Colorado State Capitol dome and mile-high marker

Designed by architect Elijah E. Myers and completed in 1894 in a Renaissance Revival style, the Colorado State Capitol's dome was gilded with real gold leaf sourced from Colorado and first covered in gold in the early 20th century. The building is a focal point of Denver's civic architecture and retains many original marble and interior finishes. A brass marker on the 13th step has long been used to denote one mile (5,280 feet) above sea level, though later surveys note small discrepancies from that benchmark.