1. In 1843, John C. Fremont and his expedition party reached the summit of what is now known as Fremont Pass in central Colorado. This was a significant achievement at the time, as the Pass was considered one of the highest points in the Rocky Mountains that had been successfully navigated by Europeans.

2. On September 29, 1908, the town of Burlington, Colorado was hit by a devastating tornado that killed 11 people and caused widespread damage. The tornado was one of the deadliest in Colorado history, and it remains a reminder of the destructive power of severe weather in the state.

3. In 1960, the Rocky Mountain News published an article reporting that the U.S. Air Force had been secretly investigating UFO sightings in the Colorado area. The story caused a sensation at the time and helped to fuel the growing public fascination with UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

4. On September 29, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed the Rocky Mountain National Park Wilderness Act into law, creating a protected wilderness area in the popular national park. The act was designed to minimize human impact on the fragile ecosystems of the park, while preserving its natural beauty for future generations.

5. In 2011, the Colorado-based Sierra Trading Post company was sold to retail giant TJX Companies for a reported $200 million. Sierra Trading Post had been a popular online and mail-order retailer, offering outdoor gear and apparel at discount prices, and the sale was seen as a major win for Colorado's growing tech and retail sectors.