The Denver is a sculpture designed in honor of an old steamboat called “The Denver.” In the summer of 1874, the boat carried passengers west by way of a canal from what is now Federal Boulevard to and across Sloan’s Lake to the then Grand View Hotel (later St. Luke’s Hospital) and back. Apparently the canal was opposed by property owners along its path, who feared water seepage into their basements. However, the night before a court injunction was to be filed by residents of the area to stop construction of the canal, the Boulevard Canal Company hired every hand they could find to complete the canal before sunset. Unfortunately, many basements did flood as a result of the canal, but in the meantime “The Denver” enjoyed a summer as the only steamboat in Colorado, carrying passengers across the great Sloan’s Lake and back for 25 cents. The canal was gradually filled in by soil from the excavation of homes.

The Denver is made of steel and bronze and consists of two pieces, a bow and stern, each of which include a recycled steering wheel, steam pipe and wave-like details. The shovels atop the stern represent the shovels that were used to dig the canal. The moon figure atop the bow represents the moonlit night the canal was completed.

“I wanted to create a piece that would be fun to look at and remind the Sloan’s Lake community of their proud and industrious heritage,” stated artist Kristine Smock.

Originally from New Jersey, Kristine Smock has lived along the Front Range for the past twenty-seven years. She is both a painter and a sculptor. Her sculptural works include the use of clay, steel, bronze, concrete and recycled materials. She enjoys creating movement in her sculptures through the application of springs, hinges, spindles and gears.