Building Tour › Overview

In 1881, the Denver Union Station opened and railroad tracks were built along Wynkoop Street. The street quickly turned into a popular warehouse row.

In 1887, Hallack and Howard Lumber Company Railroad set up operations at 1520 and 1536 Wynkoop Street. Simple two-story brick buildings replaced the lumberyards by the early 1900's.

In 1908, the Higgins Investment Company replaced the two-story structure at 1536 Wynkoop with the current, massive 5-story brick warehouse. The building was occupied by Merchant Transfer and Storage Company from the early 1920's to 1933.

After World War II, the Lower Downtown district went through a steady decline. Union Station services went from 80 trains per day to 1-2 trains. At this time the old two-story warehouse at 1520 Wynkoop was torn down, making room for a parking lot used by warehouse employees in the area.

The 1536 Wynkoop building continued to be occupied intermittently. In 1990, the empty building was bought by Joyce Meskis of the Tattered Cover Bookstore for shipping, receiving, and warehousing their books. Joyce Meskis leased some space out to a few nonprofit organizations and it was home to the first official offices of the Wynkoop Brewing Company.

In 2004, the Alliance for Sustainable Colorado was founded and purchased the building and neighboring parking lot.