Entry No. 77 — the Denver file — filed under: cemetery
Riverside Cemetery Block 12 — Denver's Forgotten Potters Field
Riverside is Denver's oldest operating cemetery (1876) and a National Historic District, but almost no one knows about Block 12. It's a flat, near-empty stretch of grass hiding thousands of unmarked graves — a potters field where counties from across Colorado quietly shipped their poorest dead, including an enormous number of infants. There are no headstones; volunteers are still piecing together names from burial ledgers. Standing on what looks like an ordinary lawn and knowing what's under it is the whole experience.
The story
When Riverside Cemetery opened in 1876 along the South Platte River, Denver’s wealthy families marked their plots with elaborate granite monuments and lush greenery. But tucked inside the 77-acre grounds lies Block 12: an expanse of flat, treeless dirt that looks like an empty lawn. Beneath this turf lie thousands of unmarked graves—a potters field where counties across Colorado quietly shipped anyone who died without money, including nearly four thousand infants whose families could not afford headstones.
In the 1970s, Riverside lost its historic water rights in a legal dispute, turning the irrigated parkland into arid prairie. While territorial governors and city pioneers lie under sculpted monuments nearby, Block 12 was left completely bare, eventually boxed in by the rail yards, highway overpasses, and industrial smokestacks of Elyria-Swansea.
Nobody bothered to keep track of who was buried under Block 12 until local genealogical researchers began sifting through burial ledgers, block books, and satellite photos to piece together names. Standing on this un-watered patch of grass knowing thousands of forgotten lives rest under your boots is the entire experience—you didn't hear it from us, but it is one of the heaviest spots in the city.
What it's like
Expect a sun-baked, industrial atmosphere with freight trains frequently rolling past or blocking access tracks nearby. To get in, follow current signage to the north entrance gate along York Street. Once inside, Block 12 doesn't look like a burial ground at all—it is a wide, flat lawn without headstones or shade trees, so bring water and sun protection if you visit during warmer months. Download the Friends of Historic Riverside Cemetery map on your phone before you walk out, or you'll be standing on a nameless stretch of dirt without knowing what lies beneath it.
The move: Do a quiet, reflective walk together with a printout of the cemetery's notable-graves map, end at Block 12, and talk about who decides whose name gets remembered — heavy, but it sticks with you.
📍 Before you go Riverside sits in industrial Elyria-Swansea off Brighton Blvd; the main gate has moved to the north side along York St, so follow current signage in. Because Block 12 is unmarked flat ground with no headstones, download the Friends of Historic Riverside Cemetery self-guided tour brochure/map ahead of time — otherwise you'll never find it. The grounds lost their irrigation decades ago, so it's a dry, near-treeless prairie with almost no shade: go in spring or fall, ideally morning, and bring water and sun cover. It's an active historic cemetery with limited office days — hours shift seasonally, so check ahead, stay quiet, and yield to any funerals. Coffee and food on the RiNo/Brighton corridor pair well on the way back.
- 📍 Elyria-Swansea / Adams County border
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Riverside Cemetery, 5201 Brighton Blvd, Denver, CO 80216 (Block 12 / Potters Field is within the grounds; main gate relocated to the north side along York St)
Hours: Grounds open daily ~8am-5pm; office hours Tue/Thu/Sat 10am-3pm only. Free to walk. It's an active historic cemetery — be respectful and quiet.
Pair it with
- Grave of Silas Soule — Located on the same cemetery grounds, this grave marks the Union officer who refused orders to fire at the Sand Creek Massacre.
- Forney Museum of Transportation — Located 1.4 miles down Brighton Boulevard, this industrial warehouse houses over 800 vintage vehicles and antique transit pieces.
- Fort Greene — Located 1.8 miles west in Globeville, this un-signposted bar inside an 1880s former Slavic meeting hall offers a quiet space to decompress after the cemetery.
- The DMV (Denver Music Venue) — Located 1.4 miles away in Elyria-Swansea, this underground warehouse venue sits right in the same industrial pocket of north Denver.
Good to know
Where is Block 12 located inside Riverside Cemetery?
It occupies a flat, unmarked section of Riverside Cemetery at 5201 Brighton Boulevard, with main vehicle and pedestrian access routed through the gate along York Street on the north side.
Why are there no headstones on Block 12?
Block 12 served as a potters field for indigent and county-funded burials. Most families or municipalities lacked funds for headstones, leaving the graves unmarked.
Are there really thousands of babies buried here?
Yes. Volunteer researchers cross-referencing cemetery burial books identified roughly 3,885 infants and young children buried in designated small-lot sections across Block 12.
Why are the grounds dry and treeless?
Riverside lost its court battle over historic river water rights in the 1970s, forcing management to stop regular irrigation and allowing the grounds to revert to native dry prairie.
What are the operating hours and admission costs?
The grounds are free to enter and open daily from roughly 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, while the onsite historic office is only open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-06-07