150 Colorado Classics: A Starter Set of Places to Go, Things to See

Even as Denver’s boom takes a breather, new people are coming to town, looking for time-honored spots to grab a bite and get the flavor of the city, or can’t-miss sights that give them a real feel for Colorado. If you’re just in the metro area for a day, you still must see Red Rocks, visit Larimer Square. And if you have time for a drive, why not take a swing through the San Luis Valley and catch the Gator Farm, the UFO Watchtower and the Great Sand Dunes all in one loony loop?

In honor of Colorado’s 150th birthday — and to provide a starter set for exploring not just Denver, but the area around the Mile High City — we’ve created the Colorado Classics: 150 people, places and things that are basic building blocks to learning about this state and creating the best time possible in Denver, whether it’s just during a layover at the airport or over a lifetime.

To get a fresh perspective, we left the Best of Denver 2026 headquarters after finishing our 300th-or-so Best of Denver award and ran across the street to the History Colorado Center, which should be on everyone’s must-visit list. The architecture by David Tryba is stunning, the floor inlaid with a giant map of the state is a marvel (even if those Time Machines that were supposed to tell stories as they traveled across the expanse were a non-starter), and many of the exhibits are eye-openers. There’s the Civil War soldier that was toppled from a pedestal outside the Colorado State Capitol during the George Floyd riots, standing by the stairs in all his graffitied glory. His place by the Capitol is slated to be taken by a memorial to the Indigenous people of this land, particularly those who lost their lives in the Sand Creek Massacre. Three floors up from the soldier, a permanent exhibit devoted to that dark day in 1864, The Sand Creek Massacre: The Betrayal That Changed Cheyenne and Arapaho People Forever, discusses the tragedy from the perspectives of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, who were not pleased with the original display after its creators failed to hold congressionally-authorized consultations with the tribes.

The country that’s observing its 250th birthday the same year the Centennial State marks its 150th.

History Colorado is not alone in celebrating the state’s birthday, a much easier observance than bringing people together in this divided country. Cities and counties all over Colorado are hosting special events. Denver Film is working up a list of the 150 best films made in Colorado, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame is collecting the top 150 best sports moments in the state, and Colorado Music Hall of Fame will do the same for music. One of the moments worth noting: Katherine Lee Bates was so inspired by Pikes Peak that she wrote “America the Beautiful,” possibly the only thing that Donald Trump likes about Colorado.

But there’s so much more to like about this state, including these 150 Colorado Classics:

Ideas and Inventions

Those mountains inspire people not just to song, but to celebrating human rights.

Women’s Suffrage. As Moments That Made Us notes, Colorado was the first state to give women the right to vote — by a popular vote in 1893, when only men were allowed to participate.

Abortion Rights. When Richard Lamm was a new lawmaker representing a Republican district (yes, Denver had such a thing at the time), he pushed through the first legislation in the country allowing abortion. It was 1967, and there were many restrictions — but it was a start.

Rejecting the Winter Olympics. Colorado boosters worked hard to win the 1976 Winter Olympics for Denver. But environmentalists and progressives worked just as hard to make sure that no taxpayer money would go to the Games, taking the issue to a vote of the people. Coloradans sent the Olympics packing and Dick Lamm to the governor’s office.

Gay Marriage. As it turns out, Boulder County clerk Clela Rorex wasn’t the first official in the country to issue a gay marriage license (thanks for bursting our bubble, Moments That Made Us). But when she allowed two Colorado Springs men to wed in 1976, it was the first such union to make headlines across the country.

Libertarian Party. Think the country’s divided now? It was no picnic when Richard Nixon was in office, and in 1971, a group unhappy with both major parties formed the national Libertarian Party in a Denver living room.

Xeriscaping (now ColoradoScaping). Back in 1981, the Denver water department took a look at the high desert around the Mile High City and decided it was time to focus on water-conscious landscaping. Forty-five years later, the city’s looking at its driest summer on record…but, thanks to Denver Water, it won’t be its ugliest.

Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. As the metro area was suffering through the oil bust of the ’80s, arts lovers came up with a way to help out the suffering cultural institutions: a one-penny sales tax on every $10 spent in the metro area. Today, the SCFD tax is the envy of other counties around the country…and coming up for a well-deserved renewal.

Great Outdoors Colorado. In 1992, Colorado voters approved establishing a lottery with the expectation that GoCo would invest a portion of the proceeds to help outdoor organizations, including local governments and nonprofits, add more open space and protect this state’s very great outdoors.

Decriminalizing Cannabis. Years before Colorado legalized the sale of retail cannabis, Denver was the first major city in the country to decriminalize possession of marijuana, putting an end to unjust enforcement. And the city was once again at the forefront in decriminalizing psilocybin.

Holiday Lights. Man does not live by dread alone: Denver excels at the light stuff, too, as evidenced by the first documented use of outdoor holiday lights, invented by an electrician wanting to perk up a bedridden son in December 1912.

Landmarks

Enjoying this state is as easy as a walk in the park…unless you hit the Manitou Incline. Here are some favorite stops.

Commercial Attractions

The magnificent surroundings have inspired some entrepreneurs to create their own towering attractions (in reputation, at least)

Annual Events and Festivals

From music to mayhem, serious topics to silliness, Colorado enjoys its fun in the sun.

Museums and Cultural Institutions

Sometimes you just have to take a break from the great outdoors.

Public Art

From Blucifer to the Big Blue Bear, creatives continue to make their mark on Colorado.

Bars and Restaurants

In the state where Coors was created, many liquid assets remain. Colorado cuisine is solid, too.

• Ace-Hi Tavern, Golden
• Bastien’s, Denver
• Buckhorn Exchange, Denver
• Bud’s Cafe & Bar, Sedalia
• The Bull & Bush, Glendale
• Bucksnort, Sphinx Park
• Butcher Block, Denver
• The Castle, Littleton
• Casa Bonita, Lakewood
• Charlie Brown’s, Denver
• Cherry Cricket, Denver 
• Clancy’s Irish Pub, Wheat Ridge
• Coors Tavern, Pueblo
• Columbine Steakhouse, Denver
• Cruise Room, Denver
• Davies Chuck Wagon Diner, Lakewood
• Don’s Mixed Drinks, Denver
• Dushanbe Teahouse, Boulder
• El Taco de Mexico, Denver
• The Fort, Morrison
• Gaetano’s, Denver
• Grizzly Rose, Denver
• La Fiesta, Denver
• Lakeview Lounge, Edgewater
• Lechuga’s Italian Restaurant, Denver
• Lion’s Lair, Denver
• Little Man Ice Cream, Denver
• McCoy’s Restaurant, Denver
• Mexico City Lounge, Denver
• The Minturn Saloon, Minturn
• My Brother’s Bar, Denver
• Nob Hill Inn, Denver
• The Perfect Landing, Englewood
• Pete’s Satire Lounge, Denver
• PS Lounge, Denver
• Rioja, Denver
• Ship Tavern, Denver
• Silver Dollar Saloon, Leadville
• The Sink, Boulder
• Star Bar, Denver
• Sushi Den, Denver
• Tamales by La Casita, Denver
• Welton Street Cafe, Denver
• Wynkoop Brewing Co., Denver

What Did We Miss?

Do you have a nomination for a Colorado Classic? We’ll be adding to this list until the big day on August 1, 2026, 150 years after Colorado became a state. Send suggestions to editorial@westword.com….and party on!