – The Real Haunted Places
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