A walk around Denver

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Colorado State Capitol and Civic Center Park

We found Denver to be a compact and walkable city. As our guidebook included a walking route which ended up at the State Capitol, very close to our B&B, we set off to do it in reverse.

The Capitol (1890s) wasn’t looking its very best with a bit of scaffolding round about, but we could still admire the ornate golden dome (1908) – 200 ounces of gold leaf went into that to celebrate the Colorado Gold Rush. Denver is also known as Mile High City and the 13th step up to the Capitol marks the exact point where that becomes true.

Colorado State Capitol
Colorado State Capitol
Civil War Monument
Colorado State Capitol portico
Colorado State Capitol dome
13th step Colorado State Capitol
Colorado State Capitol

Across the road Is Civic Center Park. I liked the idea of using part of it to grow produce for food pantries.

Civic Center Park
Ornate railings and Civic Center Park
Civic Center Park
Civic Center Park
Civic Center clock tower
Civic Center Park
Civic Center Park
Civic Center Park

Two Old West sculptures sit in the park, both by Alexander Phimister Proctor: Bronco Buster (1920) and On the War Trail (1922). Apparently, the model for the cowboy was arrested for murder before the statue was finished, but Proctor insisted that he should be allowed to continue posing for as long as he needed him.

Bronco Buster
On the war trail

To one side of the park are the public library and Denver Art Museum (DAM), both interesting buildings. The latter has one of the largest Native American art collections in the USA, which I can easily believe as we spent hours in there (including having lunch in their very fine restaurant, Palettes). Unfortunately, even though I still have the floor plan, I have not been able to caption much in the gallery below. I remember being fascinated by the video about creating the woman sitting with several infants between her legs, and could have told you its significance at the time, but now? No idea! That will teach me to leave things six months before writing them up.

Denver Public Library
Lao Tzu by Mark di Suvero
Big Sweep by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen
Trade canoe for Don Quixote by Jaune Quick-to-See Smith

Back on the street, we found plenty more art including this  40-foot-tall blue bear peeking through the window of the Convention Center (I See What You Mean by Lawrence Argent) and Jonathan Borofsky’s Dancers, two giant white figures prancing towards the Performing Arts Complex.

I see what you mean
Dancers

Our next stop was the Tattered Cover Book Store where we took the weight off our feet over a coffee. Friends had told us about this place: it was huge when they visited, but competition from Amazon and the like has reduced it to one floor. The little scene on the stairs commemorates Charlie Shugarts (1918-2007), Friend of Tattered Cover.

Tattered Cover, Denver
Tattered Cover, Denver

Our route then took us down Cherry Creek to the South Platte River. Here, in Commons Park, we found the sculptures below. I think, checking online, that these were temporary, part of an exhibition of nine sculptures by Jorge Marín called Wings of the City. I also realise I should have stood between the giant wings before John took the photo. Well, he knows I’m an angel anyway 😉

Wings of the City
Wings of the City
Wings of the City

Just beyond Commons Park is the dramatic Millennium Bridge which marks the beginning of the walking tour – or, in our case, the end. We were tired after being on our feet all day and decided, rather than going back to the B&B to come out again for dinner, we would eat earlier than normal so that we could go home to relax.

Millennium Bridge
Millennium Bridge

This also meant we could re-admire by night some of the buildings we had walked past earlier in the day, such as this one – the Daniels and Fisher Tower. Modelled after St Mark’s Bell Tower in Venice, it originally formed part of a department store, long since demolished. Since the 1980s it has been residential and office space. Wow, I’d love to live there!

Daniels and Fisher Tower
Daniels and Fisher Tower

Our vacation was rapidly drawing to a close – but the next day was a highlight: a meeting with a fellow blogger. Who could that be? More soon!

Colorado, USA

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  1. Pingback: On the Road: Big Blue Bear – Travels with Choppy

  2. I haven’t been to Denver in many years, and when I did go, I think I just drove through. I’d love to go back especially after seeing all the art and wonderful buildings. I love the State Capitol, despite its scaffolding, and the Denver Public Library and Art Museum. Do you take notes when you go on a guided tour? I often think I should because I can never remember all the interesting stories told by the guide. It looks like a fabulous walk. 🙂

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  5. I have to say Denver has never been on my list of places I really want to see, but your post has changed that. It looks like a really interesting city with lots on offer.

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    • Thanks Ellen, we really liked it. We chose it for its location, near the mountains, so didn’t have much idea about the city itself beforehand. We were very glad we went though!

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  7. I lived in Denver for nine glorious months and loved the various sculptures and architecture. I actually worked for Denver Public Schools. North, South, East, and West High Schools were built using four different architectural styles, which I loved. Just found your blog, so I need to go explore your explorations.

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  10. I’ve only ever travelled through Denver, never stopped. So I have only seen the railway station and the inside of the airport. Clearly I need to rectify that!

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  11. Thanks for sharing these terrific sculptures and art installations. We spent some brief time in Denver en route to Boulder where our oldest son went to University. Loved the proximity of the city to mountains etc but sadly did not have time for museums etc. so thanks for the tour!
    Pets

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  12. I’ve never thought much about Denver but it does look like a great city to visit (and probably live in). All the whimsical sculpture is fantastic, and I do like a compact, walkable place. Plenty of green space, handsome architecture and blue skies – what else could you want?

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  17. Looks an attractive, quirky and impressive city. Nice photos to highlight that as I don’t remember many films set in Denver.

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  18. You did very well remembering details for this post. I am now very intrigued to find out which blogger you met there!

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  22. Great introduction of Denver, Anabel. I don’t know how you could remember so many details! And it seems that you always know where to go and what to see! You are amazing!
    Have a wonderful day. Thanks for sharing.

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    • Thank you, Helen, that’s very kind! However, I have to confess I needed to look up a lot online for this because it was 6 months ago. Also, I always keep guidebooks, maps and brochures until I’ve written about somewhere and that’s a big help too.

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  24. Interesting to see the art by Native Americans. When I was in Australia it was the art by aboriginals that I found most interesting during gallery visits. But the work of white Australians and Europeans was generally given more prominence. I guess it’s the same in the USA.

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  25. What an excellent walk! I love the art pieces you saw and I wonder whose office it is who has the bear staring at them every day? 🙂 The artists have great eclectic tastes and I love that it is spread throughout the city. The woman with the kids-it looks like the kids all come from different races meaning we all come from the same place and are not that different after all. The tower does look likt e tower from Venice and in the last picture it looks like it is leaning?? I would love to have an apartment there as well.

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  28. Great post and photos, Denver looks like a really interesting city. The sculpture (?) of the woman with the kids sitting between her legs looks like something out of one of the Shrek films. 🙂

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  30. Hi Anabel – it must be amazing to see – gilding the lily .. .just a small dome! What fun – and it looks a delightful city … wonderful museum too – lots to see … cheers Hilary

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