Colorado's tallest building rises 56 stories tall, measuring about 717 feet. If you placed the mighty Republic Plaza at the base of the Arkansas River, it still wouldn't be tall enough to reach the Royal Gorge Bridge at about 955 feet.

Read More: Impossible to Pronounce Grand Junction, Colo. Street Names

We're taking a closer look at some of the largest buildings ever constructed in the Centennial State, beginning with the three tallest buildings in Grand Junction, and the 25 tallest throughout Colorado.

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Grand Junction's Largest Building

Grand Junction's Largest Building
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The story of Grand Junction's largest building dates back to 1896 when the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth founded the institution that would become St. Mary's Regional Hospital. This group was directly tied to the start-up of 18 hospitals from Kansas to California from 1864 and 1952.

The hospital grew over the years adding a 125,000-square-foot facility in 1985. The five-story tower was added to the campus in 1994, standing 146 feet tall (45 meters) at 2635 N 7th Street. By 2010 it was fully renovated and stands as the tallest building in Grand Junction. 

Grand Junction's Second Largest Building

Grand Junction's Second Tallest Building
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According to the Mesa County Library, the Alpine Bank building in Grand Junction was built by the Valley Federal Savings and Loan at 5th and Rood during the early 1970s. First, Valley Federal had to buy the lots between 4th and 5th Streets, and between Rood and White Avenues. Next, the old Gene Taylor’s Sporting Goods Store needed to be demolished (the old YMCA building).

The Alpine Bank building is described as an 11-story building measuring approximately 140 feet. Until the completion of the tower at St. Mary’s, the Alpine Bank building was the tallest in Grand Junction from the early 70s until about 2010.

Read More: One of Colorado's "Most Giant" Trees is Near Grand Junction

Another Noteworthy Structure

Completed in 1983, Grand Junction’s Ratekin Tower is one of the forgotten ‘highrise’ buildings located downtown. Reaching six stories, the Ratekin Tower originally had a library, lounge, dining, and laundry areas, and 107 one-bedroom apartments for seniors. It was also home to the offices of the Grand Junction Housing Authority. Ratekin Tower’s six stories mean it measures about 90 feet tall.

Let's move on to take a closer look at the 25 tallest buildings in Colorado below.

Another large Grand Junction structure
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LOOK: Colorado’s Top 25 Tallest Buildings Ranked by Size

Colorado's "Mile-High" city is a great place to check out some of the Centennial State's largest buildings and to admire the architecture. See which buildings in Colorado are the largest in the state in the photo gallery below.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

KEEP GOING: These 7 Historic Structures are Colorado’s Oldest Buildings

Take a trip back to the earliest days of Colorado by scrolling through this photo gallery of historic buildings. These are Colorado's seven oldest buildings, each of them dating back 166 years or longer.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

UP NEXT: Colorado’s 10 Largest Commercial Service Airports Ranked

Find out which of Colorado's commercial airports ranks behind Denver International for boarding the most commercial passengers during one calendar year.

Gallery Credit: Wesley Adams

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