13th Step Mile-High Marker at the Colorado State Capitol

A bronze marker embedded in the 13th step of the Colorado State Capitol marks an elevation of exactly one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level. The marker is the origin of Denver's nickname, the "Mile High City," and is a frequently visited tourist object. The exactness of the designation is debated because other locations in Denver also claim to be a mile high and different surveying datums yield slightly different elevations.