Dana Hudkins Crawford facts for kids

Dana Hudkins Crawford (born July 22, 1931 – died January 23, 2025) was an amazing American who helped save and rebuild many old buildings in Denver, Colorado. She was known as an architectural preservationist, which means she worked to keep important old buildings from being torn down. Dana was a key person in almost every big renovation project in downtown Denver. This included the famous Larimer Square and the historic Union Station. Her hard work was recognized when a hotel at Union Station was named the Crawford Hotel in her honor.

Dana Crawford's Early Life

Dana Hudkins was born on July 22, 1931, in Salina, Kansas. She went to Monticello College. Later, she finished her first college degree at the University of Kansas in 1953. She then studied Business Administration at Radcliffe College, graduating in 1954.

Moving to Denver

In 1954, Dana moved to Denver, Colorado. She started working at a public relations company. In 1955, she married John W. R. Crawford III, who was a geologist. They had four sons together.

Saving Larimer Square

In the early 1960s, a part of downtown Denver called the Lower Downtown (LoDo) area was going to be torn down. This area included the 1400 block of Larimer Street. Dana Crawford did not want this to happen.

A Big Challenge in Downtown Denver

Dana organized a group of people to buy the property. They wanted to save the buildings and turn them into shops and businesses. They created an organization called Historic Denver, Inc.. Their goal was to protect Denver's old buildings. Many people, including the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, did not agree with her. They thought saving old buildings would stop new growth.

Making History Happen

Finding money was also very hard. Many banks did not want to lend money to a woman. But Dana did not give up! She got money from the New York Life Insurance Company. After about 10 years of planning, Denver's first Historic District, Larimer Square, opened in 1971. Dana received an award from Radcliffe College for her success with Larimer Square.

More Projects and Recognitions

After Larimer Square, Dana Crawford started working on the Union Station neighborhood. She worked on this project by herself for almost 30 years.

Revitalizing Other Denver Landmarks

During that time, she also worked on many other important projects. These included saving the Oxford Hotel. She also helped with the Millennium retail office project in LoDo. Other projects were the two Flour Mill Loft redevelopment ventures and the Ice House. She even worked on projects near Coors Field. The Flour Mill Loft Project, finished in 1999, was one of her favorites. It was the first time homes were built in the Platte Valley area.

Honored for Her Work

In 1996, Dana Crawford was honored for her work. She was inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame. This recognized her amazing efforts to save and develop downtown Denver.

The Union Station Transformation

In 2008, a group of investors came together. They planned to build a new transit system linked to Union Station. The station was looking for ideas for its future.

A New Vision for Union Station

Dana Crawford put together a team called the Union Station Alliance. They made a proposal and won the project in December 2011. They got a 99-year lease on the station. They then worked to get approval from the National Park Service to make changes to the historic site. After a year, they got approval. The team changed some partners, and the development began.

Her Legacy Lives On

In 2013, the hotel inside Union Station was renamed the Crawford Hotel. This was done to honor Dana Crawford. It recognized her huge contributions to making downtown Denver vibrant again. Dana Crawford passed away on January 23, 2025, at the age of 93.