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Colorado Celebrates 150th Anniversary as State with Regional Events and Historical Landmarks

Colorado marks its 150th anniversary as a state on August 1, 2026, coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary. The state is hosting a variety of celebrations to commemorate the sesquicentennial, including a day of free festivities at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum and a 'United We Rock' festival at Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site. Regional landmarks are also highlighting the state's history, from the oldest standing structure in Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park's Cliff Palace, and the oldest ski area in the U.S., Howelsen Hill. The celebrations include a Guinness World Record attempt for the most people simultaneously dunking a doughnut in coffee at Pikes Peak. Historical sites across the state, such as the San Luis Peoples Market, recognized as the oldest business in Colorado, and the oldest incorporated community in the state, provide a backdrop for the reflection on the state's 150-year journey from territory to statehood.

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