We walked completely around the observation deck for wonderful views of the city. It was hazy out so the enormous range of the Rocky Mountains nearby was scarcely visible.
City views
The Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception was completed in 1911.
The Argonaut Hotel is a five-story brick and granite building built in 1913. It now serves as an apartment building.
St. Paul's English Evangelical Lutheran Church
Colorado State Judicial Branch
Made to look like stone, the columns are actually cast iron that have been painted over.
The giveaway is that there are spots that aren't perfectly smooth.
The Denver City & County Building was completed in 1932.
This was a photo of the city taken in 1893 by William Henry Jackson.
Click for a larger version
The large building in the center with the dome is neither the capitol (since the photo was taken from the capitol building) nor is it the City & County Building (since that wasn't built until the 1930's). It is... drum roll please... the Arapahoe County Courthouse, built in 1883.
Originally, Denver was a city within the very large Arapahoe County. But in 1902, the Homerule Amendment (or Rush Amendment) was passed. It gave incorporated Colorado cities of a certain size (those such as Denver) limited home rule powers. In short, the City and County of Denver got its own separate judicial district.
The courthouse suddenly became obsolete. But it remained for another 30 years while people tried to figure out where to build a new city hall. Eventually it was demolished to make way for a park... and then a parking lot... and by 1957 it was a skating rink and a department store. I believe it is now a bank and hotel, but tall buildings now blot out our view of where it once stood (a couple blocks to the right of the current City & County Building).
The dome being built, 1891
The Kittredge Building was completed in 1890. It was one of the first buildings downtown to have an elevator.
It's hidden, but the Kittredge Building still stands!
The Central Presbyterian Church (on Sherman Street) was built in 1891. It's two years old here... and by far the largest building around.
It's a dwarf now!
We headed back inside and made our way back down the stairs to the attic. We still had a few gold questions so we asked the man who was sitting by the door who had let us in. He didn't know the answers but had a few handy books and pamphlets to look things up.
Researching
To make gold leaf, artisans in Italy roll the gold, beat it into a paper-thin foil, then cut it into rolls of 4 inches x 67 feet.
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Above is one of the original drawing designs. Note the 12-foot woman on the top.
A doorknob bears the state seal.
- At the top is the Eye of Providence or the All Seeing Eye
- Below that is a bundle of rods (symbolizing strength in unity) around an axe (authority and leadership)
- The shield has snow-capped mountains and mining tools
- The motto is Latin meaning "Nothing without providence" or "nothing without the Deity"
- 1876 is the year Colorado came a state
