Today marks 150 years since Colorado became the 38th state on August 1st, 1876.  Colorado has long been known as the Centennial State since its induction into the United States coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.  Since the USA was celebrating its Semiquincentennial earlier this summer, Colorado decided to up the game by dubbing this its Sesiquisemiquincentennial Anniversary (a 150th anniversary within the context of a 250-year milestone).

Colorado’s path to statehood was a complicated one requiring 5 attempts over a 15-year period.  Earlier attempts at statehood were derailed within the state at different times by fear or rising taxes, rivalries between Denver elites and miners, and even a provision that would have stripped black men of their right to vote.  Federal politics also played a factor as Abraham Lincoln supported Colorado statehood, Andrew Jackson vetoed it, before Ulysses S. Grant formally signed a proclamation admitting Colorado as a state.

Monarch’s iconic colorful Butterfly logo has long been a nod to the Colorado Flag.  The four colors are meant to represent of Colorado’s landscape and history.  Red is for the reddish soil and landscape that dominates much of the state as well as being a nod to the name Colorado (Spanish for red).  Blue represents the clear blue skies we all love.  Yellow symbolizes the year-round sunshine Colorado is known for as well as the gold that brought miners to the mountains.  Finally, the white is for the snowcapped peaks (my personal favorite) as well as the silver that was also sought by miners.

Happy Birthday to this incredible state that many of us are fortunate enough to call home.