The State Capitol building of Colorado in Denver is famous for its steps — one of which demarcates the distinction of being one mile above sea level, which is one reason why Denver is also known as the Mile High city. Unfortunately, no fewer than three steps have received this designation. Will the real mile high step please step up?
Will The Real Mile High Step Please Step Up?
The steps that are in question are located on the west side of the building. They are comprised of native white granite rock from the state of Colorado.
A closer look reveals that step number 15 is engraved with the words ONE MILE ABOVE SEA LEVEL. Several plaques which were used prior to the engraving in 1947 were reportedly stolen. This distinction of step number 15 being officially one mile high above sea level has been held from 1909 to 1969.
However, the measurements of a group of engineering students from Colorado State University in 1969 calculated that step number 18 was the step that was truly 5,280 feet above sea level.
The installation of a bronze medallion marked this discovery. Today, this bronze marker is almost impossible to read what is engraved on it, as it is faded from wear and tear.
Attempting to figure out what was engraved on a closer view of this bronze marker was fruitless.
To further fuel this dizzying controversy, the measurements of researchers in 2003 identified step number 13 as the correct benchmark. William Forrester Owens — who was the governor of Colorado at that time — gave the keynote address at an official ceremony on Monday, September 29, 2003 as another brass marker was formally installed. It is engraved with the silhouette of the Rocky Mountains and clouds in the sky; and it designates that step number 13 is 5,280 above sea level.
Step number 18 has been determined to be 3.03 feet higher than step number 15. The discrepancy has to do with an update to the North American Vertical Datum, which is the standard control of orthometric height in the United States. A previous standard was used for the measurements in 1969 and not the North American Vertical Datum of 1988, whose standard currently remains in use.
No one knows whether the mile-high marker is due for another move. You are welcome to attempt to measure the steps yourself and place your bet on whether you are accurate…
…but when you get to the top of the stairs near the entrance doors to the building, turn around. Take in the view of the mountain range. If you are fortunate enough and arrive at the right time, you can watch the sun set behind the mountains as the lights of the city illuminate.
Unnecessarily Gratuitous Salaciousness Alert
All right — this is the time to hide your children for this part of the article. If you would rather cover their ears and eyes, you can do that too.
What is known as the Mile High Club has purportedly existed for at least 107 years.
I was upgraded to the top floor of the Tru by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center hotel property recently. A thought entered my mind: if two people have physical intimate relations with each other in the top floor of this building, do they not technically become members of the Mile High Club? After all, the top floor of that building is higher than any of the aforementioned granite steps at the state capitol building; and certainly higher than one mile above sea level. Does official acceptance into the Mile High Club really require performing the completion of sexual activity aboard an airplane during a flight?!?
Feel free to post your thoughts in the Comments section below.
Now that we have had a little levity, we return back to the regularly scheduled article already in progress. Your children may return as well.
Final Boarding Call
I successfully stood or walked on every step of the State Capitol building in Denver to ensure that I indeed was at least 5,280 feet above sea level. I was unsuccessful in December of 2020 when a temporary fence enclosed the perimeter of the entire building — with no way for anyone to get to those steps. This thankfully temporary initiative was a result of a high alert throughout the United States at the time which led to angry members of a mob who swarmed and stormed the United States Capitol building in the District of Columbia on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 and caused damage — as well as resulted in a minimum of five fatalities and at least 140 injuries.
Colorado State Capitol
200 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80203
The steps of the building are open to the public 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.
Free parking is usually unavailable near the state capitol building. Parking can be paid at either metered parking spots or nearby parking lots.
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
