Colorado's Claim to Fame (Denver, Colorado Springs: theater, camps, garden)

[treedonkey]

Just what would YOU say are Colorado's major claims to fame? You know, things that are well known and really synonomous with our state or the cities within. They don't necessarily have to be things we are especially proud of, but they should be famous (or infamous) around the country....

You know... like Kentucky's Bluegrass, Florida's Oranges, Arizona's Canyon or Wisconcin's Cheese.

Here is my short list:
1) Rocky Mountains
2) Skiing (same as item 1?)
3) Broncos
3) The Denver Omelet
4) John Denver (remember, I said it doesn't to be things we're proud of)
5) Red --> Blue

Please add your own (and try to resist debunking mine)

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by treedonkey

Just what would YOU say are Colorado's major claims to fame? You know, things that are well known and really synonomous with our state or the cities within. They don't necessarily have to be things we are especially proud of, but they should be famous (or infamous) around the country....

You know... like Kentucky's Bluegrass, Florida's Oranges, Arizona's Canyon or Wisconcin's Cheese.

Here is my short list:
1) Rocky Mountains
2) Skiing (same as item 1?)
3) Broncos
3) The Denver Omelet
4) John Denver (remember, I said it doesn't to be things we're proud of)
5) Red --> Blue

Please add your own (and try to resist debunking mine)

What about Pikes Peak? The Mile High City? Royal Gorge?

[DOUBLE H]

1.54 mountain peaks-14,000 feet or more
2.673 mountain peaks-13,000 feet or more
3.United States Air Force Academy
4.Royal Gorge, west of Canyon City- highest suspension bridge in the world, 1053 feet.
5.Highest incorporated city in the United States- Leadville, elevation 10,152 feet.
6.Grand Mesa- largest flat top mountain in the States.
7.Denver Mint
8.Blue Mesa Reservoir-largest lake trout and Kokanee salmon fishery in the U.S.
9.Mesa Verde National Park-awesome!
10.Great Sand Dunes National Park-Ditto
11.Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park-ditto
12.Highest continuous stretch of U.S. highway-Trail Ridge Road
13.Highest paved mountain pass-Independence Pass, 12,095 feet.
14.Mining camps with a ton of history behind them-Silverton, Ouray, Leadville, Telluride, Tincup,Creede, etc.
15 Million Dollar Highway (U.S.550)
16 Mosquito Pass-highest Mountain pass in the States(gravel road)-elevation 13,185 ft.(betweem Fairplay and Leadville)
17.Durango-Silverton train
18.Cumbres-Toltec train (Antonito to Chama, NM)
19 ANA museum (American Numismatic Association) Coin collecting! The rarest coins minted. The "money rooms' are awesome!
20.Pikes Peak Hill Climb
21.National Western Stock Show
22.Bent's Fort- Nat'l Hist. Site, near La Junta-a lot of history there!
23.Broadmoor Resort- Colorado Springs
24.Cheyenne Mountain Zoo-Colorado Springs, been rated in the top 5 in zoos for decades!
25.Will Rogers Shrine- next to the zoo.
26.NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command)
27.Red Rocks Amphitheater
28.Mt. Evans highway-14,160 ft.
29 Dinosaur National Monument- part is in Utah, part is in Colorado.
30.Eisenhower tunnel-highest elevation tunnel in the U.S.-11,058 ft.
31.Colorado National Monument, west of Grand Junction
32.DIA (Denver International Airport). Been in the top 5 for busiest airports in the U.S.
33.One of four states that meet in one spot-the" four corners"-w/Utah, Arizona, New Mexico
34.Extension of #14- the most famous camps-Cripple Creek, Victor, Central City, Blackhawk
35.Hovenweep Nat'l Monument- Indian Ruins

[Josseppie]

The Professional Bull riding headquarters in Pueblo

and

The United States Olympic Committee headquarters in Colorado Springs
and
The Broadmore

[Mike from back east]

Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak and Manitou Cog Railway, Manitou Springs

Pioneer Museum, Colorado Springs

Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs

Fort Carson, Colorado Springs

[Josseppie]

Just a friendly reminder Fort Carson is also in Pueblo!

Pueblo is, also, known as the Gateway to the USAF!

[McGowdog]

Thinking people will be impressed about the whole "Mile High" or the "Native" thing.

Home of the "We pee in our radiators when our vehicles overheat!" -Wolverines!

PS: Good stuff HH! Hard to top that!

[treedonkey]

HH's list is most excellent, and it really reads like a must-see list that I will keep handy for all my wonderful years here. But...

I probably did not make my original intent clear enough... I was looking for things that don't necessarily contribute to the greatness of our state, but rather, things that people all across the country just know about, even if they've never been to CO and may not even be able to find it on a map.

That said, here's a revised list:
1) Pikes Peak and the Colorado Rockies
2) Vail, Aspen and Breck = world-famous skiing
3) The Mile-High City
4) The Denver Omelet
5) John Denver

[DOUBLE H]

Looking at the post a little closer, you're right. Sorry.

[blue182]

The culinary scene is notorious as well, don't forget Alfred Packer.

The nautical scene The Unsinkable Molly Brown, survivor of the Titanic!

Presidential scene First Lady Eisenhower.

Any more we can think of ??