1. On September 24, 1858, gold was discovered in Colorado by a group of prospectors from Georgia. This discovery sparked the Colorado Gold Rush, which brought tens of thousands of people to the area in search of their fortunes.

2. The University of Colorado was founded on September 24, 1876, just six weeks after the state was admitted to the Union. Originally located in Boulder, it has since expanded to include campuses in Denver and Colorado Springs.

3. In 1913, the Boulder Dam (now known as Hoover Dam) was dedicated on September 24 by President Woodrow Wilson. The dam, which was built on the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada, provided much-needed electricity and water to the Southwest.

4. On September 24, 1983, the first National Public Lands Day was celebrated. This annual event encourages people to volunteer their time to help maintain and preserve public lands such as national parks and forests.

5. In 1999, the Denver Broncos defeated the New York Jets 27-21 on September 24 in what would become known as the "Monday Night Miracle." The game featured one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history, as the Broncos overcame a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win in overtime.