Mile High Capitol Adventure

Folks nicknamed Denver the “Mile High City” due to it’s altitude above sea level.

The portion of Denver that is factually a Mile High may be limited to skyscrapers and clocktowers, but there is an absolute and accurate measure: the State Capitol Building.

My buddy David and I resolved to take a hike to the top.

On the way in, we horsed around in the vast fountains on the mall. David lifted up his shirt to show me his belly and said he needed a new pic for “Hot or Not,” the photo rating site that was popular during the first dot com rush.


I was obliged to pose with one of the Capitol’s stately cannons between my legs. This photo op was so popular we had to wait in line behind a trio of teenagers for our turn.


On our way inside the building, David observed that it was 420 and made the appropriate devotion.

It should be indicated that he was not paranoid about this at all! Nor did it in any way influence the security guards to double check the inside of my backpack!

We stumbled upon a docent led tour and merged.

We learned that all the wood, brass materials, granite and marble in the Capitol had been sourced from inside the state. This was so important to the builders that gifts of more valuable materials were turned away.

Also noted: Wyoming was the first state to give women the right to vote based only on a technicality. Colorado proposed and passed the legislation first, but Wyoming had their election sooner.

Something I didn’t expect to be introduced to was a series of portraits commemorating the states race variety!

From the capitols establishment during the industrial revolution, Denver paid lip service to the idea of racial unity signified by newly freed slaves, westward and northward migrants, railroad workers of Asian descent, and the still very robust native population building the state together. In context, it's an uneasy collection.


Whereas once one climbed a long rickety spiral of stairs to ascend the Capitol dome, our way was smoothed by a short elevator trip and a pause at a new, dense museum.

The highlight of this was playing Godzilla with a miniature version of the Capitol.


Inside the dome there are attractions upwards, downwards, and outwards.

City Fathers are remembered with stained glass portraits lining a columnar molding above.


In the center of the dome is the dramatic rotunda - not for those with with a fear of heights.


Outside, in every railing, are brass pointers indicating the direction and the highest mountaintops in view.


While some of the northern peaks are now obscured, I found the pointers reassuring.

Early on, the states’ natural beauty was determined to be more worthy of these plaques that what battle happened where or what business was established in what location.