Colorado State Publications Blog
Wildlife Discovery for Kids
Kids love learning about animals, and we’re fortunate to live in a state with an amazing variety of mammals, birds, fish, and amphibians. Colorado state …
state symbols
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado’s Conifers
This year, an Engelmann spruce from Colorado was selected as the official U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The tree comes from the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Resources for Teaching Colorado History
If you’re a teacher and Colorado history is among your subjects this school year, the State of Colorado and our library have numerous resources that …
Colorado State Publications Blog
State Capitol Tours
Summer is a great time to tour the State Capitol building. Whether you’re looking for a fun educational activity with your kids, or you’re just …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Time Machine Tuesday: Colorado Minerals and Geology
One of the most frequently accessed publications in our library’s digital collection is The Minerals of Colorado and Area Locations. Published in 1960 by the Colorado …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado's Own Tartan
Today is National Tartan Day. Did you know that Colorado has a state tartan? According to information from the State Archives, the Colorado tartan, or …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado’s New State Symbols
Some years ago in this blog I posted a series about Colorado’s state symbols and emblems. Since then, Colorado has adopted several new state symbols. The …
Colorado State Publications Blog
New State Logo
The new state logo, a green mountain with the letters CO, has been receiving quite a bit of attention lately. The logo has been established …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado's State Symbols: The State Amphibian
Colorado’s newest state symbol, designated just this year, is the State Amphibian, the Western Tiger Salamander. This small amphibian can be found in ponds and …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado's State Symbols: The State Reptile
Like many of our other state symbols, schoolchildren petitioned the Legislature for the designation of the State Reptile. In 2007 the distinction went to the Western …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado’s State Symbols: The State Rock
Not to be confused with the State Gemstone (Aquamarine) and the State Mineral (Rhodochrosite), the State Rock is Colorado Yule Marble. Quarried in Marble, Colorado in …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado’s State Symbols: The State Mineral
Colorado’s State Mineral is the deep red Rhodochrosite. The Colorado State Archives tells us that “On April 17, 2002, Colorado Governor Bill Owens signed a bill passed …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado's State Symbols: The State Tree
The Colorado General Assembly officially designated the Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) as Colorado’s State Tree on March 7, 1939. This coniferous tree found in the higher …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado's State Symbols: The State Tartan
In Scotland, different patterned tartans, or plaids, are used to symbolize different clans, or families. Well, did you know that Colorado has its very own …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado’s State Symbols: The State Songs
Colorado actually has two state songs. The traditional state song is “Where the Columbines Grow,” which was adopted as the state song back in 1915. The song …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado's State Symbols: The State Insect
The Colorado General Assembly designated the Blue Hairstreak Butterfly, Hypaurotis cysalus, as the State Insect in 1996. The two-inch-wide, black, orange and purply-blue butterfly is generally found at …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado's State Symbols: The State Grass
Yes, Colorado has an officially designated State Grass – the Blue Grama. Blue Grama grass is easily recognizable to those familiar with prairie landscapes, though …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado's State Symbols: The State Gemstone
Because Colorado’s mountains are rich in minerals, there are many gemstones to be found in our state, but only one has the distinction of being …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado's State Symbols: The State Fossil
Schoolchildren suggested Colorado adopt a state fossil, the dinosaur Stegosaurus, in 1982. One of the most recognized dinosaurs, with its line of plates along its …
Colorado State Publications Blog
Colorado’s State Symbols: The State Folk Dance
Did you know that Colorado has a state folk dance? It’s the Square Dance, and was designated by the Legislature in 1992. Square dancing, which …