Emily Griffith and her Opportunity School

Emily Griffith is one of Denver’s most honored and celebrated woman because there are very few people who have impacted the development of the city as Griffith and her Opportunity School “for all who wish to learn.”  Although her original name for her school was replaced with “Technical College” in 2011, the school still bears her name and “Opportunity School” is still commonly used opposed to the new name.  Opportunity School is still engraved on the northeast side of the main schoolhouse on 13^th St. and Emily Griffith even has a stained glass window on the capitol building and a drinking fountain in the Civic Center Park stating that she was the founder of Opportunity School. 

Countless histories have been written about Emily Griffith and Opportunity school for all levels of readers.  Here are some links websites you can visit to learn more about Griffith an her school online:

"History of Emily Griffith Technical College," Emily Griffith Technical College website. 

"Emily Griffith Technical College Turns 95."  A Colorado Matters, from Colorado Public Radio interview from September 20, 2011 with the schools current Executive Director, Jeff Barratt and then historian Debra Faulkner who discusses her mysterious death.  Debra Faulkner is the author of an Emily Griffith biography called "Touching Tomorrow."  

Historic Denver's Emily Griffith Opportunity School Current Issue page has information about the school's history and the buildings on the campus.

"An Angel Silenced," is an article from 5280 magazine about the lasting impact Emily Griffith and her school have had on Denver.

A brief Emily Griffith biography from History Colorado

Griffith's stained glass window on the State Capitol Building 

Griffith's drinking fountain at Civic Center Park

The terra cotta sign on 13th St.