Everything Brighton is known for
Aurora, Colorado, a place where the plains meet the foothills, hums with a particular energy. It's a place of everyday life, but also a place that has fostered extraordinary talent.
Standing on the sidewalk outside the Colorado Convention Center at 700 14th Street in Denver is a 40-foot-tall, bright blue American black bear on its hind legs, both front paws on the building's glass, peering inside. Its official title is "I See What You Mean," but everyone calls it the Big Blue Bear. Sculptor Lawrence Argent created it for the convention center, installed in 2005 at a cost of about $424,400. He took the idea from a newspaper photo of a bear looking through a window, and the blue color was nearly an accident: he had planned earthy, natural tones until a blue mockup won him over. It has been Denver's unofficial mascot and one of its most photographed artworks ever since. Argent died in 2017. (Sources: Wikipedia; CPR; VisitDenver.)
The Buckhorn Exchange holds Colorado Liquor License No. 1, issued when it opened in 1893. Teddy Roosevelt ate here. Buffalo Bill was a regular. The walls are covered with over 500 taxidermied animals. The menu features elk, quail, rattlesnake, and Rocky Mountain oysters. It's a museum that serves dinner — Denver's oldest restaurant and a portal to the frontier West.
Margaret 'Molly' Brown survived the Titanic, fought for workers' rights, ran for Congress, and became one of the most famous women in America, all after starting as a miner's wife in Leadville, Colorado.
31 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.
Pull over for a second – this isn't just any cemetery; it's Riverside, Denver's oldest, and it holds secrets of the city's wild early days. Established in 1876, Riverside became the final resting place for folks from…
Known locally as "The Pillar of Fire," this historic landmark stands out on the Colorado horizon. Construction of Westminster Castle, originally intended to house Westminster University, began in 1893. However, the…
Ever wonder what it was like to live in a booming coal town? This unassuming house on Simpson Street holds a piece of that history. Built around 1900, the Lafayette House opened as a boarding house, offering a place for…
This unassuming house is a testament to Mary Miller, the woman who literally put Lafayette, Colorado on the map. Miller arrived in Colorado in 1863. More than two decades later, after discovering coal on her land, she…
Imagine life as a coal miner in the late 19th century at this former boarding house. The Kullgren House, built in 1896, stands at 209 East Cleveland Street in Lafayette. It was home to Andrew Kullgren from 1896 to 1919.…
Imagine this quiet stretch of highway buzzing with activity: Fort Vasquez was once a vital hub in the bustling fur trade! In 1835, Louis Vasquez and Andrew Sublette established this fort, a crucial trading post where…
Ever wonder who brought the railroad to Westminster? It might just be the guy who built this house. That's the Bowles House, built around 1871 by Edward Bruce Bowles and his wife, Mahala. Bowles came to Colorado as a…
Aurora, Colorado, a place where the plains meet the foothills, hums with a particular energy. It's a place of everyday life, but also a place that has fostered extraordinary talent.
Ever wonder what a real castle is doing in Denver? This is Richthofen Castle, built in 1887 for a German Baron. Baron Walter von Richthofen, a member of a prominent aristocratic family, commissioned architect Alexander…
Prepare to see something truly unique: the only historic round barn still standing in Colorado! This is the Delaney Barn. Back in the early 1900s, the Delaney family homesteaded here. They raised horses, dairy cattle,…
Margaret 'Molly' Brown survived the Titanic, fought for workers' rights, ran for Congress, and became one of the most famous women in America, all after starting as a miner's wife in Leadville, Colorado.
Roll down the windows and crank up the tunes, because this spot has been a Denver music hub for over a century! Originally called the Thompson Theater, this building opened its doors way back in 1914. Around 1922, it…
Walk across this historic 1888 Pratt truss bridge, a survivor of Denver's industrial past. It replaced a wooden bridge at this location, providing a vital connection across the South Platte River as Denver boomed. Built…
Ever wonder where music legends made history in Denver? That's right here at the Ogden Theatre. Built in 1917, the Ogden started as a movie house, but it quickly transformed into a premier music venue. Over the decades,…
This beautifully restored station was once the gateway to the West, connecting Denver to the rest of the country. The original Denver Union Station opened June 1st, 1881, but it tragically burned down just thirteen…
Imagine being surrounded by luxury where presidents and celebrities have rested their heads for over a century. That's the Brown Palace Hotel.Construction began on this iconic Denver landmark in 1889, spearheaded by…
Pull over near the Paramount Theatre and imagine the roar of the Mighty Wurlitzer organ filling the space! This isn't just another concert venue; it's a piece of Denver's entertainment history. Originally known as the…
Denver's story begins with the glint of gold. Almost overnight, a small settlement transformed into a boomtown, fueled by the Pikes Peak Gold Rush. It needed a name, and a quick political maneuver landed it "Denver,"…
Ever wondered about a place that offered a radical alternative to early 20th-century medicine? You're driving right by where it stood. This spot was once the Tilden School for Teaching Health, a unique sanitarium and…
Standing on the sidewalk outside the Colorado Convention Center at 700 14th Street in Denver is a 40-foot-tall, bright blue American black bear on its hind legs, both front paws on the building's glass, peering inside.…
Hold onto your hats, folks, because right here stands a place where billions of shiny coins have been born! This is the Denver Mint, a vital cog in the US economy since its opening. Back in the late 1800s, the Colorado…
Ever wonder where First Ladies grew up? You're near the former home of Mamie Eisenhower's parents, John and Elivera Doud. John and Elivera Doud lived in this house for a significant period. Their daughter, Mamie,…
Ever wonder what happens to a fancy Victorian mansion when times change? This is the Creswell Mansion, now known as the Marijuana Mansion, and it's a perfect example. Designed by prominent Denver architect John J.…
Denver's story is deeply intertwined with the dreams of those who sought fortune and a new life. The city itself owes its name to James W. Denver, the governor of the Kansas Territory at the time. Though he had already…
Ever wonder why a college campus has a building that looks like a Bavarian castle? This is the Tivoli Brewery, and its story is surprisingly central to Denver's history. Built in 1870, it quickly became one of the…
Get ready to dance where sermons once echoed, because this stunning building has been reborn as The Church Nightclub. Built in 1889, this was originally St. Mark's Parish Church, an Episcopal church designed by the…
Right here, in the heart of Denver, stands a house that witnessed the city's transformation and the rise of influential women. This is the Byers-Evans House, now home to History Colorado's Center for Colorado Women's…
Experience the magic of Denver's first professional theatre, where legends like Grace Kelly once graced the stage. The Elitch Theatre opened in 1890 as part of Elitch Gardens. It quickly became a cultural hub, hosting…
Imagine stepping back in time to Denver's gilded age at the Grant–Humphreys Mansion! Completed in 1902, this Neoclassical beauty was commissioned by James Benton Grant, a former Governor of Colorado. Designed by the…
The Buckhorn Exchange holds Colorado Liquor License No. 1, issued when it opened in 1893. Teddy Roosevelt ate here. Buffalo Bill was a regular. The walls are covered with over 500 taxidermied animals. The menu features…
Imagine stepping back in time to a Denver saloon where cowboys and city slickers rubbed elbows! That's the Buckhorn Exchange, Denver's oldest restaurant, still serving up history and hearty meals. Founded in 1893 by…