Colorado History

1541. Coronado, returning to Mexico, probably crosses Colorado.
1706. Juan de Uribarri takes formal possession of area for Spain.
1762. France cedes to Spain land west of Mississippi River; secretly regains it in 1800.
1776. Franciscan friars, Silvestre de Escalante and Francisco Dominguez, cross western Colorado.
1803. United States buys eastern Colorado in Louisiana Purchase.
1806. Zebulon M. Pike explores Arkansas River; discovers peak named for him.
1819. Spain cedes Colorado region north of Arkansas River to United States.
1820. Stephen H. Long and scientists explore Colorado.
1821. Western Colorado becomes part of Mexico as Mexico wins its independence from Spain.
1832. Bent brothers build Bent's Fort on Arkansas River near present site of La Junta.
1836. Texas claims part of Colorado region from Mexico; issue is a cause of Mexican War, 1846-47.
1842-53. John C. Fremont explores Colorado.
1848. Mexico cedes western Colorado to United States.
1853. First permanent settlement made at San Luis.
1854. Ute Indians massacre settlers at Fort Pueblo.
1858. Gold discovered at Denver.
1859. Pikes Peak gold rush attracts thousands. J.H. Gregory discovers gold near Central City.
1861. Colorado Territory created; capital, Colorado City; governor, William Gilpin.
1862. First oil in territory discovered near Florence. Golden becomes territorial capital.
1864. United States troops attack Indians at Sand Creek.
1867. Denver named permanent capital of territory.
1868. Cheyenne Indians defeated at battle of Beecher Island.
1870. Denver Pacific Railway links Denver with Union Pacific at Cheyenne, Wyo.
1876. Colorado becomes 38th state, August 1; capital, Denver; governor, John L. Routt.
1877. Lead and silver boom begins at Leadville.
1879. Ute attack settlers at White River Agency.
1891. Great goldfield discovered at Cripple Creek.
1894-95. Present State Capitol partially occupied; completed in 1907.
1906. United States Mint opens at Denver.
1909. Gunnison Tunnel opened for irrigation.
1914. Miners killed in strike at Ludlow.
1915. Rocky Mountain National Park created.
1927. Moffat Tunnel under the Rockies completed.
1947. Alva B. Adams Tunnel for irrigation opened.
1956. Colorado-Big Thompson irrigation project completed.
1958. Air Force Academy opens near Colorado Springs.
1962. Harold D. Roberts Tunnel (23.3 miles long) completed; carries water to Denver.
1966. North American Air Defense Command opens new combat operations center inside Cheyenne Mountain.
1973. Eisenhower Memorial Tunnel carrying traffic under Continental Divide opens.
1976. Floods in Big Thompson River Canyon kill 130 persons.
1988. More than 1.5 million acres damaged by wind erosion during worst drought and heat wave since the 1950s. Voters
approve amendment to state constitution making English the official language of state government.
1981: Federico Peña becomes Denver's first Spanish-surnamed mayor.

1982: Oil bust sends Denver into depression.

1991: Wellington Edward Webb becomes Denver's first African-American mayor.

1994: Regional Transportation District opens first light-rail line from Auraria to Five Points

1995: Denver International Airport opens; Denver builds a grand, new public library, incorporating the original 1955 landmark building,and restores historic branch libraries.