Did you know Denver’s sister city relationships contain dozens of little-known stories hidden inside their history?
These international partnerships help connect Denver to communities around the world through cultural understanding, educational opportunity, and civic engagement — but behind each relationship is also a unique story about how it began and how it has evolved over time.
Denver’s sister city relationships were founded on a simple but powerful belief: that international friendship can begin at the local level and grow through direct human connection.
In the years following World War II, Denver became one of the early American cities to build formal international partnerships, beginning with Brest, France, and later expanding to cities across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. What began as civic goodwill has grown into decades of student exchanges, cultural programs, professional visits, public celebrations, and lasting friendships.
Along the way, these relationships have created some remarkable moments. Denver’s partnership with Nairobi began in 1975 with a downtown public celebration featuring Kenyan dance, art, and cultural exhibits. Denver’s relationship with Takayama, Japan, began through a newspaper connection when an invitation was carried by a representative of The Japan Times. And one of Denver’s sister city gifts — a peacock sculpture from Kunming, China — still remains at the Denver Zoo, where many visitors pass it without realizing its international significance.
In the coming months, we will share more of these hidden stories — the people, places, and moments that have shaped Denver’s sister city relationships across generations.
Thank you for being part of this work and for helping carry these international friendships forward.
Warm regards,
Denver Sister Cities International