1. On January 28, 1861, Colorado was organized as a territory, separate from the Kansas Territory. This marked the beginning of the state's formation process.

2. The National Western Stock Show, one of the largest shows of its kind in the United States, kicks off in Denver each year in January, with the grand opening taking place on January 28.

3. In 1984, the federal government designated the Colorado National Monument in western Colorado as a national park. The area features breathtaking views of the red rock canyons and mesas.

4. On January 28, 1870, the first baby was born in the newly established town of Greeley, Colorado. The town was founded just three years earlier and named after newspaper editor Horace Greeley.

5. In 1935, the Boulder Dam (now known as the Hoover Dam) was completed on the Colorado River, creating Lake Mead and providing hydroelectric power to several western states, including Colorado. The dam is still a popular tourist destination today.