There are not only a lot of great things about Denver; there are also a lot of great things from Denver. For starters, everyone knows that Denver was one of the first major American cities to legalize recreational marijuana use and enjoy a made-to-order burrito from Chipotle, but did you know that the Mile High City was the first to experience a number of other things as well? Take, for instance, these 11 Colorado inventions that first came from Denver:
1. Denverites were the first to devour a juicy cheeseburger...
Many have claimed to have invented the cheeseburger, but we KNOW that it's among the many things Denver did first. It was invented by Louis Ballast of the Humpty Dumpty Drive-In in Denver.
2. ...sip the Silver Bullet...
Sure, we all know that Coors (the largest brewing facility in the world) is based out of Golden... but did you know that it was also INVENTED there by immigrants Adolph Coors and Jacob Schueler in 1873?! (You probably did, but just humor me and act surprised.)
3. ...and begin our days with a bowl of Shredded Wheat.
Is there anything better than a big bowl of Shredded Wheat -- which was invented by Henry Perky in Denver in 1890 -- to start your day? We didn't think so!
4. Having our day messed up by a wheel clamp.
The dreaded wheel clamp (or "Denver Boot") was invented in 1944 by concert violinist Frank Marugg as a favor to his friends in law enforcement and politics. It might not be one of our favorite things from Denver, but it's still worth a mention.
5. Decorating our home with Christmas lights.
It's the most wonderful time of the year and early 20th century merchants along the 16th Street Mall invented the most beautiful home decor of them all! (Seeing as though I never have to put them up/take them down, I am in LOVE with this kitschy Denver invention.)
6. Used a wad of cotton to... well...
Seeing as though this is a family site, I won't say too much about the invention of the tampon except for the fact that it's among the many inventions from Denver. It was created here in Colorado by Dr. Earle Haas (who also invented the diaphragm).
7. Shop 'til we drop.
Attention all teenagers and mall walkers: The shopping center was invented by Denverite Temple Buell, who dreamed up the Cherry Creek Mall (pictured) in the early 1920s! Oh, and another fun fact: Buell also designed the Paramount Theater, 16th Street Mall, and - you guessed - the iconic Buell Theater.
8. Xeriscape our yards.
During a dry spell in the early 1980s, Denver Water conceived the concept of xeriscaping, or "landscape (an area) in a style which requires little or no irrigation." Today, this idea is huge all over the country and can still be found in yards across Colorado.
9. Pop bottles with ease.
God bless Mark Manger and our beloved GrOpener, which saves our palms from discomfort and quenches our thirst at record speeds.
10. Drop our phone without it breaking.
The downside to your GrOpener and opening beers with ease is the fact that you are more susceptible to dropping your iPhone... enter the ingenious OtterBox, which is headquartered in Fort Collins.
11. Sporting our Crocs.
Among the many things Denver did first, Crocs have to be the most embarrassing. Despite the fact that they feel like walking on a cloud, I feel the need to apologize for this invention... Rest in peace, dignity; rest in peace.
So, were you aware of all the things Denver did first? What about all the great Colorado inventions from Denver? What other things from Colorado would you add to this list? Share your thoughts with us!
Are you ready to discover more of what Denver has to offer? Check out these unforgettable tours in Denver that everyone should take at least once. Another of our favorites is a picnic lunch in Rocky Mountain National Park.
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/colorado/denver/best-tours-to-take-denver/
Did you know a couple of Colorado ski instructors founded the Smartwool company in 1994? Sure, hiking was "invented" long before that, but a hike around Hanging Lake wouldn't be the same today without this moisture-wicking innovation. Grab your favorite merino wool socks, and some maps from AllTrails+, and then watch this video for some inspiration:
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