Along West Colfax Avenue: between Wadsworth and Federal

y Karen J. Adams

Along West Colfax Avenue between Wadsworth & Federal
Book created by Karen J. Adams, (Denver, 2017).
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
Typographic Design—Instructor: Alicia McKim

Along West Colfax between Wadsworth & Federal is a tribute to the portion
of this historic avenue that the author traversed numerous times a day for
her first year after arriving in Denver.
Repeated trips along this historic route has etched into her heart a love for
West Colfax—it is this love she wishes to share with her readers.

Along West Colfax
at Wadsworth, you
might see Sean carrying
his guitar or the
brightly-colored Art
Jeep covered in toys.
2

“(This) has been an
amazing experience…I
have met
hundreds of people
that I would have
never spoken to if I
weren’t driving this
mobile installation
around town.”
BRADLEY RAMSEY, CREATOR
Author’s Note: The Art Jeep
is no longer running but can be
seen outside of the 40W gallery
just off of West Colfax Avenue
at 1560 Teller St.
3

Because this is the
40W Arts District,
there are graphics
and murals everywhere…on
the sides
of buildings and even
on the pavement!
4

5

Legilimens is a mural
painted by Birdcap
on the side of the Arc
Thrift Store on the
corner of West Colfax
Avenue and Pierce St.
6

Just a couple of
blocks north of West
Colfax at Teller and
16th is an industrial
park where garage
doors have been
painted to celebrate
the sights and sounds
along West Colfax.
ARTISTS L TO R:
JADE PHILLIPS
SANDY TOLAND
7

8

9
At Lamar Station
Plaza at West Colfax
and Pierce, art is in
the air. It doesn’t hurt
that Rocky Mountain
College of Art + Design
is right behind
the shopping center.
Here you can visit the
Arc Thrift Store, art
galleries, and Casa
Bonita, a historic
tourist destination.

10

11

12

13
Lamar Station Plaza
is also home to the
Westfax Brewing
Company which
hosts food trucks
outside their door
throughout the week.

DENVER WEST
INN
14

15
WEST COLFAX
AVE

16

17
Many of the original
mid-century neon
signs still stand along
West Colfax Avenue,
harkening back to the
days when restaurants
and hotels had
to compete for the
business of the many
travellers along this
east to west route.

18

19

20

21
Ortiz Custom Cycles
on West Colfax Ave,
four blocks west of
Sheridan Ave, looks
like the cycle and
auto shops featured
on TV. They have
everything to build
American-made
motorcycles from the
ground up.

Along West Colfax at
Wolff Street, Robert
helps the Bienvenidos
Food Bank set up for
food distribution on
Thursday afternoons.
22

23
As you drive along
West Colfax past
Perry Street, you
might see Richard
waving flowers at you
from the parking lot
of the 7-11.

24

25
Along West Colfax
Ave between Osceloa
and Perry, is the
one-of-a-kind Rose
Lady shopping center
where shoppers can
get a haircut, a tattoo,
flowers, or even cremation
services!

26

27
When the sun starts
going down along
West Colfax Avenue,
the neon signs start
lighting up.

28

29
At Federal Blvd, is
Girls, Inc. and the
Gonzales Library—
both dedicated to
strengthening the
community along
this ever-changing
West Colfax Avenue.

All type, photos, and binding by Karen Adams.
The text was set in Minion, Gill Sans and Impact.
The author wishes to express a debt of gratitude
to Jacob McKee for photography instruction in
preparation for making this book
You may contact the author at:
www.karenadams101.com.