Colorado Celebrates 150th Anniversary with Adventure Day and Travel Guides

Colorado marked its sesquicentennial on Aug. 1, 2026 with a series of public events. At Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Colorado Parks and Wildlife hosted an "Adventure Day" featuring Goldie the Goat, the animal that went viral after helping firefighters locate a hotspot during the Rock Creek fire. Goldie met fans from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering a light‑hearted highlight to the state‑wide celebrations.

Travel writers also used the milestone to promote lesser‑known destinations across the state. Highlights included Marble, a tiny mountain town whose high‑altitude marble was used in the Lincoln Memorial and other national monuments; a historic silver‑boom town in the San Juans; and a high‑desert gateway to ancient cliff dwellings and an emerging wine region. These spots were presented as off‑the‑beaten‑path ways to experience Colorado beyond its famous resorts and mountain towns.