Colorado

Hello there. I live under a big, blue sky. I have tall, pointy mountains that wear snowy white hats all year long. Sparkly rivers wiggle down my sides like silver ribbons, giggling over smooth stones on their way to green valleys. Can you guess who I am? I am the big, beautiful state of Colorado. I am so happy to meet you. I have so many wonderful stories to share with you, full of sunshine and adventure. Would you like to hear about my adventures and all the friends I have made?

Long, long ago, my first friends came to live with me. They were called the Ancestral Puebloans. Around the year 1200, they built amazing homes right into the sides of my big cliffs. It was like living in a cozy pocket in the rock. Many years later, around the year 1858, new friends came to visit. They were looking for a sparkly surprise hidden in my streams and hills. It was shiny, yellow gold. They were so excited. They would shout, “Pikes Peak or Bust.” as they searched. It was a very busy and exciting time for me, watching everyone explore my beautiful lands with such happy hearts.

I have a very special birthday. On August 1st, 1876, I officially became a state. That was a very happy day for me. Because my birthday was on a special anniversary for the country, I got a fun nickname. People call me the “Centennial State.” Today, I am like a giant, fun playground for everyone. Families come to ski down my snowy mountains in the winter and hike on my green trails in the summer. You can watch fuzzy animals play and have a picnic under my tall trees. I love it when children laugh and play here. I hope you will come visit me someday and we can play together under my big, blue sky.