Our History

Explore the rich history of CU Anschutz.


Other campus history


Interested in learning more about our campus history? Our schools, college and programs have more of their stories to tell below – alongside a map for a self-guided history walking tour of CU Anschutz.


Timeline


1876

Colorado General Assembly passes legislation to create the University of Colorado.

1883

The School of Medicine opens in Boulder with two students.

1898

CU establishes the School of Nursing.

1911

Pharmacy is established as a department in the School of Medicine.

1913

The School of Pharmacy opens as an independent college.

1918

U.S. Army General Hospital No. 21 opens on the present day grounds of CU Anschutz to treat World War I veterans.

1920

U.S. Army General Hospital No. 21 is formally renamed to the Fitzsimons General Hospital, in honor of Lieutenant William Thomas Fitzsimons – a physician and the first U.S. officer killed in World War I.

1924

CU health programs move to a new campus at Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard in Denver – the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

1941

Building 500 (now the Fitzsimons Building) opens at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. Building 500 was the largest building in the state of Colorado at the time of its completion.

1949

The School of Nursing becomes an independent school.

1955

President Dwight D. Eisenhower recovers from a heart attack at the Fitzsimons Army Medical Center.

1957

The School of Pharmacy becomes an independent school.

1960

Fitzsimons begins as a clinical specialist school - one of the few health professional schools for the military.

1965

The School of Nursing starts the first nurse practitioner program in the country.

1967

Colorado legislature authorizes funds to open a dental school.

1973

The School of Dentistry enrolls its first class.

1976

The School of Dentistry completes construction on its building at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

1992

The School of Pharmacy moves from Boulder to the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver.

1995

The Fitzsimons Army Medical Center is slated for closure by the military.

1996

University of Colorado studies the viability of moving its health program operations to the former Fitzsimons Army Medical Center site. That November, the Board of Regents approves.

1997

University of Colorado and the City of Aurora agree on redevelopment terms of the Fitzsimons site.

1999

The Fitzsimons Army Medical Center closes.

2005

The School of Nursing begins offering a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

2006

Fitzsimons campus is renamed Anschutz Medical Campus in recognition of more than $90 million in donations from The Anschutz Foundation to help in the construction of brand new facilities.

2007

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital Colorado open on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

2008

All academic and research operations of all CU health sciences schools and colleges open on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

2008

The School of Dentistry undergoes a name change to the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine.

2008

The School of Nursing changes its name to the College of Nursing.

2008

The Colorado School of Public Health opens and enrolls its first students. The school is formed as a partnership between the University of Colorado, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado.

2011

The School of Pharmacy is renamed the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences following a long history of support and a $10 million gift to build a new 165,000 square foot facility on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus from the Skaggs family.

2021

The 396,000 square foot Anschutz Health Sciences Building opens.

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