Entry No. 33 — the Denver file — filed under: history walk
Highland Park / Scottish Village Historic District
“standing in a tiny piece of a failed Scotland and never know it”
Denver is a relentless grid until you turn off Zuni near 32nd and the streets suddenly start curving, with names like Argyle, Dunkeld, Caithness and Fife. In 1874 Palmer and Bell tried to build an entire Scottish-themed suburb here because the bluffs reminded Bell of the Highlands; the grand plan collapsed and only this 23.8-acre fragment survived, now on the National Register. You can be standing in a tiny piece of a failed Scotland and never know it.
The move: Do a 20-30 minute slow walk through the curving lanes off Zuni, hunting the Scottish street signs and the oldest houses, then reward yourselves at a 32nd Ave cafe a block away.
📍 Before you go The district hides behind the Zuni Street and West 32nd Avenue storefronts in the Highlands — turn in off Zuni near 32nd and watch for the lanes that stop running straight (Argyle, Caithness, Dunkeld, Fife). It's tiny, under 24 acres, so the whole loop is a short stroll. Park on 32nd or a side street and walk in. Go in daylight to read the signs and house details; the old trees make it leafier and prettier from late spring into fall. This is a lived-in neighborhood, so stick to the public sidewalks and keep it quiet. Reward the walk at a 32nd Avenue cafe a block away, with more Highlands dining a few blocks east.
- 📍 Highlands
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Off Zuni St near W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80211 (district roughly bounded by W 32nd Ave, Zuni St, Dunkeld Pl and Clay St; look for Argyle Pl, Caithness Pl, Dunkeld Pl, Fife Ct)
Hours: Public streets, walkable anytime; daylight is best for spotting street signs and house details. Residential, so keep it low-key.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: historycolorado.org · Wikipedia · cpr.org
last checked: 2026-06-07