On weekends, back before there were Broncos games, families used to hop on a little train and ride to Denver’s Fairmount Cemetery. The large open expanse of land made it the perfect spot for a picnic or a place to take a leisurely stroll.
Fairmount is the largest cemetery in Denver -- one of the largest in the country -- and it's also the final resting place for members of some of the area’s most prominent families, such as the Boettchers and the Bonfils. There are also some less rarified folks there, including two of the most notorious prostitutes bygone days.
Fairmount Cemetery turns 125 years old this year. To learn more about it, Ryan Warner speaks with Jim Cavoto, who's worked there for more than 30 years.
Five notable facts about Fairmount Cemetery:
- The mausoleum on the property boasts the largest collection of stained glass in the city of Denver and one of largest in Colorado.
- Fairmount's grounds were designed by the father of Denver's park system, Reinhard Schuetze. After Fairmount, he designed City, Congress and Washington Parks, as well as the areas around the Capitol.
- The Nisei Japanese -- American Memorial -- honors Air Force veterans of Japanese-American descent who fought in Europe during World War II. They served while their families were incarcerated in prison camps in Colorado and California.
- Fairmount Cemetery is Denver's largest arboretum.
- Anyone can schedule a private tour of the grounds, which are open to the public.
