Colorado State Capitol Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Colorado State Capitol
U.S. National Historic Landmark District Contributing Property
U.S. Historic district Contributing property

The Colorado State Capitol in Denver
Location in Colorado Show map of Colorado Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	200 East Colfax Avenue Denver, Colorado, United States
Built	1886–1901
Architect	Elijah E. Myers
Architectural style	neoclassical style
Part of	National Historic Landmark District (#12001017) Civic Center Historic District (ID74002348)
Designated NHLDCP	October 16, 2012
Designated CP	February 27, 1974

The statue The Closing of an Era at the Colorado capitol.

The Colorado State Capitol Building is in Denver, Colorado. It is where the state's government works. This includes the Colorado General Assembly, which makes laws. It also has offices for the Governor of Colorado and other important state leaders.

Discovering the Colorado State Capitol
Exploring the Capitol Building
Gallery
See Also

Discovering the Colorado State Capitol

The Colorado State Capitol looks a lot like the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. An architect named Elijah E. Myers designed it. Workers built it in the 1890s using white granite from Colorado. The building first opened in November 1894.

The Famous Gold Dome

The Capitol's most famous feature is its shiny gold dome. This dome is covered in real gold leaf. It was first added in 1908. The gold remembers the exciting Colorado Gold Rush when many people came looking for gold.

A Historic Landmark

The Capitol is part of Denver's Civic Center area. It is a very important historical building. In 1974, it became part of the National Register of Historic Places. Later, in 2012, it was named a National Historic Landmark District. This means it is recognized as a special place in U.S. history.

Keeping the Capitol Safe

From 2001 to 2009, the building got a big safety upgrade. New safety features were added. These changes blended in with the original design. Many tours of Denver's buildings include a stop at the Colorado Capitol.

Exploring the Capitol Building

The Capitol Building sits on a small hill. This hill is higher than the rest of downtown Denver. When you enter, the main hall goes up 180 feet (55 meters). That's like an 18-story building!

One Mile Above Sea Level

Denver is known as the "Mile High City." The official height of Denver is measured right outside the Capitol. The fifteenth step on the west side has "One Mile Above Sea Level" carved into it. From this step, you can see the sun setting behind the Rocky Mountains.

In 1969, students found that the 18th step was actually a mile high. Then, in 2003, new tools showed the 13th step was the true mile-high spot. Now, there are three markers!

Building Materials

The outside of the Capitol is made of gray granite. This granite came from the Aberdeen Quarry in Colorado. About 24,000 tons of this stone were used!

The inside of the building is even more special. It uses a rare pink marble called Colorado Rose Onyx. This marble came from a quarry near Beulah, Colorado. So much was used that the quarry ran out! White Yule Marble from Marble, Colorado, was also used for the floors.

Art and History Inside

Many windows in the Capitol are made of stained glass. They show important people and events from Colorado's past. The hallways display portraits of every president of the United States. Artists like Lawrence Williams and Sarah A. Boardman have painted these portraits. Kirsten Savage is painting the portrait of President Joe Biden.