History and culture - Front Range
The Capitol steps have more than one 'mile high' marker
Denver's nickname comes from sitting about a mile above sea level, and the State Capitol's west steps carry several 'One Mile Above Sea Level' markers from surveys done over the years.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 15, 2026
You will hear Denver called the Mile High City, and the nickname is close to literal. Parts of the city sit near 5,280 feet above sea level, which is about one mile straight up.
The handiest place to see this is the State Capitol. Its west steps face the mountains, and you will find more than one “One Mile Above Sea Level” marker on them. That is because surveyors have re-measured the spot over the years and the answer keeps shifting. Words were carved into the granite on the 15th step long ago, a later survey moved the honor up to the 18th step, and the current brass benchmark, placed in 2003, sits lower down on the 13th step. People still stop to stand on a marker and take a photo.
Why a newcomer should care beyond the photo: the altitude is real and affects daily life. The air is thinner than at sea level, the sun is stronger, and water boils at a lower temperature, which changes cooking. Visitors often feel the elevation for a day or two. The Capitol steps are a friendly reminder that you have moved up close to a mile in the sky.
For the history of the nickname and the markers, see History Colorado and the City and County of Denver.