Gov. Bill Ritter officially proclaimed Saturday, August 1, as Colorado Day in the State of Colorado. The date marks the 133rd anniversary of Colorado's statehood. Known as the Centennial State, Colorado became the 36th state in the Union in 1876 upon the signature of President Ulysses S. Grant.
In 1861, directly after the South seceded from the Union, Congress created the Colorado Territory. As a result of the gold rush and subsequent mining booms, the region quickly was populated, with the territorial capital, Denver, becoming a major supply town. In 1876, President Grant signed a proclamation creating Colorado as the 36th state in the Union -- the Centennial State.
Traditionally, Colorado Day has been a time to celebrate the state's rich and storied history. To encourage Coloradans to learn more about their state and its historical treasures, Gov. Ritter, along with Lt. Gov. O'Brien and their staffs developed a list of some of their favorite Colorado historical sites and destinations. The initiative is designed to raise awareness of our state's historically significant locations, and to promote the idea of "stay-cations" -- vacations that Coloradans take within the state to discover our inherent beauty and history. With "stay-cations," Coloradans can re-discover Colorado, save on the expenses of a more distant trip, and keep Colorado dollars within the state to boost both the state economy and local economies.
The Governor and Lt. Governor are encouraging people to submit their favorite historic Colorado destinations and help create a list of 133 recommended sites to visit in Colorado in honor of the 133rd anniversary of statehood.
Click here to recommend a favorite historical site. Recommend up to three destinations between now and August 16th. Once voting is complete, the Governor's Office will announce and promote the list of 133 favorite places on the Governor's Office website and encourage Coloradans and out-of-state guests to visit the recommended sites before summer comes to an end.
And remember, you can always go to www.colorado.com to find hundreds of destinations and events happening around the state.
