May 2nd, 2019 | Updated on May 23rd, 2023
Denver has its own special charm. It has a large number of interesting places, so its attractions should be examined by everyone who came to Colorado. In many ways, it’s very similar to other American cities, but at the same time, it’s not devoid of identity and unique places that can be found only there.
When driving a car through Colorado, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Denver, because the local iconic sights are really worth your attention. Here are some great places to feel the spirit of Denver!
1. Colorado State Capitol
As any state capital, Denver has its own Capitol. The building was originally built on a hill and became a kind of basis for urban planning. The last building was built in 1890 by the architect Elijah Myers.
The distinctive feature of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver was the golden dome. Its finishing is made of copper, covered with gold leaf. Inside, the building is decorated with a very rare pink onyx – it’s believed that all reserves of this material in the area were used. All floors are covered with white marble, also mined in the near quarry.
Another remarkable feature of the Capitol is stained glass windows with scenes from the history of Colorado. This is a true work of fine art. The third floor of the building is decorated with ceremonial portraits of all U.S. presidents.
You can inspect the interior decoration on your own or use the services of an experienced guide, from whom you can hear a lot of interesting things both about the building itself and about the history of the state.
Address: 200 E Colfax Ave, Denver
2. Kirkland Museum
Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art has a special homely atmosphere. The founder of the museum, Hugh Grant, put his own unique conceptual philosophy into it and implemented several ideas that perfectly complement each other.
Pavilions of the museum are small, but each of them looks like a living room. Objects of decorative arts, paintings on the walls, furnishings – everything makes up a single interior, as it could be in a real house.
The museum specifically displays items as they are used by people in real life to demonstrate their interconnection. The expositions combine things of different styles and eras, but their joint stay doesn’t cause a sense of contrast and disharmony.
The organizers prefer not to hide the exhibits in the dusty basements, but to show as much as possible to people, therefore objects don’t have their own separate shelf, but make up a dense composition.
Address: 1201 Bannock St, Denver
3. Denver Art Museum
Denver Art Museum in Colorado has the largest collection of fine arts on the entire west coast. The building itself is a very interesting object of modern architecture. With the help of sharp corners and inclined planes, the architect tried to create the impression of broken rocks. Titanium finishing perfectly reflects the bright Denver sun, creating the illusion of a precious stone.
This is the only museum in Colorado featuring an extensive collection of Oriental arts. It’s presented in several halls, separated by countries and regions: Tibet, India, China, and Southeast Asia. Here there are not only recognized masterpieces, but also objects of folk art.
Much of the space is devoted to works of contemporary art. You’ll find there numerous paintings of such acknowledged masters as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Marcel Duchamp.
Address: 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver
4. Molly Brown House Museum
This is a historic building, and the home of the legendary Margaret Brown – one of the surviving passengers of Titanic. In the middle of the XX century with the active construction of high-rise buildings, the house was under threat of demolition.
The concerned public has saved this house together. The condition left much to be desired, it was necessary to spend a lot of effort and time to restore the original appearance, but the result exceeded all expectations.
Molly Brown was aristocrat, and together with her husband, they traveled all over the world. Active life position allowed her to easily endure difficulties and help others. One of her occupations has always been an active charity.
During the wreck of the Titanic, Molly found herself in a lifeboat along with other women. She managed to hold back the panic and urge everyone to work together. Even when the boat was picked up by the ship, she didn’t calm down.
The museum aims to preserve the memory of this heroic woman and tell her story to people.
Address: 1340 Pennsylvania St, Denver
5. Denver Museum Of Nature And Science
Thanks to the efforts of just one person, who was Edwin Carter – the ornithologist studying the local fauna. It took a little more than 100 years, and the original collection, housed in a log cabin, grew into a grand museum, containing more than a million exhibits.
The main activity is history and nature. There are several permanent exhibitions, and often mobile collections are held. A characteristic difference is interactive learning for children. A child can take part in the digging of dinosaur bones, make his discovery in the laboratory or just have fun in the room of crooked mirrors.
Every day guests are shown an exhibition dedicated to human evolution. Skeletons of huge prehistoric creatures won’t leave indifferent even adult visitors. In the Egyptian Hall, there are two mummies and various artifacts accompanying their tombs.
Address: 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver
Colorado is a state with a rich history, and Denver as its capital concentrates all the most interesting things in it. Here you will find many unique museums and galleries. Local architecture is presented both with the classic style of the Capitol and the futurism of the art museum. A visit to the city will be not only interesting, but also useful in terms of studying arts and history.
