1. The 15th of January in 1870 marked the founding of the University of Colorado in Boulder. The university began with a few makeshift buildings and only a handful of students, but it eventually grew into the top-ranked research institution it is known as today.

2. On January 15, 1895, the world's first commercial ski resort opened at the Red Mountain Pass in southwestern Colorado. The resort offered visitors a unique blend of skiing, sledding, and ice skating, and quickly became a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts.

3. In 1919, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported that a massive oil field had been discovered near Rifle, Colorado. The discovery marked the beginning of Colorado's oil industry, which would go on to become one of the state's most important economic sectors.

4. On January 15, 1967, the Denver Broncos played in their first-ever Super Bowl, losing to the Green Bay Packers by a score of 21-14. The game cemented the Broncos' place as a legitimate NFL team, and set the stage for a string of championship runs in the years to come.

5. On January 15, 1997, a massive blizzard hit Denver and the surrounding areas, dumping over two feet of snow in some places and causing widespread power outages and traffic disruptions. The storm, known as the "Storm of the Century," was the worst to hit Colorado in decades, and remains one of the most memorable weather events in the state's history.