In front of you is a grand gray granite building with a towering gold dome that glints in the sunlight-just look straight ahead and you can’t miss it shining above the trees!
Imagine yourself standing on history here, right at the base of the Colorado State Capitol-where every stone and shimmer tells a tale. Back in the 1890s, busy workers and slightly grumpy mules hauled vast blocks of Colorado white granite from Gunnison, bit by bit, all to create something that would echo the mighty United States Capitol. You’d have heard the clink and clatter of tools bouncing off stone, echoing across Denver.
The main attraction is hard to miss: that enormous gold dome above you, shining like the world’s fanciest trophy. Fun fact-it’s covered in real gold leaf, added in 1908 to celebrate the legendary Colorado Gold Rush. Imagine Denver’s citizens looking up for the first time as the dome caught the sunlight, feeling both awe and maybe a little bit jealous.
Inside, this grand building is decked out like a palace, but with a Rocky Mountain twist! Colorado Rose Onyx-a rare rose-colored marble found only near Beulah, Colorado-lines the halls. The Capitol used up every last bit of it, so if you ever go marble shopping, you’re out of luck! Peek around and you’ll find gleaming floors made of Yule Marble, which sometimes reveals mysterious images-like the face of George Washington or even the “unsinkable” Molly Brown, just waiting to be discovered by the eagle-eyed visitor.
Want a secret? The exact elevation of Denver-one mile above sea level-is marked right here, just climb the steps to the famous “mile high” marker. But here’s where it gets tricky! In classic Colorado fashion, they’ve got three markers on different steps, each claiming to be “one mile high,” thanks to upgrades in measuring tools over the decades. That’s right, even Mother Nature can’t make up her mind!
Today, the State Capitol isn’t just a home for lawmakers and the Governor-it’s a piece of living history. With its stained glass windows showing off Colorado’s proudest moments, a portrait of every U.S. president (including some painted stories and a little presidential drama thrown in for good measure), and its place in Denver’s Civic Center, every brick and gleaming panel buzzes with stories old and new.
So take a long look, and let the gold dome remind you-Colorado was never afraid to aim high, and wrap history in a little sparkle.
