Littleton Cruise Route:
A Passage Into Rich Colorado History
One of the most magical parts of the Littleton Cruise is the area in which it takes place. You may feel stepped into a time machine as you cruise through Downtown Littleton's relaxed ambiance of a different era.
The first phase of your journey takes you through Historic Main Street, lined with turn-of-the-century buildings that house some of Colorado's most established family owned shops, fantastic eateries and well respected businesses.
Once you've reached the end of Main Street, you'll swiftly begin the second stage of our cruise as you turn onto South Rapp Street. On this street sits one of Littleton's oldest and most historic buildings. Today, it is the the 5280 Roadhouse Restaurant. For most of this century it was known as simply the Columbine Mill. Originally built in 1901 on land that had been homesteaded by Littleton's founder, Richard Little, as a grain elevator for the storage and shipping facility for the Rough and Ready Flour Mill.
Alamo Avenue awaits as you pass into the third phase of the Littleton Cruise loop. In 1910 the Littleton Women’s Club was successful in changing the streets name from Malinda Street to "Alamo" Avenue, the Spanish word for “cottonwood”, in reference to the trees that still line its sides today along with immaculate Victorian houses that are over 120 years old. We can only imagine the many people who have resided in them, as well as the vast stories this area could tell.
The first phase of your journey takes you through Historic Main Street, lined with turn-of-the-century buildings that house some of Colorado's most established family owned shops, fantastic eateries and well respected businesses.
Once you've reached the end of Main Street, you'll swiftly begin the second stage of our cruise as you turn onto South Rapp Street. On this street sits one of Littleton's oldest and most historic buildings. Today, it is the the 5280 Roadhouse Restaurant. For most of this century it was known as simply the Columbine Mill. Originally built in 1901 on land that had been homesteaded by Littleton's founder, Richard Little, as a grain elevator for the storage and shipping facility for the Rough and Ready Flour Mill.
Alamo Avenue awaits as you pass into the third phase of the Littleton Cruise loop. In 1910 the Littleton Women’s Club was successful in changing the streets name from Malinda Street to "Alamo" Avenue, the Spanish word for “cottonwood”, in reference to the trees that still line its sides today along with immaculate Victorian houses that are over 120 years old. We can only imagine the many people who have resided in them, as well as the vast stories this area could tell.
Littleton General History:
One Of The Oldest, Most Storied Communities In Colorado.
The city of Littleton's history dates back to the 1859 Pike's Peak Gold Rush, which brought not only gold seekers, but merchants and farmers to provide the necessities of life. As the fledgling metropolis of Denver City began to grow, the need arose to construct a series of ditches to carry water to farms and businesses without ready access to rivers and creeks in this arid land. Among them was Richard Sullivan Little, an engineer from New Hampshire that made his way out west to work on the badly needed irrigation systems.
Little soon decided to settle in the area at present day Littleton and brought his wife Angeline out from the East in 1862. The Littles, along with many neighbors, built the Rough and Ready Flour Mill in 1867, which provided a solid economic base in the community.
By 1890, the community had grown to 245 people and the residents voted to incorporate the Town of Littleton.
A milestone in the history of Littleton came in 1902 when the old Arapahoe County (dating from pre-Colorado Territory days) was divided into Arapahoe, Denver, Adams, Washington and Yuma Counties. Then-Governor Orman named Littleton the temporary county seat, placing it in a favorable position to defeat rival Englewood in the general election in 1904. Gaining the permanent county seat brought not only government employees and businesses, but all of their support services. Littleton’s place among Colorado’s cities was assured.
Agriculture remained the staple industry of Littleton until after World War II. Beginning with electronics and pneumatics, moving to munitions and finally to aerospace, manufacturing became the important employer and a magnet for the boom in housing development during the fifties, sixties and seventies. Littleton added Arapahoe Community College in 1965 and Chatfield Reservoir in 1972 to further enhance its appeal. When Littleton celebrated its centennial in 1990, its population had grown to 33,661.
Little soon decided to settle in the area at present day Littleton and brought his wife Angeline out from the East in 1862. The Littles, along with many neighbors, built the Rough and Ready Flour Mill in 1867, which provided a solid economic base in the community.
By 1890, the community had grown to 245 people and the residents voted to incorporate the Town of Littleton.
A milestone in the history of Littleton came in 1902 when the old Arapahoe County (dating from pre-Colorado Territory days) was divided into Arapahoe, Denver, Adams, Washington and Yuma Counties. Then-Governor Orman named Littleton the temporary county seat, placing it in a favorable position to defeat rival Englewood in the general election in 1904. Gaining the permanent county seat brought not only government employees and businesses, but all of their support services. Littleton’s place among Colorado’s cities was assured.
Agriculture remained the staple industry of Littleton until after World War II. Beginning with electronics and pneumatics, moving to munitions and finally to aerospace, manufacturing became the important employer and a magnet for the boom in housing development during the fifties, sixties and seventies. Littleton added Arapahoe Community College in 1965 and Chatfield Reservoir in 1972 to further enhance its appeal. When Littleton celebrated its centennial in 1990, its population had grown to 33,661.
To Learn More as About Littleton's History and Data, Visit The City of Littleton's Site By Visiting Them At www.LittleGov.org.