Located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Denver, the Capitol of Colorado, has a mild, dry and sunny climate with about 300 days of sunshine a year. Denver also has one of the most walkable downtowns in the nation. The Capitol building, City Hall, Public Library, an assortment of art and history museums, a mint that produces 10 billion coins a year, are all within short walking distance. You can spend a day or 2 visiting the following places.
- Colorado Capitol Building
- City and County Building
- Civic Center
- Colorado Judicial Center
- Denver Public Library
- Denver Museum of Arts
- US Mint
- Union Station
- The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Colorado Capitol Building – We went on a 1-hour guided tour of this gorgeous building which included a visit to the viewing platform on the drum of the dome. The Capitol has a 250 feet high shiny gold dome. The 13th step on the west side of the Capitol is exactly one mile above sea level, thus Denver is also nicknamed the “mile high city.”
The inside of the building is adorned with Colorado Rose Onyx, a rare rose marble from a quarry near Beulah, Colorado. White Yule Marble from the quarries near Marble, Colorado, was used throughout the building for the floors. Many of the Colorado State Capitol’s windows are stained glass, depicting people and events related to the history of Colorado. The third floor rotunda is decorated with portraits of the presidents of the United States and other artwork.
House and senate rooms
The guided tour of the Capitol included a trip to the dome observation area. The dome is a 99 step climb above the 3rd floor and is accessible by stairs only. Self-guided tours of the dome are not permitted. You get a beautiful view of the surrounding area from the top.
City and County Building – Completed in 1932, the City and County Building’s has a neoclassical style that reflected Denver’s aspirations to be the Rome of the Rockies or the Athens of the West. It faces the Colorado State Capitol building at the west end of Civic Center Park and houses Denver government bureaus.
Civic Center Park – Bordered by the State Capitol, the City and County Building, and the Denver Art Museum, Civic Center Park is the centerpiece of Denver’s green space. It is laid out in Classical style with numerous monuments and holds many events.
Colorado Judicial Center – The Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center in Denver, houses the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Attorney General, State Public Defender, and court administrators. You can book a free guided tour of the courthouse which lasts 1 hour. There are no self-guided tours.
View of the Judicial center from the front. The white Colorado Yule marble sculptures in the front of the building were created to demonstrate the Rule of Law. Justices telling the Rule of Law to kids.
Denver public library – Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the library is noted for its western history and genealogical collections and is within walking distance of the Capitol building. The 1995 addition to the building was designed by famed architect Michael Graves.
Denver Art Museum – One of the largest art museums between Chicago and the West Coast, the Denver Art Museum (DAM) helps visitors explore art and creativity through hands-on activities, extensive art collections, and world-class exhibitions. The Denver Art Museum’s Hamilton Building is an architectural work of art designed by Daniel Libeskind.
Edgar Heap of Birds’ “Wheel” sculpture stands just outside the entrance of the Denver Art Museum. The “Wheel” itself – 10 red porcelain trees astrologically placed outside the Denver Art Museum in homage to important American Indian religious sites and ceremonies and makes a statement about breaking the cycle of America’s mistreatment of Native peoples.
United States Mint – Immediately beyond the City and County Building is the US Mint. You can learn the rich history of how billions of coins are produced each year for the American public with a free, 1 hour guided tour. The Mint’s Gift Shop offers a great selection of coins and one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
Union Station – located in downtown Denver, the train station is a historic landmark dating back to 1881. Completely revitalized in 2014, the Union Station is also home to many shops, restaurants, and The Crawford Hotel, which often puts on special themed-stay events. It’s fun to take a stroll through just to look at the impressive architecture. We had coffee and snacks in one of the cafes and then took the A-line train to the airport.
The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception – Located near the Denver Capitol building, this impressive and imposing church was consecrated in 1921. It was unfortunately closed at the time/day we visited, so could not take a peek inside but heard it’s inside is as impressive as the outside.
Cherry Creek North – Located just south and east of the Downtown, it is Denver’s best-known shopping district, especially if you’re looking for luxury and boutique shops and art galleries. Covering some 16 blocks laid out in a square, the leafy and flower-strewn neighborhood is also home to numerous restaurants, offering cuisine from around the globe.
Red Rocks Amphitheater – is about 15 miles from the city center but is well worth the commute as this is the most revered attraction around Denver — and there is a shuttle to get you here should you not have a car. Red Rocks is both a live music venue and a city park owned by Denver. The name comes from the striking red sandstone rock formations found along the trails that also form the walls of the outdoor amphitheater. The venue attracts major live music talent weekly in season and is most famous for its acoustics.