Everything Morrison is known for
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.
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 world's only naturally occurring acoustically perfect amphitheatre, carved between two 300-foot sandstone monoliths near Morrison, Colorado, where every major artist from The Beatles to U2 has played.
William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody, the most famous showman of the American frontier, is buried atop Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado, a site he chose himself for its commanding view of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains.
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.
The first major gold strike in Colorado, where John Gregory's 1859 discovery in Gregory Gulch launched the Pikes Peak Gold Rush and built a mining town that called itself the Richest Square Mile on Earth.
46 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.
The world's only naturally occurring acoustically perfect amphitheatre, carved between two 300-foot sandstone monoliths near Morrison, Colorado, where every major artist from The Beatles to U2 has played.
Hungry for history? This isn't just a restaurant; it's a carefully crafted tribute to Colorado's past. The Fort, built by Sam Arnold starting in 1961, was inspired by Bent's Old Fort, a vital trading post on the Santa…
Pull over here for a minute; this unassuming spot holds clues to Colorado's earliest inhabitants. The LoDaisKa Site, tucked into that rockshelter, was excavated in the 1930s. Archaeologists found evidence of human…
Imagine soldiers training right here, preparing for duty. Camp George West, established for the Colorado National Guard, was a crucial training ground, especially for rifle practice. While artillery practice was…
William F. 'Buffalo Bill' Cody, the most famous showman of the American frontier, is buried atop Lookout Mountain near Golden, Colorado, a site he chose himself for its commanding view of the Great Plains and the Rocky…
Imagine Molly Brown, the 'Unsinkable' Titanic survivor, escaping Denver's summer heat right here. Avoca Lodge, or the Molly Brown Summer House, offered Margaret Brown and her husband, James Joseph Brown, a retreat near…
Pull over here for a second! This tiny park packs a punch, offering a breathtaking view and a connection to a powerful Ute leader. Colorow Point Park is named for Chief Colorow, a prominent figure in the Ute Nation. He…
This unassuming mound of earth and stone holds a secret: it's an ammunition bunker from World War II. Back in 1940, as the world braced for war, this igloo-shaped bunker was built at Camp George West. Its thick stone…
Step back in time at this 1867 stone hotel, a relic from Golden's early days as a bustling frontier town. The Astor House was built in 1867. It was known by several names, including Castle Rock House and Hotel Boston,…
Stand on hallowed ground, a final resting place for over 122,000 souls who served our nation. This is Fort Logan National Cemetery, named for General John A. Logan, a key figure in the Union Army during the Civil War.…
This unassuming spot was once a beacon of hope for those battling tuberculosis. In 1904, the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society, or JCRS, opened its doors here in Lakewood, Colorado. It was a non-sectarian sanatorium…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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 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 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,…
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…
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.
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…
Imagine Colorado's second governor, John Evans, escaping the pressures of Denver for a mountain retreat right here. This is the former Evans–Elbert Ranch, a 300-acre spread he built with his son-in-law, Samuel Hitt…
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 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…
Denver's foundational boom arrived with the Colorado Gold Rush of 1858-59, sparking a rapid influx of prospectors and entrepreneurs to this Front Range setting. The city quickly established itself as a vital supply hub…
Imagine a river of gold flowing beneath your feet! That's essentially what the Argo Tunnel was designed to do, draining a fortune in gold from the surrounding mountains. Construction began in 1893 and continued until…
Imagine digging a 4-mile tunnel through the mountains to drain and access mines; the Argo Tunnel is an engineering marvel of the gold rush. The Argo Tunnel, originally called the Newhouse Tunnel, stretches over 4 miles…
This unassuming building holds stories of Colorado's changing fortunes. The Blue Jay Inn, built in the late 1880s in Buffalo Creek, served many purposes over the years. Initially, it was a boarding house, offering…
This seemingly simple water tower is a reminder of the age of steam and the iron horse that shaped Sedalia. In 1906, the Denver and Santa Fe Railway Company, a subsidiary of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway,…
Hold on tight; you're about to drive through a place once called the Richest Square Mile on Earth! This is the Central City/Black Hawk Historic District, a preserved window into Colorado's gold rush days. Back in the…
Pull over for a drink, and maybe catch a glimpse of a ghost! The Teller House is more than just a historic hotel; it's a place steeped in legend. Built in 1872, the Teller House quickly became a lavish social hub in…
Pull over for a second and imagine the echoes of arias and applause! This isn't just any building; it's the Central City Opera House, a place that once pulsed with the energy of Colorado's gold rush era. Built in 1878,…
The first major gold strike in Colorado, where John Gregory's 1859 discovery in Gregory Gulch launched the Pikes Peak Gold Rush and built a mining town that called itself the Richest Square Mile on Earth.