City of Axum ParkAxum, Ethiopia is a city over 2,500 years old which is located in the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray. It is reported to have been the capital city of the legendary Queen of Sheba. Recently unearthed ruins of a complex and sophisticated palace are claimed to be that of the queen. Archaeological expeditions currently underway in the area are discovering more artifacts attesting to very high levels of engineering and architectural achievements, including a number of obelisks dating back almost 2,500 years which are still standing in the city. It is said that Ethiopia is the last resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, and that, in fact, the Ark is kept at the holy church of Saint Mary of Zion in Axum. It is interesting to note that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, one of the oldest Christian institutions in the world, is perhaps the only ohne to use replicas of the Ark in its prayer rituals for centuries. As the center of ancient Ethiopia, Axum has a rich historical, cultural, and religious heritage which remains to be fully discovered through future research.
In November of 1995, an official delegation, including Mayor Wellington Webb, Mrs. Webb, and other prominent Denver personalities visited Axum. As a result of this visit, Axum named a street in their city, “Denver Street.”
Axum became a sister city in 1993.
Axum Park is located at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Cherry Street.
City of Brest Park
In 1947, an East High School teacher, Ms. Amanda Knecht, visited the city of Brest, France. Brest had been bombed incessantly over a period of six weeks during World War II. More than 5,000 sorties were flown by the U.S. Air Force before the occupying Germans finally surrendered the city. Upon Ms. Knecht’s return to Denver, she told her students about the devastation, and the result was one of Denver’s minor miracles. Over the next year, Denver’s students raised $32,000 in nickels and pennies, and this sum was used to rebuild the Children’s Wing of the Brest City Hospital. In 1948, the Sister City concept became a reality in Europe. Brest and Denver immediately proceeded with the contract of “jumelage” or “twinning”, as the affiliation is known in other countries. Brest, France is Denver’s first sister city, with the affiliation becoming final in 1948. Since that time, the people of Brest and Denver have enjoyed many exchanges of city officials, along with the always popular and enjoyable high school student exchanges. We recently had the Choir L’Anacourse from Brest visit and sing in the Denver area. They performed at many schools and interacted with students and adults while visiting. Artists have come to Denver and have had exhibits around the city. In late 1996, participation between schools in Brest and Denver took place, making masks for the “Millenium 2000” project. Eventually 2,000 masks from around the world were displayed. When Brest, France had their “Brest ‘96” Festival of Tall Ships, hosting over one million people and 300,000 ships in the harbor, Denver sent a representative from the Sister City committee. The plan of the Denver-Brest Sister City Committee is to continue to promote cultural exchanges and to enhance the relationship between the two cities.
The City of Brest Park is located on Cherry Creek Drive South at Colorado Boulevard.
City of Cuernavaca Park
In early 1982, President George Barrante of Denver Sister Cities and Minoru Yasui, the Director of the Denver Commission on Community Relations, proceeded to pursue a Mexican sister city. A large delegation of Denverites met on October 18, 1982, and it was decided to write letters to seven Mexican cities. Five cities responded, and the committee began to compile information about the five cities along with pictures. Some of the people were looking for cities with pyramids, universities, artisans, musicians, libraries, good weather, and many other attractive points. Located approximately one hour from Mexico City, it was chosen as Denver's sixth sister city on September 6, 1983. Cuernavaca comes from the original Nahuatl name, Cuauhnahuac, which means "near the woods". Cuernavaca enjoys a spring-like climate with the rainy season from June through September. At an altitude of 5,055 feet, the average temperature range is from 65-74 degrees Farenheit. With a population of 313,000, Cuernavaca is the home of many Americans, particularly in retirement communities.
Within Cuernavaca there are many important historical sites. These include the Aztec ruins of Teopanzalco and Tepoztlan, the St. Francis Cathedral, the beautiful Borda Gardens, and the Caves of Cacahuamilpa. The Museo Cuauhnahuac contains the murals of Diego Rivera depicting the Spanish conquest. Since Cuernavaca became a sister city, many exciting exchanges have taken place. High school students from both cities have traveled to each city, the Denver Committee has been able to help a home for unwed mothers in Cuernavaca, and in 1996 a Denver fire engine was refurbished and sent to Cuernavaca. Most recently Denver participated in Faces of the Future—The Millenium Project, by displaying life masks of Denver residents and students in Cuernavaca. The program hopes to have 2,000 face masks by the turn of the century.
Denver is known worldwide for having named parks after each one of its nine sister cities, which span four continents. Sister Cities International (SCI) is a non-profit citizen diplomacy network creating and strengthening partnerships between U.S. and international communities in an effort to increase global cooperation at the municipal level, to promote cultural understanding and to stimulate economic development.
City of Karmiel Park
Karmiel, northern Israel’s youngest and fastest growing development town, was established in 1964 and became Denver’s fourth sister city in 1977. Originally founded by a mere 90 families, Karmiel has since grown into a respectable “model city” of over 40,000 residents. The design of the city is unique and modern, with a complete separation between the industrial and residential areas. There are wide sections of parks, gardens, and tree-lined avenues. Karmiel’s cleanliness is perhaps the town’s most distinctive physical feature. The streets are litter-free, the gardens are well kept, and the air is clear. There is a concerted effort by the local government to attract primarily high-tech, environmentally clean, science-based industry to the city. Denver and Karmiel had a significant relationship prior to becoming sister cities. By the mid 1970’s, the Jewish Community Centers of both cities had been officially linked. This pairing of the two cities was done in part because of their similar environments, such as mild climates, low humidity, and mountainous backgrounds. Another reason was that members of the Denver JCC felt that Karmiel could use some assistance, as the city was just getting started.
Through visits to Karmiel, several members of the Denver JCC became good friends of Karmiel’s Mayor, Baruch Venger. Later, Denver hosted a huge celebration in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Nation of Israel, and Mayor Venger came as an invited guest.
There are several beautiful reminders of the relationship in both cities. Denver’s Karmiel Park near Cherry Creek contains a symbolic flowering plumb tree that both cities’ mayors helped to plant. In Karmiel, the Denver Park and the “Denver Room” in the city’s cultural center acquaint residents with the sister city association. Since becoming sister cities, Denver and Karmiel have engaged in numerous exciting projects. Along with diverse cultural activities, there have been annual educational exchanges and a program involving the exchange of camp counselors. Denver members have donated textbooks to schools and musical instruments to Karmiel’s Conservatory School. Also, a huge scroll containing over 1,200 signatures and messages of goodwill from Denver dignitaries and citizens was presented to the citizens of Karmiel.
City of Kunming Park
Kunming, China is Denver’s eighth sister city. Relations were formalized in 1985 by a resolution passed by the Board of Directors of Sister Cities International, Inc. in February, along with a City Council Resolution that same month, and then with the Agreement formally signed by Mayor Federico Pena and the Mayor Zhu Zhi-Hui in May of 1985. Kunming is located in Yunhan Province in the southern part of China, and is located in a mountainous area. Kunming is said to be a city of four seasons: all like spring. Its altitude is a little higher than Denver at 6,200 feet and its climate is a bit more temperate than Denver. The city spreads over a plain below a mountain, but unlike Denver, its southern expansion is blocked by a lake, Dian Chi, whose sinuous shoreline cuts through 300 miles of wilderness. There is a limited amount of cultivatable land, so the foothills are layered in terraced farms. Kunming is a showcase of modernized China. Once regarded as a hardship post by Chinese officials, Kunming is now the transportation crossroads of the southwest, an industrialized manufacturing center and the resort area of China. During World War II, Kunming was an air base for the American Flying Tigers. The late television weatherman, Stormy Rottman, was among the many Denverites stationed there.
The food of Yunnan is reported to be hot and spicy, and it is said that Marco Polo came to the area and discovered the long, rich noodles of Kunming and went back to Italy with the idea of spaghetti. Denver is pleased to be taking part in the “opening of the door” in China, and enjoys a very warm and healthy relationship with the people of Kunming. There have been high school student exchanges between the two cities and exchanges of business personnel. In all, it has been a very profitable and enjoyable relationship since 1985.
The newly (1997) named Kunming Park is located at the 2500 block of South Grant Street (Vassar and Grant).
Of all the cities in China, it is particularly appropriate that Kunming should be Denver’s sister city, because Kunming was essential in the American war effort in the Pacific theater of operations in World War II. Kunming was, in fact, the Chinese terminus of the overland Burma Road supply trains, and also the flights over the “hump”, i.e. the Himalaya Mountains from India. It was also the base of the famous American Flying Tigers in World War II and the Headquarters of our China-Burma-India Theater. You will remember Denver’s long-time radio weatherman, the late Leon “Stormy” Rottman, who served the Flying Tigers as Weatherman. Also, the current head of the Denver-Kunming Committee of Denver Sister Cities, John Yee, served with the Flying Tigers. Kunming, in fact, has a city memorial to the Americans who served in the war effort in World War II.
City of Madras ParkThe beautiful city of Chennai (Madras) India is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu in the southeastern part of India. There are 14 major languages spoken in India. Madras is the fourth largest city in India with an area of about 60 square miles. Its people are noted for their great warmth, graciousness, and friendliness. The climate can be called hot. Madras Corporation, similar to our City and County of Denver, was formed by the British East India Company during the latter part of the 17th century. Today it is a sprawling metropolis, retaining the old traditions and at the same time trying to provide all the amenities of modern life. Madras is one of the major ports of India, being called the “Gateway to the South.” English is still the medium of instruction in collages and forms part of the curriculum in schools. The majority of the people are Hindus, but there are Moslems and Christians residing in large numbers in Madras. Religion permeates the life of the people. The Hindu temples are of remarkable architectural beauty and splendor.
The shores of Madras are washed by the sparkling blue waters of the Bay of Bengal. It is a city of beautiful beaches, parks and gardens. Madras is a cultural center, a cosmopolitan city, and a place where everyone feels at home. To an American, it is certain that everything will look inexpensive.
Madras became a Sister City of Denver in 1984. A City Council Resolution was passed by the Council of January 16, 1984, and signed by Mayor Federico Pena on January 20, 1984. The Madras Park is located at South Quebec Street near Cherry Creek Drive.
City of Nairobi Park
In September of 1974, the Assistant Town Clerk of Nairobi, Simon Getonga, visited Denver to explore the feasibility of establishing a sister city relationship between the two cities. Mr. Getonga’s visit was fortuitous, for People-to-People of Denver, Inc., the corporate forerunner of Denver Sister Cities International, Inc., had already expressed an interest in forming a sister city relationship with a city on the African Continent. Following much transoceanic correspondence, the affiliation of the two cities was formalized on March 2, 1975, making Nairobi Denver’s third sister city.
Nairobi, like Denver, is situated on a high plateau, with two of the highest peaks in Africa a relatively short distance away. Nairobi is an exciting and cosmopolitan city and serves as a center of commerce for all of East Africa. Like the “Queen City of the Plains”, Nairobi is a beautiful city and has often been called the “Jewel of Africa.” The inauguration of the sister city relationship was followed by a two-week “Salute to Nairobi”, held in downtown Denver, with folk-art, dances, handicrafts and other products from Kenya displayed at various downtown locations.
Since its inception in 1975, the Denver-Nairobi Committee has sponsored many highly successful projects, including high school youth exchanges periodic shipments of textbooks to Kenya, and numerous fund-raising events. A wide assortment of prosthetic equipment was collected and sent to the Dagoretti Children’s Centre for the Handicapped in Nairobi. Books, school supplies, equipment and scholarship assistance have been donated to the Materi Girls School in outlying Meru County. An “African Forum”, a program which focused upon the history, lifestyles and cultures of African tribal systems, was presented in area high schools, colleges and universities. In 1976, the “City of Nairobi Park” was dedicated by then-Councilor Nathan Kahara who later became Mayor of Nairobi. The Nairobi Park is located at East 36th Avenue and Cook Street in Denver. Over the years the Denver-Nairobi Committee has been the recipient of many prestigious awards. Most recently, the Committee received the “Best Overall Project for 1996 Award” from Sister Cities International for its Nairobi Dance Troupe Exchange.
City of Potenza ParkPotenza is the capital city of the region of Basilicata. The antiquity of this quaint Italian city was not too long ago a Roman municipality. Because of its power and position, both geographically and politically, the city has experienced considerable growth in recent years. It has enjoyed an increase in population also in recent years. In ancient times Basilicata was known as Lucania and was derived from the people of Campania, a region of Naples. It contained Greek colonies such as Elea, Pesto, Sibari, Eraclea and Metaponto. It was conquered by the Romans around the third century. It became the third region of Italy under Roman rule. Then from 435 to 493 A.D., it fell under the rule of Odaocer, first barbarian of Italy, followed by the Ostrogoths, Lombards, the Duch of Benevento and Byzantine domination, which extended to Potenza and other provinces. The region contains a mountain range called L’Appennino Lucano, which are quite high and volcanic. The active volcano, Il Vulture, is 1,330 meters high. Mount Pollino is 2,271 meters high. Much of the area around the mountains is uninhabitable. Basilicata is famous for its artisans and produces wheat, corn, oil, and silk, and is the highest wool producer after the region of Puglia. The region is abundant in wild animals, partridges, and other beautiful birds.
Potenza is famous for its fresh air. In addition to the abundance of wild fauna and gorgeous flora, the inhabitants of Potenza enjoy a high level of pride. Indeed, Potenza is one of the queen cities of Italy.
Potenza became a Denver Sister City in 1983, and since that time Denver has enjoyed the visitations of official delegations, many musical (operatic) organizations, and high school and adult exchanges. This sister city appreciates its new Potenza Park, which is located at the intersection of South Holly Street and South Cherry Creek Drive.
City of Takayama ParkJapan was in the forefront of the thinking that there was a strong sentiment prevailing toward fulfilling the hopes and dreams of a peaceful world, through not only the United Nations Charter, but also through auxiliary organizations such as Sister Cities. Its top scientists has informed the Japanese people that the only door open to the international community was through the door of the United Nations and UNESCO. The bearer of the invitation to Denver from Takayama was Tomatsu Murayama of the Japan Times, Tokyo. The invitation from Mayor Sinchiro Iwamoto of Takayama, on July 22, 1960, was to commemorate the centennial of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Amity and Commerce, and because of similar geographical similarities. The City of Takayama (high mountain) thereby became Denver’s (Mile High) sister city with a formal proclamation by former Mayor Dick Batterton. Takayama City has chosen Denver as its peacetime partner to create a closer relationship of mutual understanding and good will. At this time Takayama’s population was around 10,000, while Denver’s was over the half-million mark. This disparity was disappointing to many of the Japanese-American community, who had been planning a similar tie with the famous and historical city of Nara, Japan.
Upon receiving the invitation from Mayor Iwamoto of Takayama, Mayor Batterton contacted Mrs. Ben Stapleton of Denver (of the People-to-People Corporation) for suggestions regarding the finalization of the relationship with Takayama. Mrs. Elizabeth Rose, Chairman of the Colorado Council for UNESCO was invited to return the invitation and to go to Japan to finalize the Sister City affiliation.
Since that time, Denver and Takayama have participated in a wide variety of exchanges, including high school students, business people, the 1981 International Year of Disabled Persons (for which a national award was received), many visits and celebrations commemorating this program since 1960. Besides these many and varied activities, one of the highlights of 1994 was the joint concert of 70 members of the Takayama Wind Orchestra with the Denver Municipal Band, which was held at George Washington High School, and emphasized the fact that “music is an international language.” (A 1994 national award)
These cities enjoy the warmth and friendship of many years of participation in the Sister Cities program. The Takayama Park is located at Cherry Creek Drive North.
City of Ulaanbaatar
In November of 2001, after a trade mission that took him throughout Asia, former Mayor Webb returned to Denver with the intention of making Ulaanbaatar our tenth sister city. However, for many years prior to the Mayor’s visit, people in Denver and Ulaanbaatar were working hard to make this sister city relationship a reality. After a resolution was passed by the city council, and a visit from the Mayor of Ulaanbaatar to make everything official, Ulaanbaatar became the most recent addition to Denver’s ever growing family of sister cities.
One of the most compelling reasons for our sister city relationship with Ulaanbaatar is a fact about the City of Denver that very few residents are aware of. Outside of Mongolia itself, Denver is home to the largest Mongolian population in the U.S. With this strong relationship and cultural exchange having been in place for many years, an official sister city relationship was the logical progression. With so much interest and participants available, the Denver-Ulaanbaatar Committee was able to start strong with many members.
In the summer of 2002 a display case was dedicated to Ulaanbaatar in the City and County Building. This case houses artifacts from Ulaanbaatar, and lets all visitors to Denver’s official “home” know that this sister city relationship exists. To further highlight this relationship, the Ulaanbaatar Committee is being approved to name one of unnamed parks of Denver as the City of Ulaanbaatar Park in Denver.