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 Colorado Chronology

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500 B. C.

Basket Makers, earliest people known to have permanently lived on Mesa Verde; the first Indian agriculturalists of Southwest. Earlier, 10-12,000 years ago, Mongoloid hunters, it is believed, used natural caves on Mesa Verde as temporary shelters after their migration from Asia to Alaska by way of Aleutian Islands.

1060 AD

Advent of Cliff Dwellers, an alien people who absorbed or supplanted Basket Makers.

1276-1299

Great drought probably drives Cliff Dwellers from Mesa Verde.

1541

Coronado may have crossed southeastern corner of present Colorado on return march to Mexico.

1598

Juan de Onate, hunting for gold, comes from Mexico as far north as San Luis Valley.

1601

Onate's second expedition penetrates as far north as present site of Denver.

1682

La Salle appropriates for France all of Colorado east of the Rocky Mountains.

1706

Juan de Uribarri formally claims possession of southeastern Colorado in name of Philip V of Spain. French trappers and traders, however, continue to penetrate region.

1719-20

Valverde leads Spanish military expedition from Santa Fe as far north as Pikes Peak.

1761

Juan Maria Rivera leads Spanish expedition into San Juan and Sangre de Cristo Mountains in search of gold and silver; said to have been first white men to visit Gunnison Valley.

1763

Treaty of Fontainebleau between France and England reveals that France has ceded all territory west of Mississippi to Spain.

1776

Friars Silvestre Velez de Escalante and Francisco Antasio Domin-guez, seeking route from Santa Fe to California missions, traverse what is now western Colorado as far north as White River; discover and name Mesa Verde

1800

Spain retrocedes Louisiana Territory to France in exchange for Duchy of Tuscany, Italy.

1803

United States acquires most of eastern part of Colorado by Louisiana Purchase.

1806

Lieut. Zebulon M. Pike, sent to explore southwestern boundary of Louisiana Purchase, reaches headwaters of Arkansas River.

1807

Pike crosses Sangre de Cristo Mountains to Conejos River in San Luis Valley where he is placed under nominal arrest by Spanish authorities and taken to Santa Fe; later, he and his men are released.

1819

United States and Spain agree to fix southwestern boundary of Louisiana Purchase in this region at Arkansas River, thence northward along Continental Divide.

1820

Maj. Stephen H. Long is sent to explore new boundary. Dr. Edwin James, historian of expedition, leads first recorded ascent of Pikes Peak.

1825

Opening of era of fur traders, trappers, and Mountain Men—Bent brothers, Ceran St. Yrain, Louis Vasquez, Kit Carson, Jim Baker, James Bridger, Thomas Fitzpatrick, "Uncle Dick" Wootton, and Jim Beckwourth—who establish posts in Arkansas and South Platte Valleys.

1826

First headquarters of Bent brothers is established about twenty miles west of present site of Pueblo.

1832

Bent's Fort, one of most important trading posts in the West, is built by the Bents and St. Vrain near present site of La Junta.

1836

Texas becomes independent republic and claims narrow strip of mountain territory extending northward through Colorado to 42nd parallel.

1842

October, James P. Beckwourth establishes trading post and begins settlement of P'ort Pueblo—Lieut. John C. Fremont undertakes first of his five exploration trips into Rocky Mountains.

1846

Gen. Stephen W. Kearney leads Army of the West along Santa Fe Trail through southeastern Colorado en route to conquest of New Mexico during Mexican War.

1848

By Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico cedes to United States most of that part of Colorado not acquired by Louisiana Purchase; property rights of former Mexican citizens in this area are guaranteed.

1850

Federal Government purchases Texas' claims in Colorado.

1852

First permanent white settlement in Colorado is founded at Conejos in San Luis Valley; irrigation is begun; Fort Massachusetts established in valley to protect settlers from Indians.

1853

Capt. John W. Gunnison leads exploring party across southern and western Colorado. Fremont's last expedition, seeking feasible railroad route through mountains, largely follows Gunnison's route.

1854

 Indians massacre inhabitants of Fort Pueblo on Christmas Day.

1858

Green Russell's discovery of small placer gold deposits near confluence of the South Platte River and Cherry Creek, precipitates Pikes Peak gold rush. Montana City, St. Charles, Auraria, and Denver City are founded on present site of Denver. November 6, two hundred men meet here to organize County of Arapahoe, Kansas Territory.

1859

Gold is found by George A. Jackson along Chicago Creek on present site of Idaho Springs. March 9, first stagecoach with mail for Cherry Creek settlements leaves Leavenworth, Kansas. "April 23. first newspaper in Pikes Peak region, Rocky Mountain News, is published. May 6, John Gregory makes famous gold-lode strike on North Clear Creek, stimulating rush of prospectors, who establish camps of Blackhawk, Central City, and Nevadaville. October 3, O. J. Goldrick opens first school, at Aurarfa. Jefferson Territory is organized without sanction of Congress to govern gold camps; officers are elected. Prospectors spread through mountains and found camps at Boulder, Colorado City, Gold Hill, Hamilton, Tarryall, and Pueblo.

1860

Rich placer discoveries cause stampede of miners to California Gulch on present site of Leadville. First schoolhouse is built, at Boulder. Region continues to be administered variously by Jefferson Territory officials, Arapahoe County officials, and Miners' and Peoples' Courts.

1861

Congress establishes Colorado Territory with boundaries of present State; William Gilpin is appointed first Territorial governor. July, supreme court is organized and Congressional delegates chosen. September, first assembly meets, creates 17 counties, authorizes university, and selects Colorado City as Territorial capital. Manufacture of mining machinery begins. Population, 25,371.

1862

Colorado troops aid in defeating Gen. Henry H. Sibley's Confederate Army at La Glorieta Pass, New Mexico. Second Territorial Legislature meets for few days at Colorado City, adjourns to Denver, and selects Golden as new capital. First tax-supported schools are established, and first oil well drilled near Florence. John Evans succeeds Gilpin as governor.

1863

Telegraph line links Denver with East: ten words to New York, $9.10. Plains Indians raid wagon trains and outlying ranches.

1864

Sand Creek Massacre stirs Indians to fresh violence and overland trails are often closed. Colorado Seminary (now University of

Denver) is chartered; Sisters of Loretto open academy in Denver. Fort Sedgwick is established near Julesburg. Placer mining operations decline with exhaustion of richest deposits.

1865

Indian attacks along trails reach highest intensity; food is sometimes scarce; potatoes bring $15 a bushel; Fort Morgan established as protection against Indians.

1865

Indian attacks along trails reach highest intensity; food is sometimes scarce; potatoes bring $15 a bushel; Fort Morgan established as

protection against Indians.

1867

Denver is chosen as Territorial capital. Troops freed at close of Civil War gradually overcome hostile Indians.

1868

Nathaniel Hill erects Colorado's first smelter at Blackhawk, inaugurating era of hard-rock mining. Cheyenne Indians disastrously

defeated at Beecher Island near present site of Wray.

1870

Denver & Pacific R. R. is constructed to connect Denver with Union Pacific at Cheyenne, Wyo.; the Kansas Pacific enters Colorado from Missouri River. Union Colony is established by Horace Greeley and Nathan C. Meeker at Greeley, and digs first large irrigation canal. Population, 39,864.

1871

Colorado Springs is founded by Gen. William J. Palmer and associates. Denver & Rio Grande R. R. is built southward from Denver.

1872

Blackhawk and Central City are connected with Denver by railroad; Denver & Rio Grande reaches Pueblo. Agricultural settlements established throughout South Platte Valley.

1873

Gold and silver discoveries in San Juan Mountains attract miners to southwestern Colorado; Ute are dispossessed of territory held by treaty with Federal Government.

1874

Colorado College is founded at Colorado Springs; legislature appropriates $15,000 for University of Colorado at Boulder, on condition that equal sum is raised by that city. W. H. Jackson of Hayden Survey notes ruins of ancient cliff dwellings along canyon of Mancos River.

1875

Lead carbonate ores, rich in silver, are found near present site of Leadville.

1875

Constitutional Convention of 38 members holds first meeting, Dec. 20.

1876

Colorado is admitted to Union as thirty-eighth State; John L. Routt is elected first governor.

1877

University of Colorado opens classes at Boulder, with two teachers and 44 students. State Board of Agriculture is created.

1878

Leadville is incorporated; rich silver strikes on Iron, Carbonate, and Fryer hills soon make it one of world's greatest mining camps. Central City opera house opens. First telephones are installed in Denver.

1879

Colorado College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts offers instruction at Fort Collins. Nathan C. Meeker, Indian Agent on White

River, and several employees are slain in Ute uprising.

1880

Denver & Rio Grande lays tracks to Leadville. Great Ute chief, Ouray, dies. Dry land farming undertaken extensively in eastern

Colorado. Population, 194,327.

1881

Ute tribes are removed from western Colorado; Grand Junction is founded. Small quantities of carnotite is mined in western Colorado along with gold; later, this mineral is used in discovery of radium. Sept. 5, Tabor Opera House opens in Denver.

1882 Steel is milled in Pueblo from Colorado ores.

1883

Narrow-gauge line of Denver & Rio Grande is completed from Gunnison to Grand Junction. First electric lights are installed

in Denver.

1886

Denver Union Stockyards are established, becoming largest receiving market for sheep in country.

1888

Band of Ute from Utah under Colorow make last Indian raid into Colorado; they are defeated and returned to their reservation. Union Colony at Greeley completes 900,000-acre irrigation project.

1890

Passage of Sherman Silver Purchase Act raises the price of silver to more than $1.00 an ounce. New rich silver strikes are made

along Rio Grande; Creede is founded. July 4, cornerstone of State Capitol at Denver is laid. Oct. 3, first building of State Normal

School (now Colorado State College of Education) at Greeley is occupied. Population, 413,249.

1891

Robert Womack's discoveries open great gold field of Cripple Creek. First national forest reserve in State is set aside. Pikes Peak cog

railroad begins operation.

1893

National panic brings great distress to Colorado; repeal of Sherman Act strikes silver mining a paralyzing blow and adds to already acute

unemployment problems. November 2, Colorado is second State to extend suffrage to women.

1894

State Capitol is completed at cost of $2,500,000.

1899

First beet sugar refinery is built at Grand Junction.

1900

Gold production reaches peak of more than $20,000,000 annually at Cripple Creek, the second richest gold camp in world. Population,

539,700.

1902

Constitutional amendment bestows "home-rule" upon towns of 2,000 population or more. Beet sugar refinery is built at Fort Collins.

1903-1904

Mine, mill, and smelter workers strike in many camps for higher wages and better working conditions; at Cripple Creek, strike results in much property damage and loss of life; all strike objectives in gold field are lost. Uncompahgre irrigation project, first of Federal Government reclamation projects in Colorado, is authorized. Mining of tungsten begins.

1906

U.S. Mint, Denver, issues first coins. June 29, Mesa Verde National Park is created by Congress.

1907

With Ben B. Lindsey as judge, Denver Juvenile Court opens.

1908

July 7, Denver Municipal Auditorium, seating 12,500, is completed in time for Democratic National Convention. Aug. 1, Colorado Day is first celebrated, marking thirty-second anniversary of State's admittance to Union. Colorado Museum of Natural History, Denver, is opened.

1909

Colorado attains first rank among States in irrigated area, with almost 3,000,000 acres under irrigation. Western State Teachers College opens in Gunnison.

1910

First airplane flight in Denver. Population, 799,024.

1914

Stike of coal miners in southern fields is climaxed by "Battle of Ludlow" near Trinidad; several women and children die during hostilities between miners and militia.

1915

Workmen's compensation measures are passed; State Industrial Commission is created. Jan. 12, Rocky Mountain National Park is created by Congress.

1916

Colorado adopts prohibition; Emily Griffith Opportunity School is opened at Denver.

1917

Colorado reaches maximum mineral production - more than $80,000,000.

1918

More than 125,000 Colorado citizens register for World War draft. State attains maximum coal production - 12,500,000 tons.

1920

First Music Week is observed in Denver. Population, 939,629.

1921

Pueblo suffers disastrous flood; scores are drowned and property losses amount to $20,000,000.

1922

Moffat Tunnel Improvement District is created by legislature for construction of 6.4 mile bore under the Continental Divide to provide better rail connections between Eastern and Western Slopes. First commercial radio license in Colorado is issued.

1924

April 26, Colorado is second State to ratify child labor amendment to Federal constitution.

1925

Federal Reserve branch bank is established at Denver. Adams State Teachers College at Alamosa and junior colleges at Grand Junction and Trinidad open.

1926

Denver established as air-mail post office on U.A.L. route between Pueblo and Cheyenne.

1927

Helium gas deposits are found near Thatcher. Moffat Tunnel is completed at a cost of $18,000,000.

1930

Depression increases number of unemployed. Population, 1,035,791.

1931

Cooperative credit unions are approved by the legislature. Tobacco is grown commercially on small scale.

1932-37

Prolonged drought and high winds cause tremendous damage through soil erosion in southeastern Colorado.

1932

Central City's opera house is restored by Opera House Association, and first annual theatrical festival is held in July.

1934

More than $3,000,000,000 in gold bullion is transferred from San Francisco and stored in Denver mint.

1935

Dotsero Cutoff is completed, placing Denver on direct transcontinental railroad route through Moffat Tunnel.

1936

Monthly old-age pensions of $45 are authorized by amendment to State constitution.

1937

Technical school and bombing field of U.S. Army Air Corps established at Lowry field near Denver.