Four Mile Historic Park

Four Mile Historic Park is a 12-acre living history farm in southeast Denver that preserves Colorado's pioneer heritage and gives families a hands-on experience of 19th-century frontier life. The park is anchored by Denver's oldest standing structure -- an 1859 log farmhouse built as a stagecoach stop on the Cherokee Trail before Colorado was even a territory. For families with young children, it is a charming, small-scale alternative to Denver's major museums, with farm animals, pioneer demonstrations, and outdoor space to explore.

The park operates as a working farm with heritage-breed animals: chickens that roam the property freely, friendly goats in a paddock, and impressive draft horses (Percherons and Shires) that are used for wagon rides during special events. Young children are captivated by the animals, and the farm setting -- dirt paths, wooden fences, barns, and gardens -- provides a welcome contrast to the urban environment of downtown Denver.

Living history demonstrations bring the pioneer era to life. Costumed interpreters show visitors how Colorado's earliest settlers lived: cooking over open fires, churning butter, washing clothes on washboards, making rope, and maintaining a working farm without electricity or machinery. Kids are invited to try many of these activities themselves -- churning butter until it solidifies, writing on slate boards in the one-room schoolhouse, and feeling the weight of a blacksmith's tools.

The tactile, participatory nature of these demonstrations makes history engaging in a way that passive exhibits cannot.

The historic buildings on the property include the 1859 farmhouse (which has been continuously standing for over 165 years), a blacksmith shop, a one-room schoolhouse replica, and several outbuildings. Inside the farmhouse, period furnishings and artifacts give a sense of daily life on the Colorado frontier. The house has remarkably low ceilings and small rooms that give kids a physical sense of how different 19th-century life was.

Special event days throughout the year expand the experience significantly. Heritage Fest (summer) and Fall Festival feature wagon rides, extended demonstrations, live music, and food vendors. Holiday events add seasonal crafts and activities. These event days are the best time to visit if you want the fullest experience.

The park is small and manageable for young children -- a thorough visit takes 1-2 hours. It never feels crowded, even on event days. The Cherry Creek Trail runs adjacent to the property, making it easy to combine a farm visit with a family bike ride along the creek.

Admission is affordable: $7 for adults, $3-5 for children ages 3-12, free for children under 3. The park is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM to 4 PM (closed Monday and Tuesday). Winter hours may be reduced -- check the website. Free parking in the small lot off Forest Street.