During the 1890’s, English, Irish and German immigrants settled the area followed later by Italians. The Italians concentrated in the area forming a cultural colony. The Highland is known for its Italian restaurants even today.

In May 1890, John and Mary Elitch opened Elitch’s Zoological Gardens on 16-acres of former farmland in the northwest corner of town. Despite John’s death in 1891, Mary continued to operate the park for 26-years. The Elitch Theatre was opened in 1891 and offered free vaudeville acts. Beginning in 1897 and continuing until 1963, the theater became home to the oldest-running summer stock theater in the country. The first roller coaster opened in 1904 and the original carousel was added in 1906. The park was sold to John Mulvihill in 1916 with a provision that the name could never be changed. Although the park has since been sold several times and relocated to its current location in the Central Platte Valley in 1995, the Elitch-name has always remained on the park sign as it does today over 100-years later. 

Highland began a decline following the end of World War II before it was rediscover by the arts community with an influx of art galleries and theaters. Given its roots as the Town of Highlands and the influx of immigrants in the beginning, the area has an old-world charm with its historic buildings, family-run businesses, tree-lined streets, and European-pedestrian-friendly business districts. The people that live in Highland are diverse in age, culture, and economics.

In the very beginning, the rail-yard and the South Platte River made traveling to “the city” difficult. With the completion of Interstate-25 through Denver in 1958, pedestrian-access between Highland and Downtown Denver was near impossible. With the completion of the Highland Bridge over Interstate-25, the Platte Pedestrian Bridge over the South Platte River, and the Millennium Bridge over the rail-yard, the Lower Highland area known as LoHi, began a renewed renaissance that continues today. LoHi real estate has been active with the construction of new condominium lofts and the conversion of turn-of-the-century buildings into residential units and commercial business space. Highlands Square, near 32^nd and Lowell Avenue, is a distinguished business district in Highland. Here you will find galleries, bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants, boutique shopping and cafes.