Denver is home to one of the best park systems in the country, which includes the large and iconic Cheesman Park in the historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. While this beautiful open space may appear to be just another regular old park, there is a dark and sinister history to it that not many realize. Here is its story:
During Denver's early days, the city was home to the large Prospect Hill Cemetery, which spanned the area that is now the Denver Botanic Gardens, Congress Park, and -- you guessed it -- Cheesman Park.
During the late 19th century, the city voted to demolish Prospect Hill in order to make room for a new park, hiring E.P. McGovern to exhume the bodies, place them into new coffins, and then move the coffins to a new location. These plans quickly took a turn south when McGovern began looking for ways to save money, eventually purchasing multiple child-sized coffins, chopping up the bodies in order to make them fit, and throwing dismembered body parts around the grounds during the process.
In the end, not all of those resting at Prospect Hill were moved, and Cheesman Park was in-turn built over their graves.
The next time you visit this iconic Denver park, be sure to keep your eyes and ears peeled, as the grounds are alleged to be haunted by the spirits of those buried at the old Prospect Hill Cemetery.
For even more creepy Denver attractions, check out There’s Nothing More Terrifying Than These 10 Genuinely Haunted Places Around Denver.
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