Day 29 - The 4 C's of Denver

The last day of our Wild West Trip and we were in Denver.  Several years ago, on a trip out here for a football game, we did the Coors brewery tour so no need to do that again.  Turned out there was plenty to do in Denver and everything we decided to do, started with "C" - cars, candy, cash and cricket.

The day's adventure started at the Forney Transportation Museum:

Big Boy 4005 - model

Big Boy 4005 - real life

How the engineers control the train

School bus

FreeWay and Messerschmitt

Amphicar

1967 Amphicar

Ford Model TT

Millions of bicycles!

1923 Case Steam Tractor

So many Indians in one room

Note the air conditioner hanging on the passenger window and the pull-behind camper

A large Chrysler Imperial collection

1927 Rolls Royce

Studebaker

Burma Shave jingle:  "A man, a miss, a car, a curve.  He kissed the miss and missed the curve."

For the kids who like trains.

After the museum, we headed for Hammond's Candies for their factory tour (and hopefully free samples.)

While waiting for the tour, we explored the "Oops Room" (slightly imperfect products) and gift shop.

Can you spot the biggest kid in the candy store?

So close to all the action!

Gift shop

Notice how Frank made all the kids get away from the candy counter? :o)

"Chicken bones" butterscotch

Cutters have to work quickly to cut the candy as it starts to cool in 45 seconds

Warming tray/roller that keeps the candy pliable. 

Big copper pots on the right and workers adding color and/or flavor and forming the 'logs'.

Cutting and making candy canes.

Then we moved down the hallway to the packaging area.

I'm pretty sure the woman in the yellow shirt and the woman in the blue shirt are Lucy and Ethel.

For your own tour of Hammond's click here for videos.

Time for lunch!

Several months ago, while watching the Travel Channel and Man vs Food, we noted he was at a place in Denver, The Cherry Cricket.  And since we were going to be in that general area, we thought we'd give it a try.

While we didn't order a competition-sized burger, you can add whatever toppings you want....and they turned out to be pretty darn tasty!

Once we were refueled, we were off to see the 'cash' part of our adventure.  (We looked into visiting the US Mint, but they require reservations and they were booked until August!)  So we found another alternative - The Federal Reserve Bank.  (And we were hoping they would be giving out samples!)

Federal Reserve History

History of American currency

Continental currency ($50)

$10 bill to $100,000 bill

That's what $30,000,000 looks like

Counterfeit money

And yes, there were samples!

"Currency shreds are created from notes no longer fit for circulation.  

There is approximately $165 of unfit currency in this bag."

 Federal Reserve Education

We had a great last day of our trip exploring Denver!