Colorado created a joint America 250 and 150 commission for its 2026 celebrations.
The commission coordinates the 250th anniversary of American independence with Colorado’s 150th anniversary of statehood. Colorado entered the Union in 1876, exactly 100 years after the Declaration of Independence, so the two anniversaries coincide again in 2026.
The Colorado General Assembly created the commission through legislation signed by Governor Jared Polis on May 26, 2022. History Colorado hosts the commission and supports its planning work.
Its responsibilities include historical activities, publication of historical documents, public ceremonies, youth education, and other commemorative events. The twin observances began in 2025 and continue through the end of 2026. Colorado’s statehood anniversary is often called its sesquicentennial, meaning a 150th anniversary, while America’s 250th anniversary is the national semiquincentennial.