Colorado Facts & Trivia
Neat things to know about Denver, Colorado: (Info taken from the Internet)
Denver Colorado began in 1858 when news of the discovery of gold in the Colorado Territory began to spread to the East. Although not much gold actually was found in the area, just the word of it led to a huge influx of prospectors into the region. The California Gold Rush had occurred less than 10 years before and people were looking for a way to "get rich quick" in the new lands to the west.
Buffalo Bill Cody and his "Wild West" performers spent time in the area in the early days. After the Civil War, the all Black Buffalo Soldiers were stationed in and around Denver, too.
The South Platte River ran through Denver and became the center of the newly forming town. Log cabins, tepees, lean-tos and wagons provided shelter to the many people who sought their fortune here. Pikes Peak, the 14,000 foot mountain located south of the mining camps along the Platte River served as a landmark and was the source for the famous "Pikes Peak or Bust" gold rush.
While many men focused on gold mining, others set claim to land, laid out streets and sold the land to others following behind them. General William Larimer claim-jumped the land on the Eastern side of the South Platte River, laid out a city and named it after the Kansas Territorial Governor, James Denver, in hopes of gain political favor with that gentleman. He was too late, however, as Governor Denver already had resigned.
Meanwhile, a huge gold strike was discovered in nearby Central City. Denver was nearly deserted as people flocked up the hill to search for gold in Central City; however, little gold was found after the initial strike. That, along with the severe mountain weather, led people gradually to return to Denver, build homes and establish Denver as a trade center. Denver is known for having over 300 days of sunshine a year and people enjoyed that and set down their roots.
Interesting Facts about Colorado:
Highest Climb. The highest vertical climb is not on a mountain but up the north side of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River. Rising 1,700 feet, this sheer rock face is even higher than the famous Diamond on Longs Peak and was not conquered until 1969.
Deepest Snow. In 1899 Crested Butte recorded 254 inches of snow near the top of Keebler Pass. That year, snow buried a train near Leadville and left only stove pipes showing above cabins at many mountain towns. Usually, Wolf Creek Pass near Pagosa Springs gets the most snow in Colorado .
Oldest Hotel. The Peck House in the little town of Empire, near Berthoud Pass, is Colorado's oldest hotel. It was built in 1859 by James Peck. President Ulysses S. Grant was one of the earliest guests.
Highest Town. Leadville is the highest (10,200 feet) incorporated town in Colorado and the entire U.S.
Largest Gold & Silver Nuggets. The biggest gold nugget in Colorado weighed 135 ounces and was found near Breckenridge in 1887. The biggest silver nugget weighed 1,840 pounds and was found at an Aspen mine in 1894.
Largest Elk Antlers. Measuring 52 inches at the widest point, the antlers of an elk killed in 1899 near Crested Butte are still on display at that town's visitor center. In 1961, researchers declared it to be the largest elk rack in history.
Toughest Climate. No crops are grown around the town of Silverton, north of Durango. At 9,318 feet elevation, Silverton's growing season between frosts is only two weeks. San Juan County there is reportedly the only county in the U.S. without a single acre of agricultural land.
Worst Drought. About every 40 years, Colorado experiences a drought, according to tree-ring researchers. The worst was in the 1200s. It lasted 25 years and may have driven the Indians from Mesa Verde. During the Dust Bowl on the eastern plains, one cloud of dust on April 4, 1935, gathered itself to 1,000 feet high and 200 miles wide. It traveled at 60 miles an hour, suffocated hundreds of animals and damaged many people's health.
Driest Town. Delta, south of Grand Junction , gets less rain per year than Tucson , Arizona .
Interesting neighborhoods in the Denver area include:
Five Points, rich in African-American culture and stately Victorian houses, to the hip restaurants and nightclubs of historic LoDo (Lower Downtown), to the quaint, tree-lined streets of Old South Gaylord and Old South Pearl. The 210-foot high French Gothic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception towers above turn-of-the-century mansions in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, while the adjacent Colfax Avenue has some of the best music venues in the city.
Three diverse commercial districts make Highlands Denver’s largest neighborhood, and this community with its distinct Hispanic heritage has been featured in Travel & Leisure Magazine, Men's Journal and National Geographic Traveler. Highlands is also home to the thriving Tennyson Street Cultural District and the Navajo Street Art District, both bursting with galleries, boutiques, and studio spaces. Just south of downtown is The Art District on Santa Fe, showcasing the largest concentration of art galleries in Colorado, and the nearby Antique Row is a popular haunt on South Broadway. There is a wealth of Asian culture and food throughout the city -- click here for a detailed overview.
Denver’s premier shopping and dining neighborhood is Cherry Creek North, with 320 independently owned shops, galleries, boutiques, and spas. The spectacular Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Public Library are just two of the many architectural marvels located in an area of the city known as the Golden Triangle Museum District. A vibrant mix of urban culture, Capitol Hill and Congress Park's historic mansions share space with newer condos and apartments, resulting in an eclectic young community.
Elitch Gardens Amusement Park, the Children’s Museum, and Downtown Aquarium highlight the Riverfront, a neighborhood bordering the South Platte River. In recent years, LoDo has been reborn as one of the city's liveliest areas, with shopping, nightlife and dining options galore. Larimer Square is Denver's trendiest block, with upscale shops and boutiques, not to mention some of the city's most beloved eateries. Uptown is packed with hip stores and dramatic views of downtown and the mountains. Just north of Downtown, you'll find the River North Art District (RiNo), with a host of art galleries, cafes and creative types.
A short drive northwest from Denver is the quaint town of Golden, home of Buffalo Bill’s grave, while a quick trip to the southeast lands visitors in Historic Downtown Littleton, featuring a charming "Main Street" America, lined with turn-of-the-century buildings that now house unique, independently owned businesses. Visitors will also be charmed by Olde Town Arvada.
Denver’s newest neighborhood, Stapleton, offers a diverse mix of dining and retail. In all, Denver’s neighborhoods boast a diverse collection of local eateries, sidewalk cafes, art galleries, wine bars, neighborhood pubs, and independent shops, adding flavor and charm to the Mile High City. Don't miss Belmar, Lakewood's exciting new downtown, a vibrant entertainment, shopping and dining district.
Colorado’s 10 national parks and monuments, 13 national forest and grasslands and 42 state parks provide abundant opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rafting or photographing our native wildlife.
The Centennial State is also rich with cultural heritage found in ancient cliff dwellings, frontier forts, historic railroads, as well as 25 scenic and historic byways. Travelers seeking cosmopolitan Colorado look to our vibrant cities, towns and resorts for superb shopping, exceptional cuisine, cutting-edge art, plus top-notch music, dance and theater.
Complete with travel-planning tools, articles, information on cities and towns, Colorado state maps, itineraries and more, Colorado.com is your one-stop vacation planner. Order the free Official State Vacation Guide for trip ideas and to find out what’s now, timeless and surprising about traveling in Colorado. And save money while vacationing by visiting our Hot Deals. With deep discounts and only-in-Colorado deals, these special offers are wallet-friendly ways to experience more with less.
Denver Colorado began in 1858 when news of the discovery of gold in the Colorado Territory began to spread to the East. Although not much gold actually was found in the area, just the word of it led to a huge influx of prospectors into the region. The California Gold Rush had occurred less than 10 years before and people were looking for a way to "get rich quick" in the new lands to the west.
Buffalo Bill Cody and his "Wild West" performers spent time in the area in the early days. After the Civil War, the all Black Buffalo Soldiers were stationed in and around Denver, too.
The South Platte River ran through Denver and became the center of the newly forming town. Log cabins, tepees, lean-tos and wagons provided shelter to the many people who sought their fortune here. Pikes Peak, the 14,000 foot mountain located south of the mining camps along the Platte River served as a landmark and was the source for the famous "Pikes Peak or Bust" gold rush.
While many men focused on gold mining, others set claim to land, laid out streets and sold the land to others following behind them. General William Larimer claim-jumped the land on the Eastern side of the South Platte River, laid out a city and named it after the Kansas Territorial Governor, James Denver, in hopes of gain political favor with that gentleman. He was too late, however, as Governor Denver already had resigned.
Meanwhile, a huge gold strike was discovered in nearby Central City. Denver was nearly deserted as people flocked up the hill to search for gold in Central City; however, little gold was found after the initial strike. That, along with the severe mountain weather, led people gradually to return to Denver, build homes and establish Denver as a trade center. Denver is known for having over 300 days of sunshine a year and people enjoyed that and set down their roots.
Interesting Facts about Colorado:
Highest Climb. The highest vertical climb is not on a mountain but up the north side of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison River. Rising 1,700 feet, this sheer rock face is even higher than the famous Diamond on Longs Peak and was not conquered until 1969.
Deepest Snow. In 1899 Crested Butte recorded 254 inches of snow near the top of Keebler Pass. That year, snow buried a train near Leadville and left only stove pipes showing above cabins at many mountain towns. Usually, Wolf Creek Pass near Pagosa Springs gets the most snow in Colorado .
Oldest Hotel. The Peck House in the little town of Empire, near Berthoud Pass, is Colorado's oldest hotel. It was built in 1859 by James Peck. President Ulysses S. Grant was one of the earliest guests.
Highest Town. Leadville is the highest (10,200 feet) incorporated town in Colorado and the entire U.S.
Largest Gold & Silver Nuggets. The biggest gold nugget in Colorado weighed 135 ounces and was found near Breckenridge in 1887. The biggest silver nugget weighed 1,840 pounds and was found at an Aspen mine in 1894.
Largest Elk Antlers. Measuring 52 inches at the widest point, the antlers of an elk killed in 1899 near Crested Butte are still on display at that town's visitor center. In 1961, researchers declared it to be the largest elk rack in history.
Toughest Climate. No crops are grown around the town of Silverton, north of Durango. At 9,318 feet elevation, Silverton's growing season between frosts is only two weeks. San Juan County there is reportedly the only county in the U.S. without a single acre of agricultural land.
Worst Drought. About every 40 years, Colorado experiences a drought, according to tree-ring researchers. The worst was in the 1200s. It lasted 25 years and may have driven the Indians from Mesa Verde. During the Dust Bowl on the eastern plains, one cloud of dust on April 4, 1935, gathered itself to 1,000 feet high and 200 miles wide. It traveled at 60 miles an hour, suffocated hundreds of animals and damaged many people's health.
Driest Town. Delta, south of Grand Junction , gets less rain per year than Tucson , Arizona .
Interesting neighborhoods in the Denver area include:
Five Points, rich in African-American culture and stately Victorian houses, to the hip restaurants and nightclubs of historic LoDo (Lower Downtown), to the quaint, tree-lined streets of Old South Gaylord and Old South Pearl. The 210-foot high French Gothic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception towers above turn-of-the-century mansions in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, while the adjacent Colfax Avenue has some of the best music venues in the city.
Three diverse commercial districts make Highlands Denver’s largest neighborhood, and this community with its distinct Hispanic heritage has been featured in Travel & Leisure Magazine, Men's Journal and National Geographic Traveler. Highlands is also home to the thriving Tennyson Street Cultural District and the Navajo Street Art District, both bursting with galleries, boutiques, and studio spaces. Just south of downtown is The Art District on Santa Fe, showcasing the largest concentration of art galleries in Colorado, and the nearby Antique Row is a popular haunt on South Broadway. There is a wealth of Asian culture and food throughout the city -- click here for a detailed overview.
Denver’s premier shopping and dining neighborhood is Cherry Creek North, with 320 independently owned shops, galleries, boutiques, and spas. The spectacular Hamilton Building at the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Public Library are just two of the many architectural marvels located in an area of the city known as the Golden Triangle Museum District. A vibrant mix of urban culture, Capitol Hill and Congress Park's historic mansions share space with newer condos and apartments, resulting in an eclectic young community.
Elitch Gardens Amusement Park, the Children’s Museum, and Downtown Aquarium highlight the Riverfront, a neighborhood bordering the South Platte River. In recent years, LoDo has been reborn as one of the city's liveliest areas, with shopping, nightlife and dining options galore. Larimer Square is Denver's trendiest block, with upscale shops and boutiques, not to mention some of the city's most beloved eateries. Uptown is packed with hip stores and dramatic views of downtown and the mountains. Just north of Downtown, you'll find the River North Art District (RiNo), with a host of art galleries, cafes and creative types.
A short drive northwest from Denver is the quaint town of Golden, home of Buffalo Bill’s grave, while a quick trip to the southeast lands visitors in Historic Downtown Littleton, featuring a charming "Main Street" America, lined with turn-of-the-century buildings that now house unique, independently owned businesses. Visitors will also be charmed by Olde Town Arvada.
Denver’s newest neighborhood, Stapleton, offers a diverse mix of dining and retail. In all, Denver’s neighborhoods boast a diverse collection of local eateries, sidewalk cafes, art galleries, wine bars, neighborhood pubs, and independent shops, adding flavor and charm to the Mile High City. Don't miss Belmar, Lakewood's exciting new downtown, a vibrant entertainment, shopping and dining district.
Colorado’s 10 national parks and monuments, 13 national forest and grasslands and 42 state parks provide abundant opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts, whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, fishing, rafting or photographing our native wildlife.
The Centennial State is also rich with cultural heritage found in ancient cliff dwellings, frontier forts, historic railroads, as well as 25 scenic and historic byways. Travelers seeking cosmopolitan Colorado look to our vibrant cities, towns and resorts for superb shopping, exceptional cuisine, cutting-edge art, plus top-notch music, dance and theater.
Complete with travel-planning tools, articles, information on cities and towns, Colorado state maps, itineraries and more, Colorado.com is your one-stop vacation planner. Order the free Official State Vacation Guide for trip ideas and to find out what’s now, timeless and surprising about traveling in Colorado. And save money while vacationing by visiting our Hot Deals. With deep discounts and only-in-Colorado deals, these special offers are wallet-friendly ways to experience more with less.
