Which state also marked 150 years of statehood during the 2026 Semiquincentennial year? The answer is Colorado.
Colorado entered the Union as the 38th state on August 1, 1876, just weeks after the Declaration of Independence centennial. That timing earned it the nickname “the Centennial State,” and its 150th anniversary of statehood falls in 2026, alongside the United States’ 250th anniversary.
Colorado’s commemorative program is known as America 250–Colorado 150. The initiative combines national and state history, with plans for educational activities, public ceremonies, historical publications, youth programs, and tourism-related events. The Colorado General Assembly created the commission through legislation signed by Governor Jared Polis in 2022.
The anniversary is about statehood, not Colorado’s earlier territorial history. Colorado Territory was organized in 1861, but the statehood milestone being celebrated occurred in 1876. Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada joined the Union in different years and therefore do not reach 150 years in 2026.