25 FUN FACTS ABOUT DENVER1. The first permanent structure in Denver was not a hospital, bank or houseit was a saloon.2. Denver brews more beer than any other city in the nation, with over 200 different beers brewed daily.3. In Denvers rarified air, golf balls go about 10% farther than they would at sea level.4. Because of Denvers air and altitude, its also easier to get drunk. Alcoholic drinks can sometimes feel 1.5 to 3 times more potent in the Mile High City. Great American Beer Festival, in Denver

Denver's local beers5. The 1976 Winter Olympics were originally going to be held in Denver. However, after the community voted against it, the city withdrew their bid, making it the first place to ever turn down hosting the Olympics.6. Famed music group Led Zeppelin played their first show in America at the Denver Auditorium Arena on December 26, 1968.7. In 1902, the police at Denver Union Station started enforcing a no kissing rule on platforms because it slowed down the trains.8. Denver is one of the 12 US cities to have teams from four major sports (baseball, hockey, football and basketball).9. Denver has been named the Baby Boomer Capital of America, boasting a higher number of baby boomers than any other US city.10. The dome of the Colorado state capitol is plated with real 24K gold.11. However, the real rarity of the Colorado state capitol is on the inside because the buildings interior has large amounts of Colorado Rose Onyx. The worlds entire known supply of the material was used on the building.

Colorado's Rose Onyx at The Capitol12. Denver was rated as the healthiest city in the country for pets by Purina, ranking high in categories like veterinarian to pet ratio and low number of fleas.13. Denver has the largest city park system in the nation, with 14,000 acres of mountain parks and 2,500 acres of natural areas.14. The iconic Blue Mustang sculpture, near the main road into airport, is rumored to be cursed. Its sculptor, Luis Jimenez, died in a freak accident while creating it when a piece of the 9000 pound sculpture fell on his leg and severed an artery. The stallion is now known as the Devil Horse and Blucifer.15. Denver currently has more marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks stores.16. The 16th Street Mall in Denver was designed by master architect I.M. Pei, who also created the glass pyramid outside of the Louvre in Paris17. When viewed from above, the 400,000 pieces of granite paving on the pedestrian walkway of the 16th Street Mall resemble the skin of a western diamondback rattlesnake.18. Denver was named after Kansas Territorial Governor James Denver in hopes of gaining political favor. However, by the time the town was named, Governor Denver had retired.19. Denver is one of the few cities in the country that wasnt built on a road, railroad, lake or navigable body of water. Settlers were attracted to the spot because of the gold found there.20. The Denver Performing Art Complex is the 2nd largest performing arts center in the world.21. Denver is home to the Great American Beer Festival, the American brewing industrys top beer tasting opportunity and competition.22. The Denver mint is the single largest producer of coins in the world. You can tell if a coin is made in Denver by a D mark.23. Contrary to popular belief, Denver is not within the Rocky Mountains. Instead, its near them, lying at the base of the mountain range. In fact, it was built on the high planes and is one of the flattest cities in America.24. Denvers bright blue sky really is bluer than many other cities. Because of Denvers elevation, the air has less water vapor than it would at a lower altitude, making for a gorgeous sky!25. Denver International Airport is the largest airport in the country in terms of land area. Its so huge that the four busiest airports in the US (Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, OHare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport) could fit into Denver Airports 53-square miles of land.