A new street sign in downtown Denver, intended to read "California Street," was instead misspelled as "Califorina." The error was present on both sides of the sign, which was installed at the intersection of 19th Street.
The glaring typo was noticed and widely shared on social media, drawing a mix of criticism and amusement from observers. One social media user quipped, "Califorina, meet Coloroad."
The Denver Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) confirmed the sign was taken down Tuesday afternoon for correction and replacement. The department stated that the incorrect sign was installed on Monday, August 17, though one worker quoted by Westword indicated it might have been Friday, August 14.
A spokesperson for DOTI, Cyndi Karvaski, clarified that the sign was manufactured and installed by an external contractor, not directly by city employees. The fabrication cost of the sign was $321.75. Despite the error, the city will not incur additional charges for its removal and replacement.
"We will not be charged for the removal, replacement or reinstallation due to the error," Karvaski stated. The replacement sign is expected to be installed by Wednesday.
The incident follows similar public mishaps, such as a 2025 incident where a sign for a Minnesota daycare center was intended to read "Quality Learning Center" but was instead spelled "Quality Learing Center."