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A Brief History of Denver

April 06, 2020

denver skyline

When adventures are more distant on the horizon, it’s a good time to research the places you’d like to visit from the comfort of home. History can inform interesting itineraries for future trips—and Downtown Denver has quite a history.

In 1858, a gold mining town was founded on the banks of the South Platte River, not far from the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. While the gold quickly dried up, the city soon became a supply hub for newer mines in the Rockies.

Eventually, Denver grew into the state capital. When a railroad line was built through Denver, it started Denver’s journey to becoming a transportation hub. The city’s economy revolved around processing and shipping minerals and ranch products until World War II. After that, oil and gas companies began to move their headquarters to Denver, fueling a skyscraper boom. The small urban core expanded into today’s skyline surrounded by ever-growing suburbs.

Denver continues to have a magnetic force in the center of America.