Denver is often credited as “The Christmas Capital of the World” for our glowing light displays, particularly the mighty decor that takes over the City and County Building each year. The “world” title came to us as early as 1914, when a local innovative electrician David Dwight "D.D." Sturgeon is said to have painted light bulbs red and green and hung them on a pine tree outside his home so his young ill son could enjoy the holiday from his room.
“Denver was soon in the spotlight of a national craze. D.D. Sturgeon was dubbed the ‘Father of Yule Lighting.’ [Denver Post reporter Pinky Wayne] organized the country's first outdoor-lighting contest in Denver in 1918, attracting hundreds of contestants. Wayne's efforts inspired manufacturers to come up with affordable products that would work indoors and outdoors regardless of the weather, and as a result, electric billboards across the country began to flash with colored globes, giving rise to flashing neon signs.”
Each year, the City and County Building’s display seems to get bigger, brighter, and more interactive — but not without controversy. As Calhoun details, over the decades, the lighting presentation has experienced budgeting issues, political debate, and lawsuits.
This photo from 1940 is a great reminder of how far our small but mighty decorations have come, with today’s version being made from thousands of energy-efficient LED bulbs that dance in time with holiday music.
🎧 Bonus: A few years ago, we called up Colorado history expert Dr. William Wei to learn more about this local holiday lore, and we chatted with the Denver family that was behind the annual light display for more than two decades ⬇️
