The state was named for the Colorado River, which early Spanish explorers named the Río Colorado ("Red River") for the ruddy silt the river carried from the mountains.

Colorado is nicknamed the "Centennial State" because it became a state one century after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In 1893, at the age of 33, Bates took a train trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado. Several of the sights on her trip inspired her and found their way into her poem, including the majestic view of the Great Plains from high atop Pikes Peak.

Colorado contains a treasure trove of dinosaur fossils and provided the first specimens of several species, including Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Mount Elbert is the tallest mountain in Colorado, coming in at 14,440 feet (4401.2 m). It's also the second-highest peak in the contiguous United States.

On December 3, 2018, trustees of Severance overturned a nearly 100-year-old ban, which classified snowballs as a type of missile and levied fines as punishment. The ban was lifted at the behest of nine-year-old Dane Best, who argued that "Today's kids need reasons to play outside, and research suggests that a lack of exposure to the outdoors can lead to obesity, ADHD, anxiety and depression."

According to the Colorado Geological Survey, Colorado is home to 58 14,000+ foot peaks. A popular activity amongst locals is to hike to the top of these peaks, referring to them as "14ers".

On September 10, 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, Colorado was sent to slaughter a chicken for dinner. Olsen chose a chicken named Mike. The axe removed the bulk of the head, but missed the jugular vein, leaving one ear and most of the brain stem intact. Due to the botched beheading, Mike was still able to balance on a perch and walk clumsily. He lived for 18 months, became a local sensation, and got his own holiday: Mike the Headless Chicken Day. Annual festivities include the "5K Run Like a Headless Chicken Race" and "Pin the Head on the Chicken".

The federal government owns about 35 percent of the state's nearly 67 million acres, the vast majority of which are open to the public for recreation. Each year, millions of hikers, bikers, hunters, and anglers explore Colorado's public lands.

In possibly the most embarrassing moment in the history of Olympics host city competition, Colorado voters rejected hosting the 1976 Winter Olympics after Denver had been awarded the games.