Five Little Known Facts About Denver, Colorado

For decades many vacationers have chosen Denver as the destination for their trip.  The city offers a great deal to do within its boundaries, and even more activities and attractions that can be experienced within a short drive outside the city.  The city has long been popular with those seeking outdoor recreation, due in large part to its placement near the Rocky Mountains, but it also offers plenty of conventional attractions as well.  The city of Denver has a long and interesting history with many ties to America's “Old West” history and the westward expansion of the country.  Here is a look at five little known facts about Denver, Colorado.

1. The first mass arrival of people to the Denver area came during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush in 1858.  A collection or homes and businesses were built on the east bank of the South Platte River just north or where Little Dry Creek emptied into the river.  This new community that would eventually turn into modern day Denver was originally called Montana City.
2. The first newspaper in Denver was the Rocky Mountain News which was founded in 1859 shortly after the area was settled.  It would continue to operate in the city unfettered by any real competition until the Evening Post was founded in 1892, the name would be changed to the Denver Evening Post in 1895 before finally becoming The Denver Post in 1901.  These two newspapers would be the main newspapers in town, competing against each other year in and year out for more one hundred years, until the Rocky Mountain News ceased operations in 2008.
3. The Red Rocks Amphitheatre, located outside of Denver, is one of the most popular concert venues in the United States.  Since the 1940s this natural rock formation, altered for public use by early Denver area developers and then the Civilian Conservation Corps, has staged a yearly series of concerts.  There was a five year ban on rock and roll concerts held at Red Rocks during the early 1970s.  This was the result in a violent episode involving a large group of fans trying to gain entry into a Jethro Tull concert when they did not have tickets.
4. Cheesman Park is a popular park with a number of featured attractions in Denver.  The name has also come to refer to the neighborhood surrounding the park too.  The park is home to a number of immaculately landscaped areas including flower beds, a fountain area, and a mile and a half long walking trail.  Early in Denver's history, the area that makes up this park was originally a cemetery.  The Mt. Prospect Cemetery opened in 1858 and in 1873 it changed its name to the Denver City Cemetery.  In 1890, The United States Congress voted to allow the city to vacate the cemetery that had fallen into a state of disrepair and rebuild the area for use as a city park.
5. Denver International Airport is the largest and primary airport for the entire region surrounding the city of Denver.  It ranks as the fourth busiest airport in the entire United States and is the largest airport in the country when ranking by physical size with the airport property covering just over fifty-three square miles.  The project to build Denver International Airport was authorized in 1989 and became fully operational in 1995.  At the time of its completion it came in at more than two billion dollars over budget and sixteen months behind schedule.

Whether visiting the area for a vacation, long weekend, or as just one stop in a much larger trip, the Denver area is uniquely positioned to offer a fabulous time to anyone that comes there.  The city has a number of interesting museums and historical sites that should appeal to anyone with an interest in that area.  It is also home to a vibrant professional sports scene with many successful franchises competing in some of the world's top sports. 

Shopping and dining out are also popular diversions for locals and travelers alike, and Denver has more than enough opportunities for anyone wanting to take advantage of those activities too.  When you combine the natural beauty and rugged scenery that surrounds Denver with all that the city has to offer, you end up with what is truly one great place to visit.