A sprawling patchwork at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, Denver is the Mountain West’s largest city. Denver straddles two worlds — the wide expanse of the American Great Plains and the rugged recesses of the Rockies. It is a city at the crux of history, always looking forward while staying deeply aware of its roots.
Denver is known for its breathtaking altitude, its multicultural heritage, and rich beer culture. Denver is also famous for its urban art districts, Red Rocks Amphitheater, and for having some of the nation’s healthiest residents.
Let’s take a look at these 17 things Denver is known and famous for.
Table of Contents
1. Mile High City
They call it the Mile High City because, well, Denver is famous for its mile-high altitude. Its official altitude, measured from the 13th step of the Colorado State Capitol, is exactly 5,280 feet above sea level.
What does that mean for you if you’re visiting from lower altitudes? It means you should drink more water than usual, mind your P’s and Q’s while touring Denver’s breweries, and enjoy this metropolis at the foot of the Rockies.
2. Marijuana
Denver is one of the highest cities in America in more ways than one. Colorado was the first state to establish legal retail of marijuana and its capital city has become an epicenter of marijuana culture.
Denver is known for both the production and selling of weed and marijuana products. Between recreational and medical weed, there are hundreds of dispensaries and grow facilities across the city. If weed is your thing, Denver is the perfect place for a (responsible) Rocky Mountain high.
Check out our list of what souvenirs to bring home from Colorado and why marijuana isn’t one of them.
3. Denver International Airport
Denver is famous for the Denver International Airport, the largest airport in North America and one of the world’s busiest. But it has a dark secret… maybe.
Due to the murals inside depicting apocalypse and subsequent utopia, it has become the subject of conspiracy theories. Internet users have run wild with theories, encouraged by other strange facts like a total cost far over budget and an organization that doesn’t exist listed as one of the airport’s contributors.
Listen, I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but I’ve seen these murals. They’re certainly a… peculiar choice for interior design, but it’s worth taking a gander as you wait for your flight.
4. Blucifer
Did I mention the 30-foot-tall rearing blue mustang with glowing red eyes that towers over the entrance to the airport? No? How rude — meet Blucifer.
The official title is Blue Mustang, designed by Luis Jiménez. The statue has earned a sinister reputation in Denver, in part for its appearance but also because Jiménez tragically died in a fatal accident while working on the statue.
Beloved by some, loathed by others, memed by many… Blucifer is without a doubt a modern Denver icon.
5. Mexican heritage
Before Colorado was part of the United States, it was part of Mexico. In the 1840s, Mexico ceded territory to the United States after the Mexican-American War, land that eventually became states like California, Arizona, and Colorado.
Mexican identity continues to thrive in Denver, where almost one in four residents are Mexican-American. Several large Mexican-American celebrations occur each year, such as the nation’s largest Cinco de Mayo celebration and Dia de Los Muertos art shows and events.
Denver is also home to abundant Mexican cuisine, from the low-key eateries and food trucks of West Alameda Avenue to upscale dining around Union Station.
6. Indigenous heritage
And before it was part of Mexico, the lands Denver is built on were, and still are, home to various Indigenous tribes, such as the Arapaho and Ute nations.
Indigenous communities in and around Denver come together each year for the Denver March Powwow. Native American artists also gather for multiple art fests, markets, and powwows each year.
The Denver Art Museum hosts a collection of Indigenous artifacts that display the history of North America’s first civilizations.
7. Denver cuisine
The collision of cultures has led to interesting gastronomy in Denver. Its flavors are heavily influenced by Mexican and New Mexican cuisines, in particular the use of the New Mexico chile.
Some of Denver’s iconic include the breakfast burrito, Rocky Mountain oysters, the Denver omelet, and, according to some sources, the cheeseburger. Beyond its signature dishes,
Denver also features an array of international and New American restaurants beyond the bounds of its gastronomy.
8. Beer culture
In Denver, beer is the new gold. Denver is known for its beer culture and density of national and micro-breweries. The history of beer stretches back to the days of the Colorado Gold Rush.
Every year, you can sample the tastes of America during the Great American Beer Festival, which is held around the same time as the Denver Oktoberfest. Or you can carve your route among the cities brewpubs, breweries, and locales repping local brews.
9. Chipotle
Denver is known for Chipotle. The fast-casual restaurant first opened its doors in the Mile High City. Since then, the eatery has spread its Mexican-inspired flavors and emblematic corrugated facades across North America and to some countries in Europe.
10. Rodeos
As an epicenter of Wild West culture, Denver is famous for rodeos. What makes Denver special is its diverse rodeos showcasing the various cultures and identities that have shaped cowboy culture.
At the National Western Stock Show, riders and cowboys compete at events across weekends in January. The events include a Mexican-style rodeo, a Colorado vs. world champions rodeo, and an African-American heritage rodeo.
Also in Denver is the Rocky Mountain Regional Gay Rodeo, where cowboys, cowgirls, and cowfolks of the LGBTQ+ community flaunt their rodeo skills.
11. Family-friendly wildlife fun
Because Denver is known for family-friendly wildlife fun, the Mile High City is a great place to come with children. There are so many things to do in Denver for the family to learn about and experience wildlife.
The Downtown Aquarium, for example, focuses on the link between freshwater and ocean ecosystems. Meanwhile, the Wild Animal Sanctuary outside Denver provides a home for wild animals suffering mistreatment or slated for euthanasia.
Don’t skip the Denver Zoo’s Trick-or-Treat-Trail for some Halloween spooks this season. Throughout the rest of the year, take a visit to the greenest zoo in the country.
12. Gardens and parks
Though Denver is a sprawling metropolis, it has no shortage of parks. Over 200, in fact! From the 314-acre City Park to small neighborhood parks, there’s a green space for you.
Located inside Cheesman Park are the beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens, in which you can explore the diversity of plants that thrive in Colorado’s arid climates. The gardens also feature ornamental and international flora, as well as art exhibitions and a botanical library.
13. Red Rock Amphitheater and other concert venues
Cut between perfectly acoustic monolithic rocks, 10,000 seats overlook Denver and the stage at Red Rocks Amphitheater. This concert venue has seen the likes of The Beatles, U2, and John Denver, and is a popular place to record live performances.
The venue, which is owned by the City of Denver, is also a popular recreation spot.
Beyond Red Rocks, Denver is known for its many concert venues. From opera houses and theatres to park lawns and sports arenas, Denver has near-limitless capacity for performances large and small.
14. Diverse neighborhoods
Denver is known for the 78 distinct neighborhoods that compose the city. Each neighborhood forms a piece of the history, culture, and livelihoods of the city.
You can find every kind of block in Denver, from the modern eateries around Union Station and the Art District of Santa Fe to the verdant Congress Park and the retail avenues of Cherry Creek North. Take a look at a breakdown of the neighborhoods before you go.
15. Healthy residents
Denver is known for having healthy residents. The Mile High City frequently ranks high on lists of the fittest cities in the nation. With all the huffing and puffing from the altitude, it’s no wonder.
Denverites value health and physical activity. Denver is known for its healthcare industry, but it also is a city that encourages physical activity. Most residents can walk to a park within 10 minutes.
With the Rocky Mountains looming over the city and four national parks throughout Colorado, the great outdoors beckon Denverites. They answer the call, always ready to explore the natural beauty and stay healthy in mind, soul, and form all the while.
16. Professional sports
Denver is known for its sports teams. The NFL’s Broncos, the MLB’s Rockies, the NHL’s Avalanche, the NBA’s Nuggets, and more professional and minor-league teams all form a critical part of Denver’s culture and city pride.
The city is also a popular place for athletes across many sports to train for demanding events like the Olympics, marathons, and during the off-season.
17. Burgeoning art scene
Between its performing arts companies, museums and galleries, installations pushing the limits of art, and districts devoted to creativity, Denver is famous for its art scene. Street art can be seen in RiNo and Santa Fe art districts.
Or you can catch a show at the Denver Performing Arts Complex, which has 10 performance spaces.
One of the most curious artistic draws is Meow Wolf Denver, an immersive arts experience that plays with the psychedelic. As Denver became the first city to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms, it’s no surprise to find such a spot in the Mile High City.
Conclusion
Denver is a one-of-a-kind city known and famous for so many more things than this list can include. Whether you’re a Denverite or someone who knows some interesting things about the city, drop us a comment if you have something to add.
