Denver History

Denver, the "Mile High City," is the capital of Colorado. It is a growing city, nestled between the Great Plains and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Vibrant and progressive, Denver is a city that manages to move forward, even as it embraces its frontier past.

In 1858, General William Larimer staked a claim on the hill overlooking the junction of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek. He named the town site Denver City, in honor of Kansas Territorial Governor James W. Denver. Larimer sold parcels of land to merchants and miners, and Denver developed into a struggling gold mining town. It wasn't until the silver rush in Colorado during the 1870s that Denver truly began to prosper.

The Denver Mint, which got its start coining gold dust during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush, is the single largest producer of U.S. currency in the world. The Mint offers daily tours, making it a popular tourist attraction despite the fact that they don't give out free samples.

Denver's parks have been a point of civic pride since the early 20th century, when mayor Robert Speer began his campaign to expand and enhance the city's parklands. City Park, the largest and most notable park in the city limits, contains the Denver Zoo and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The vast Denver Mountain Park System, located outside the city limits, includes Red Rocks Park and the Winter Park Ski Resort.