Denver is located on the South Platte River and just east of the Rocky Mountains (which can give a spectacular mountain view from almost anywhere in Denver).  The elevation of Denver is 5,280 feet, or 1,609 meters, which gave Denver its nickname the Mile High City.  Denver was once an early stopping place for Native Americans and trappers, it was settled in 1859 by one of the largest gold rushes in US History (even though most people found little or no gold).  Denver was actually created when two cities, which were rival cities, merger during the gold rush.  These cities of Auraria and St. Charles combined in 1860 to form the city now known as Denver!  Denver soone became the capital seven years later.

 

Denver saw a silver boom which was really big in the 1870s and 1880s, but it came to an end in 1893.  But unlike most other gold rush cities, Denver wasn't deserted thanks to the fact more gold was found in the area!

 

Today modern Denver is very important. It is a transportation, industrial, and commercial hub, and also has one of the nation's largest livestock markets!  Denver is a major center for winter sports, thus many ski resorts can be found in the surrounding vicinty (especially towards the West where the Rocky Mountains are located).  Denver also contains one of the U.S. Mint's branches which opened in 1906.  The Denver branch of the U.S. Mint produces about 75% of the U.S. coinage we use today and is the nation's second largest gold depository!