10 Historic Landmarks & Buildings in Denver to Discover

Denver overflows with historic charm, boasting many compelling Historic Landmarks and Buildings in Denver for visitors to discover. When exploring the Mile High City’s distinct neighborhoods, you’ll find beautifully preserved architecture and evocative sites that provide windows into Denver’s storied past. From early frontier-era buildings to more recent landmarks, Denver’s historic places illuminate the city’s origins and evolution.

As Colorado’s capital and largest city, Denver has a rich history visible through historic buildings and landmarks across the city. There is no shortage of intriguing Historic Landmarks and Buildings in Denver for travelers to explore in order to immerse themselves in the Mile High City’s storied past.

These historic gems allow tourists opportunities to walk streets lined with late 19th-century architecture, visit locations central to Denver’s development, and learn about the diverse communities of pioneers, dreamers, and citizens who came together to shape the capital of Colorado. Exploring renowned sites and lesser-known historic treasures helps gain a meaningful understanding of how Denver grew from its Wild West roots into the cosmopolitan metropolis it is today.

See Also:

• Best hotels to stay in Denver
• Areas to Avoid in Denver

 

1. Molly Brown House Museum

This elaborate Victorian house museum of famous Titanic survivor Molly Brown in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood provides a glimpse into the sophistication of old Denver high society around the turn of the 20th century. Opulent decorations reflect Brown’s rags-to-riches tale. Touring the Historic Landmark of Molly Brown House Museum allows you to vividly imagine life in one of the major historic sites in Denver when it was just establishing itself as an up-and-coming American city.

 

2. Larimer Square

Larimer Square represents one of Denver’s historic districts, Colorado’s oldest surviving commercial hub. The square’s restored 19th-century buildings now house trendy shops, eateries, and watering holes that retain historical Old West charm. Strolling down Larimer Square feels like slipping back in time to the earliest frontier days of Denver’s history. Be sure to appreciate the square’s impressive collection of historic neon signs.

 

3. Union Station

The imposing neoclassical Union Station first opened in 1881 as the main passenger rail hub for Denver nicknamed the grand “Gateway to the Rockies.” After declining in prominence in the 20th century, the iconic building underwent major renovations completed in 2014 to restore its architectural glory. As one of the Mile High City’s historic sites, the Historic Landmark of Union Station allows travelers to admire Denver’s iconic original train station architecture and conjure up memories of the romantic era of early rail travel to the city.

 

4. Civic Center Park

Featuring stately Greek amphitheater architecture, landmarks like the State Capitol, and manicured public greenery, Civic Center Park was Denver’s first designated National Historic Landmark. Today it remains the central heart of the city for community gatherings and civic discourse. Walking through Civic Center Park provides insight into the governance history of Denver and Colorado, surrounded by some of the most popular historic areas in Denver, including key historic buildings.

 

5. Denver City and County Building

This imposing 1894 civic building combines Renaissance Revival and other late 19th-century styles of architecture. It has stood watch over downtown Denver for over a century. Statues on its facade honor Colorado pioneers, miners, and other state icons. Don’t miss the “Mile High” marker on the interior steps. As one of the best historic attractions in Denver, this Denver Historic Landmark embodies the frontier foundations and early aspirations of the Mile High City.

 

6. Four Mile Historic Park

Nestled just 4 miles from downtown, this well-preserved 12-acre farmstead is one of the best historic attractions in Denver, effectively transporting you back to 19th-century Denver country life. Tour the 1865 Four Mile House and 1890s barn to experience firsthand a time before electricity and modern amenities. Costumed guides enhance the immersive living history experience at this Historic Park.

 

7. Molly Brown’s Capitol Hill Neighborhood

In addition to her famous house museum, Molly Brown’s entire Denver Capitol Hill neighborhood provides an excellent and picturesque walking tour of the city’s formative years. Marvel at the elaborate preserved Victorian, Queen Anne, and other lavish old architectural styles gracing the Historic Buildings in Denver that sprung up around the Molly Brown place as Denver grew into a world-class city.

 

8. Hotel de Paris Museum

This former extravagant hotel in one of the historic neighborhoods in Denver’s Ballpark area that once hosted celebrity guests is now a museum focused on capturing the establishment’s glory days. Sip tea in the ornate lobby, view antique furnishings, and envision the elegance of accommodations in the early 20th-century heyday of this historic Denver Building.

 

9. Blanchard Mine

At the Blanchard Mine, one of the Denver historic landmarks, learn firsthand about Denver’s mining origins more than 1,000 feet underground at this turn-of-the-century Historic Landmark Mine. Ride a small train deep into the actual shafts to hear about techniques and dangers faced by early prospectors chasing Colorado gold and silver dreams.

 

10. Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art

Housed uniquely in the former studio of iconic mid-century Denver architect John Humphries, this distinctive art museum displays furniture, paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts tracing Denver design from the 1890s to the 1970s. As one of the top historic destinations in Denver, the collections offer artistic insight into the homes and lives of Denverites through the decades.

 

Conclusion

Denver is truly a city steeped in history, with an abundance of compelling Historic Landmarks and Buildings in Denver that offer windows into the Mile High City’s storied past. From early Native American settlements to the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush in the 1850s and Denver’s growth into a thriving frontier town and eventual major metropolitan area, the city has passed through many phases of evolution.

Exploring Denver’s historic buildings and landmarks allows you to vividly connect with the characters, communities, and events that came together to shape the capital of Colorado. Wandering historic districts like Larimer Square and Civic Center Park, admiring magnificent preserved architecture in neighborhoods like Capitol Hill, and visiting evocative sites like the Molly Brown House and Four Mile Historic Park immerses you in Denver’s story from its earliest days up through its continuing emergence as a leading American city.

Whether you are interested in Denver’s Wild West beginnings, boomtown development, governance history, artistic heritage, or culture as a transportation hub, experiencing historic places offers unparalleled insight. When you visit the many treasures among Denver’s Historic Landmarks and Buildings, the Mile High City’s storied past truly comes alive. Immerse yourself on your next Denver trip to appreciate firsthand how the city has evolved into the vibrant cosmopolitan capital it is today!