Genesis of Armenians of Colorado

In 1890, the first Armenian family, Touris and Lillian Sarkisian, arrived in Colorado after Mr. Sarkisian was advised to move from the East Coast for the dry, clean air. He practiced medicine in Colorado for 30 years, and the family established Sarkisian Oriental Rugs in Denver in 1891, which became a landmark institution. Other early Armenian settlers included the Narcissian family, who moved to Colorado in 1928 from Detroit. In 1957, Sarkis and Pearl Safarian also relocated to Colorado, seeking a warmer climate. Missing the Armenian community, Pearl began connecting with Armenians through the phonebook, and soon, small gatherings were held in their homes.

By 1979, it became clear that there were enough Armenians to form an organization. With the goal of uniting the community around Armenian culture, history, and traditions, the first meeting took place at Boulder’s railroad station, leading to the creation of Armenians of Colorado (AOC). The Board of Directors drafted bylaws, officially incorporating AOC in 1982, with non-profit status granted in 1984.

AOC’s founding mission included raising awareness about Armenian history and culture. One of its early achievements was the 1981 proclamation by Governor Richard Lamm recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The following year, the Armenian Genocide Memorial Garden was established, where a plaque and tree commemorate the 1.5 million Armenians who perished. In 2015, a Khachkar was added to the garden to mark the genocide’s centennial.

Today, Colorado’s Armenian community has grown from a handful of families to over 5,000, with members from all around the world contributing to its vibrant culture.