BHNA is the registered neighborhood organization for the area bounded by
Sixth Avenue (North), Lincoln Street (East), Mississippi Avenue (South), and the South Platte River (West). Within these boundaries is a landmark district, The Baker Historic Neighborhood, which is part of Denver’s Historic Preservation effort. First plotted and developed in the 1870s, Baker was entered into the National Register of Historic Places as South Side-Baker Historic District in 1985.The neighborhood was named for John Hutchinson Baker, a 20th Century president at the University of Colorado. The Baker family residence is located in the 100 block of West 4th Avenue.
The majority of the neighborhood includes 19th century houses. William Lang, Denver’s premiere 19th century architect and master architect, was commissioned for several structures in the district by speculators. Lang was primarily noted for larger structures, such as the Molly Brown House.
Baker has always played a central role in the history of Denver, and today enjoys a number of qualities and characteristics that make it a vibrant urban neighborhood, including a diverse urban population, preserved historic homes, proximity to Broadway’s Main Street development, which promises diverse shopping, casual and fine dining, and an array of entertainment, as well as access to mass transit.