On Aug. 1, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation making Colorado the 38th state in the Union. The year, 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, earned us the nickname “Centennial State” and gives Coloradans the unique benefit of celebrating our state’s 150th anniversary while we celebrate our country’s 250th. I recently had the privilege of hosting a special community event in the Highlands Ranch Senior Center to celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary over hot dogs and some fascinating history. Special guest Katherine Mercier, the Exhibition Developer and Historian with History Colorado, joined us. She presented on our fascinating, surprising, and often difficult 17-year path to statehood. One of the most surprising takeaways from her presentation was that when Congress established the Colorado Territory in 1861, they nearly named it “Idaho” instead of “Colorado.” Imagine being an Idahoan instead of a Coloradan!