29 MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | Colorado Classics THE STATE’S HAVING A BIG BIRTHDAY. HERE ARE 150 REASONS TO CELEBRATE. BY PAT R I C I A CA L H O U N Even as Denver’s boom takes a breather, new people are coming to town, looking for time-honored spots to grab a bite and get the fl avor of the city, or can’t-miss sights that give them a real feel for Colorado. Even if you’re just in the metro area for a day, you must see Red Rocks, visit Larimer Square. And if you have time for a drive, why not take a swing through the San Luis Valley and catch the Gator Farm, the UFO Watchtower and the Great Sand Dunes all in one loony loop? In honor of Colorado’s 150th birthday — and to provide a starter set for exploring not just Denver, but the area around the Mile High City — we’ve created the Colorado Classics: 150 people, places and things that are basic building blocks to learning about this state and creating the best time possible in Denver, whether it’s just during a layover at the airport or over a lifetime. To get a fresh perspective, we left the Best of Denver headquarters after fi nishing our 300th-or-so Best of Denver award and ran across the street to the History Colo- rado Center, which should be on everyone’s must-visit list. The architecture by David Tryba is stun- ning, the fl oor inlaid with a giant map of the state is a marvel (even if those Time Machines that were supposed to tell stories as they traveled across the expanse were a non-starter), and many of the exhibits are eye-openers. There’s the Civil War soldier that was toppled from a pedestal outside the Colorado State Capitol during the George Floyd riots, standing by the stairs in all his graffi tied glory. His place by the Capitol is slated to be taken by a memorial to the Indigenous people of this land, particularly those who lost their lives in the Sand Creek Massacre. Three fl oors up from the soldier, a perma- nent exhibit devoted to that dark day in 1864, The Sand Creek Massacre: The Betrayal That Changed Cheyenne and Arapaho People Forever, discusses the tragedy from the per- spectives of the Cheyenne and Arapaho, who were not pleased with the original display af- ter its creators failed to hold congressionally- authorized consultations with the tribes. These days, though, the History Colorado Center is all about conversation, inclusivity... and Colorado’s 150th birthday. In addition to programs at its satellite facilities around the state (all worth a visit), it has added three sesquicentennial-specifi c shows: Expedition 1776: The Journey of Dominguez & Escalante, 38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State and the massive Moments That Made Us, which uses fifty objects and several distinct viewpoints to tell the story not just of Colorado, but of the country. The country that’s observing its 250th birthday the same year that the Centennial State marks its 150th. History Colorado is not alone in celebrat- ing the state’s birthday, a much easier obser- vance than bringing people together in this divided country. Cities and counties all over Colorado are hosting special events. Denver Film is working up a list of the 150 best mov- ies made in Colorado, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame is collecting the 150 best sports moments in the state, and Colorado Music Hall of Fame will do the same for music. One of the moments worth noting: Katherine Lee Bates BRITTANY LOYA continued on page 32
