As the seat of state government, the imposing hilltop capitol (1886, Elijah Myers) is home to the General Assembly and offices of the governor and other officials. Constructed over 22 years in the shape of a Greek cross, the granite capitol is a smal..

This mint, one of four in the country, produces half the coins circulated in the US. It strikes 10 billion coins a year, producing an average of $3.5 million each day, and tends one-fourth of America's gold reserves-shipped from San Francisco in 1934..

This 1999 aquarium is distinguished by its focus on American river habitats. Colorado River Journey begins in the trout-rich streams of the Rockies and depicts a 1,500mi course through the arid Grand Canyon to the subtropical Sea of Cortez. Tropical ..

This thin, twin-towered building (Gio Ponti), faced in iridescent tile, is a modern fortress looming over Civic Center Plaza, with exhibits on seven vertically stacked, 10,000sq-ft gallery floors. A new wing (Daniel Libeskind), designed to resemble a..

From a modest origin in 1900, this three-story museum has grown to become one of the largest in the US, with more than 500,000 specimens and artifacts. Included are 95 natural-history dioramas and exceptional collections of fossils, minerals and cult..

Extending southeast from the bus terminal to Civic Center Plaza, the tree-lined Mall was created in 1982. The route is flanked by office towers, street-level cafes and shops, and 11 fountains. Horse-drawn carriages and free shuttle buses are the only..

Five US presidents and the Beatles have stayed at "The Brown," Denver's grandest hotel (1892, Frank Edbrooke). The nine-story Italian Renaissance landmark is made of red granite and sandstone. Twenty-six stone medallions depicting Rocky Mou..

The world's largest brewing complex, founded in 1873 by immigrant brewer Adolph Coors, stretches for 2mi along Clear Creek. Tours follow the 16-week beer-making process through malting, brewing and packaging. Some 1.5 million gallons of beer are prod..

A striking Postmodern structure (1995, Michael Graves & Brian Klipp), this $64 million library-largest in the US between Chicago and Los Angeles-boasts six public floors and 47 miles of shelves. Seventy panels by artist Edward Ruscha adorn its main h..

Made famous by a Broadway musical and an Oscar-nominated 1964 movie, the "unsinkable" Molly Brown experienced new popularity after the 1998 movie Titanic. Visits to her home surged as well. Guided tours (60min) of the 7,700sq ft sandstone h..

Galleries at this museum include an 1800-1949 timeline and exhibits on cowboys, pioneer lifestyle, transportation, and black and Hispanic cultures. Of note are numerous artifacts from Mesa Verde, removed in the late 19C before the establishment of th..

Nearly 4,000 animals of 700 species are at home in this 80-acre zoo, laid out on an oval around a 1.5mi loop. Summer visitors may tour the grounds aboard the Safari Shuttle, an open-air electric bus, or the Pioneer Train, a scale model of an 1878 tra..

With 30 themed areas, these gardens are a tranquil oasis amid urban congestion. From early spring to the first hard frost, rose, lilac, peony, iris and daylily gardens attract birds and butterflies. The Rock Alpine Garden mimics high-altitude life zo..

The largest rail museum in the Rocky Mountains displays more than 70 examples of trains that brought development and settlement to the frontier West.

The city of Denver’s premiere sports center, nestled in the South Platte River Valley, is the place to see basketball and ice-hockey games. Built in 1999, it seats up to 20,000 people for music concerts and other events.

Established in 1890 in northwest Denver, Elitch Gardens moved in 1995 to this site and became part of the Six Flags chain. Thrill rides and a cartoon town are among its draws.

Opened in 1999, this modern aquarium incorporates the sights, sounds and climate of simulated American and Asian river habitats, from their headwaters to the Pacific Ocean. Colorado River Journey begins in the trout-rich streams of the Rockies and de..