Top Rated Attracties in Denver

Baseball is an essential part of the American culture and a vibrant component of Denver, all of which makes Coors Field a hub of activity during the summer. It seats more than 50,000 and is regarded as one of most fan-friendly parks in the country. For a few dollars you can take a guided walking tour and learn about the history of the field while taking in all the sights, including the Colorado Rockies dugout and the visiting team's clubhouse.

Sakura Square is a small square at the edge of downtown Denver built around a handful of cherry blossom trees planted there by Japanese ambassadors in the 1950s. Though the trees rarely bloom due to the unpredictable Colorado weather, Sakura Square still maintains relevance as the center of Japanese culture in the Denver area. The square contains a small park with several relevant statues, a shopping center with Japanese market, restaurants, and small museums, and the local Buddhist temple. Sakura Square also hosts the yearly Cherry Blossom Festival every July, and offers classes in Taiko drumming, flower arranging, and more. For a peaceful sit in the park or a brief glimpse into Japanese culture, Sakura Square is a lovely place to visit. -Sabrina Zirakzadeh

In the 1940s during World War II, many Japanese-Americans and Japanese citizens living in the United States were forced into internment camps for the supposed safety of the American people, a dark moment in history that few protested at the time. One of the few was Denver mayor Ralph L. Carr, who not only publicly stood against discrimination of the Japanese during the war but was the only American politician to publicly apologized for the internment, which he did in 1942. The apology cost him a potential Senate appointment, but the Japanese community in Denver never forgot his actions. When Sakura Square opened, one of the first statues put up in the garden was a bust of Mayor Carr. The inscription and care given to the statue to this day show how much the words of one man can be remembered by the entire community. -Sabrina Zirakzadeh

Sakura Square in downtown Denver has several statues erected due to the importance of the figures in the Japanese and Denver communities. Minoru Yasui was a Japanese-American lawyer who was one of the few to actively protest the Constitutionality of Japanese interment camps during World War II, as well as curfews for minorities. In 1942, Yasui deliberately broke curfew in Portland, Oregon, in protest of the laws, and was convicted and sent to prison for one year while his case was deliberated by the Supreme Court, which at the time upheld his conviction. In 1944, Yasui moved to Denver where he returned to practicing law and fighting for Japanese rights until his conviction was overturned in 1986. The bust in Sakura Square was erected in thanks for all that his protests did in pushing for minority rights during his life. - Sabrina Zirakzadeh

Sakura Square in downtown Denver might not exist if not for Buddhist Reverend Yoshitaka Tamai. A devout Buddhist, Tamai moved to Denver in 1930 and promptly set up and took over the Buddhist temple at 20th and Lawrence Street. Tamai welcomed all of the Japanese community in Denver to his temple and dedicated the rest of his life to the spiritual, cultural, and social needs of Buddhists and Asian Americans in the Midwest. The apartment complex at Sakura Square, Tamai Tower, was erected in his memory in 1977, and in 1996 this statue, featuring quotes from Tamai himself, was dedicated to him as well.

This magnificent structure, located at the intersection of 18th and Stout Streets, was originally established as the U.S. Post Office and Federal Building. Byron White United States Courthouse was built in 1916 in the Classical Revival style by Tracy, Swartwout, and Litchfield architectural firm. Created with Colorado Yule marble, the front facade features 16 columns, while two mountain sheep sculpted by Gladys Caldwell Fisher, grace either side of the entrance. In 1994, the structure was renamed after a Supreme Court Justice from Colorado.