Union Avenue Historic Commercial District, Commercial historic district in Pueblo, United States

Union Avenue Historic Commercial District is a historic business area in Pueblo with around 70 buildings spread across 27 acres, including the Union Depot and Vail Hotel. Most structures date from the late 1800s and continue to shape the city's character with their brick construction and original storefronts.

The district lies within what were South Pueblo and Central Pueblo, small cities later merged with Pueblo and Bessemer into one municipality. Maps from 1872 label the street 5th Street; the first reference to Union Avenue dates to 1880. The Articles of Consolidation required City Hall to stand between 2nd Street and the Arkansas River. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

The brick buildings from the 1880s show how merchants designed their storefronts and display windows for customers passing through. Walking through the streets reveals the layout and decoration choices that made this a busy commercial hub for the region.

You can explore the area easily on foot since the buildings are close together and informational signs are located throughout. The Riverwalk provides a pleasant walking route and helps you navigate through the historic district.

The original path of the Arkansas River was restored through a major project that created a new Riverwalk through the district. This reclamation of the waterway brought new life to the area economically and lets visitors today see the historic buildings from the water's edge.