University of Colorado Denver

You’re now walking alongside one of the buildings of the University of Colorado Denver. In Europe, universities like Oxford or the Sorbonne date back to the Middle Ages. Everything is much younger in the US, though higher education was seen as a cornerstone of the new society from the very beginning. A strong country needed strong institutions, and above all, educated citizens. This spirit led to the formation of Harvard in 1636, just sixteen years after the first colonists arrived. The story begins much later in Colorado. For a long time, this region was home to Indigenous nations, then to trappers, explorers, and gold seekers. Denver was only founded in 1858, during a gold rush. It wasn’t until Colorado became a state in 1876 that the University of Colorado was created, though its first campus was in Boulder. In the early 20th century, the city started offering evening classes. In the 1960s, two new institutions were founded: Metropolitan State University and the Community College of Denver. Finally, in 1976, all three came together right here, at the Auraria Campus. It’s a unique model in the U.S.: one campus shared by three universities with distinct missions. CU Denver focuses on research, health, and public policy. Metro State leans into the arts, media, and professional training. And the Community College offers practical, career-oriented programs that are often more accessible. Today, this part of town pulses with student life, from classrooms to cafés, food trucks to study spots, all under the bright Colorado sun.