How Old are the Tallest Buildings in Colorado?

While the mere mention of the name Colorado naturally conjures up images of beautiful, tall mountains like Mount Elbert, Pikes Peak, Longs Peak, and others, the state is also home to a number of manmade buildings, primarily in the downtown Denver area.

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When Colorado gained statehood in 1876, the tallest structures didn't require a shift in gaze up to the sky, but much has changed in the years since. So, exactly how long have the tallest buildings in Colorado been scraping the sky?

History of Colorado's Tallest Buildings

We'll start with the tallest building in Colorado, Republic Plaza.

Located at 370 17th Street in Denver, Republic Plaza has been known as the tallest in the state since it was completed in 1984.

The second-tallest building, known simply by its address of 1801 California, is a mere five feet shorter than Republic Plaza at 709 feet in height.

Shortly after its completion in 1983, just a year before Republic Plaza became crowned Colorado's tallest, 1801 gained what appears to be a lifelong rival.

That same year, the famous "cash register building," better known as the now-closed Wells Fargo Center, was completed.

While not the tallest building in the state, the cash register building has arguably been the most famous skyscraper in Colorado since its completion in 1983.

Unlike the three tallest buildings in the state, the fourth-tallest in Colorado, the Four Seasons Hotel and residences, was completed in 2010, much later than its older and taller counterparts.

However, the Four Seasons still manages to scrape the sky at a height of 640 feet.

Finally, the fifth-tallest building in the state is a distinction awarded to one of the newest skyscrapers in Denver, another structure named after its address, 1144 Fifteenth.

1144 Fifteenth was officially completed only a handful of years ago in 2018 and stands at an impressive height of 617 feet.