The 20 Mile Trail

A big part of Parker's arts and history, the Parker Consolidated School became a cultural center in 1997 and now hosts the Parker Area Historical Society. Photo by Erika Siebring.

        When I was a senior at Chaparral High School, I took a Colorado History class. As someone who has always liked history, I figured it’d be fun to learn more about my home state -- and I was right. Whether it was simple things like Colorado’s state symbols, watching the “Centennial” miniseries or having an excuse to visit The Buckhorn Exchange, it continues to be one of the best classes I’ve ever taken.

Both during and after that class, I became interested in the historical aspects of Parker. Along Mainstreet there is literally a historical plaque or building every few feet, and the Parker Area Historical Society keeps a detailed record of everything. For now, though, let’s just go through some of the highlights.

First -- Parker is often associated with the phrase “20 mile,” with everyone including Elaine Mariner, the cultural director for Parker Arts, referring to it as such. Where does the nickname come from? According to legend -- and the historical society -- the town of Parker has origins dating back to 1864 and a man named Alfred Butters, who built a small refuge for travelers and called it “Pine Grove.” The little house was eventually sold to the George Long family who renamed it the "20 Mile House," seeing as it was situated about 20 miles south of Denver. Though the original house was torn down in 1946, its companion balding, the 20 Mile Post Office, is still standing on the west end of Mainstreet.

Back up to the east end, however, stands Parker’s Seven Seas Hair Salon, Flower Market and Fika Coffee House, housed inside a building once called the Rhode Island Hotel. Built in 1906 and going by a few different names, it’s longtime operators Martin H. and Nellie Goddard were instrumental in developing businesses around Parker, including the telegram office. Despite new businesses moving in over time, the same architecture is visible from both the front and back of the building.

Restaurants are also a huge part of Parker’s history. When my siblings and I were kids, we’d ride our bikes downtown to The Warhorse Inn for dinner and then to Dairy Queen for dessert. Even though the inn was renovated and converted into the Parker Garage in 2014, the building itself, built in 1897, has seen a lot over the years. Going from being a creamery to a feed store, auction house and finally a restaurant, the Garage has suffered three major fires. Declared a landmark by the town,

the Parker Garage now serves refined American cuisine.

         A full report of the Parker Area Historical Society's information on the town is available on their website.