In the late 1860s Major Jacob Downing, Colorado pioneer and judge, purchased this land and developed it into a vast ranch where he raised Arabian horses.  Downing played a major role in settling the West, introduced new agriculture and wildlife, and helped lay the foundations for the city of Denver.

Thomas S. Hayden, another prominent Denverite, purchased Downing's estate in 1913 and expanded it into a 20,000-acre cattle ranch.

The Federal Government purchased 2040.207 acres from the Hayden family in December 1940 for the purpose of building an ordnance (ammunition) plant.   Government officials selected this site for its rural setting and because it was far from our Nation's borders -- safe from sabotage.   In late January 1941, the War Department signed a contract with the Remington Arms Company to produce small arms ammunition.   Construction of the Plant started in early March, 1941.   At record speed, the Government had over 200 buildings built for the new Denver Ordnance Plant.   Actual ammunition production at the Plant commenced in late September, 1941.   At its height of production in 1943, the Denver Ordnance Plant was the 4th largest “city” in Colorado with a workforce “population” of more than 22,000.   These employees were working day and night producing over six million cartridges a day.

Image courtesy of the Denver Public Library, Western History/Genealogy Department Photo Collection.
Go to the Denver Public Library, Western History/Genealogy Department Photo Collection Web site.

U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey URL: http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/frontrange/virtour/fedcen1.htm Contact: Carol Mladinich  mailto:csmladinich@usgs.gov Updated: 05/16/2001