From festivals and landmarks to restaurants and cultural attractions, here's a master list of things that make Colorado great.
Even as Denver’s boom takes a breather, new people are coming to town, looking for time-honored spots to grab a bite and get the flavor of the city, or can’t-miss sights that give them a real feel for Colorado.
If you’re just in the metro area for a day, you still must see Red Rocks, visit Larimer Square. And if you have time for a drive, why not take a swing through the San Luis Valley and catch the Gator Farm, the UFO Watchtower and the Great Sand Dunes all in one loony loop?— and to provide a starter set for exploring not just Denver, but the area around the Mile High City — we’ve created the Colorado Classics: 150 people, places and things that are basic building blocks to learning about this state and creating the best time possible in Denver, whether it’s just during a layover at the airport or over a lifetime., which should be on everyone’s must-visit list. The architecture by David Tryba is stunning, the floor inlaid with a giant map of the state is a marvel , and many of the exhibits are eye-openers. There’s thethat was toppled from a pedestal outside the Colorado State Capitol during the George Floyd riots, standing by the stairs in all his graffitied glory. His place by the Capitol is slated to be taken by a memorial to the Indigenous people of this land, particularly those who lost their lives in the Sand Creek Massacre. Three floors up from the soldier, a permanent exhibit devoted to that dark day in 1864,, discusses the tragedy from the perspectives of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, who were not pleased with the original display after its creators failed to hold congressionally-authorized consultations with the tribes. These days, though, the History Colorado Center is all about conversation, inclusivity…and Colorado’s 150th birthday. In addition to programs at its satellite facilities around the state , it has added three sesquicentennial-specific shows:, which uses fifty objects and several distinct viewpoints to tell the story not just of Colorado, but of the country.History Colorado is not alone in celebrating the state’s birthday, a much easier observance than bringing people together in this divided country. Cities and counties all over Colorado are hosting special events. Denver Film is working up a list of the 150 best films made in Colorado, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame is collecting the top 150 best sports moments in the state, andwill do the same for music. One of the moments worth noting: Katherine Lee Bates was so inspired by Pikes Peak that she wrote “America the Beautiful,” possibly the only thing that Donald Trump likes about Colorado., Colorado was the first state to give women the right to vote — by a popular vote in 1893, when only men were allowed to participate.When Richard Lamm was a new lawmaker representing a Republican district , he pushed through the first legislation in the country allowing abortion. It was 1967, and there were many restrictions — but it was a start. Colorado boosters worked hard to win the 1976 Winter Olympics for Denver. But environmentalists and progressives worked just as hard to make sure that no taxpayer money would go to the Games, taking the issue to a vote of the people. Coloradans sent the Olympics packing and Dick Lamm to the governor’s office.As it turns out, Boulder County clerk Clela Rorex wasn’t the first official in the country to issue a gay marriage license . But when she allowed two Colorado Springs men to wed in 1976, it was the first such union to make headlines across the country.Think the country’s divided now? It was no picnic when Richard Nixon was in office, and in 1971, a group unhappy with both major parties formed the national Libertarian Party in a Denver living room.Back in 1981, the Denver water department took a look at the high desert around the Mile High City and decided it was time to focus on water-conscious landscaping. Forty-five years later, the city’s looking at its driest summer on record…but, thanks to Denver Water, it won’t be its ugliest.As the metro area was suffering through the oil bust of the ’80s, arts lovers came up with a way to help out the suffering cultural institutions: a one-penny sales tax on every $10 spent in the metro area. Today, the SCFD tax is the envy of other counties around the country…and coming up for a well-deserved renewal.In 1992, Colorado voters approved establishing a lottery with the expectation that GoCo would invest a portion of the proceeds to help outdoor organizations, including local governments and nonprofits, add more open space and protect this state’s very great outdoors.Years before Colorado legalized the sale of retail cannabis, Denver was the first major city in the country to decriminalize possession of marijuana, putting an end to unjust enforcement. And the city was once again at the forefront in decriminalizing psilocybin.Man does not live by dread alone: Denver excels at the light stuff, too, as evidenced by the first documented use of outdoor holiday lights, invented by an electrician wanting to perk up a bedridden son in December 1912.Enjoying this state is as easy as a walk in the park…unless you hit the Manitou Incline. Here are some favorite stops.Buffalo Bill Grave and Museum, GoldenDenver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys, Lakewood“Alicia Cordova Mural,” Jodie Herrera, Jaime Molin and Jher, Denver“It’s Not What You Take, It’s What You Bring,” Detour, DenverDo you have a nomination for a Colorado Classic? We’ll be adding to this list until the big day on August 1, 2026, 150 years after Colorado became a state. Send suggestions to editorial@westword.com….and party on!, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator onWestword has always been free, and we want to keep it that way. But we can no longer rely solely on advertising to support our newsroom. If you value independent journalism, please consider making a contribution to support our work and keep Westword forever free.
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