Dear Coloradoans,

We need to have a talk about Colorado. We keep learning about people, explorers, and settlers who came to Colorado, but Colorado didn’t even exist until 1861–after Pike failed to climb his mountain, Bent blew up his fort, and San Luis became the first town in the state.

Before that, the rectangle we call home was claimed by native tribes, Spain, France, the United States, and Mexico. Part of Colorado even used to be Texas. But then it became a quadrilateral for lots of reasons having to do with the Civil War, slavery, and the politics of 1861.

Things change. We study history so we can understand these forces of change. Because they’re still working today.

Sincerely,

Mr. Heimbuck