Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. Credit:CPR

Colorado’s 150th anniversary which has been tagged the Sesquicentennial will be celebrated in 2026, coinciding with the United States’ 250th anniversary. The America 250 – Colorado 150 Commission is leading the commemoration, encouraging Coloradans to reflect on the state’s history and future. There are various initiatives and events planned, including a statewide drone show series, a digital passport, and community-led celebrations.

The America 250 – Colorado 150 Commission has already launched “The View From Here,” a campaign aimed at celebrating this special convergence in towns all over the state.

Created in 2022, the 21-member committee consists of representatives from tourism, business, education, media and Colorado’s tribal communities.

The yearlong celebration will include 150 new historic markers, school programs for Colorado’s students, community festivals and public art projects.

The celebration will also be part of the national America 250 commemoration led by former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, along with former First Ladies Laura Bush and Michelle Obama.

One of the big ideas that the state brought forward was the construction of a proposed pedestrian walkway at the State Capitol. In early 2025, the state released concept renderings for an elevated pedestrian overpass across Lincoln Street, connecting the Capitol to Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park as part of the Colorado 150 and America 250 commemoration events.

In November 2024, after many public meetings and months of planning, Governor Polis announced a vision for the Colorado 150 Pedestrian Walkway, an opportunity for Coloradans who visit the Capitol to enjoy a space that celebrates Colorado’s history through art and storytelling, while improving safety and increasing accessibility between the park and the Capitol. He says that much of the funding for the walkway would come from private donations.

Polis even launched a statewide survey about the plans at co150walkway.com.

A rendering of the proposed pedestrian walkway at the state Capitol. Credit: Colorado governor’s office

The survey was meant to provide an opportunity for Coloradans to share opinions on whether the state should proceed with the proposed walkway as planned or at a smaller scale or not at all, if the state should direct its focus on making improvements to the park, if there are opportunities in other parts of the state, or if Coloradans want to celebrate the state’s Sesquicentennial at all.

Just recently, Colorado overwhelmingly rejected Gov. Jared Polis’ plan to build a $29 million pedestrian bridge to mark the state’s 150th anniversary. Majority of respondents to the governor’s recent public survey said they do not even want any money spent on the occasion.

Polis promptly revealed he would “stop the pedestrian walkway proposal in its tracks” after just under 94% of the Coloradans who filled out the survey said the walkway should not be built. Of the 87,686 people who took the survey, 82,313 opposed the walkway project.

That however has not stopped the state from forging ahead with plans to make the 150^th anniversary a memorable one.

Coloradans can expect a wide array of community events, festivals, farmers’ markets, art exhibitions, and more throughout 2026. The America 250 – Colorado 150 Commission has also revealed that it will support educational initiatives that explore Colorado’s history and its place in the nation’s story.

The commission also plans to provide grants and support for local communities to host their own events and activities.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is using the theme “Setting Colorado’s Table: 150 Years of Agricultural Legacy” for its celebrations. It aims to foster community engagement through shared meals and storytelling. The initiative will focus on five core themes: land, water, life, resilience, and celebration, which will guide various projects throughout the year.

A highlight of the celebration will be a coffee table book that captures the rich history and stories of Colorado agriculture. This book will feature oral histories from local producers, ensuring that their voices and experiences are preserved for future generations. The project aims to connect the past with the present, inviting all residents to partake in the agricultural narrative of Colorado.

The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles also announced the state’s 150th anniversary license plates in 2023 which have been available for purchase since Aug. 1, 2023 and will be on sale until July 2027. For Colorado’s Sesquicentennial commemoration, two designs were selected via contests. The competition was dubbed as “The Great License Plate Contest,” which featured two divisions: Over 13 & Under 13. Coloradans voted in early 2023 on 10 design finalists for each division, resulting in 34,000 votes, in total.

The last similar commemoration was held in 1976 to mark 100 years of Colorado statehood and 200 years of American independence.