03/23/2026
As a burgeoning young nation, America organized itself into independent states and these new states adopted their own governing framework through ratified constitutions. New Hampshire was the first to do so in January 1776, and 100 years later on March 14, 1876, territorial legislators were writing up the Colorado State Constitution in what would become the 38th state.
That draft was later approved by Colorado voters on July 1, 1876 and took effect on August 1, 1876. To make the document accessible to a majority of the state’s many non-English speaking communities, Colorado’s constitution was written in three languages: English, German, and Spanish.
Did you know that 2026 is the 150th anniversary of Colorado's statehood?
You can visit the state’s constitution for yourself by traveling up to the History Colorado Center in Denver. This foundational document is currently on display in 38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State, an exhibition celebrating Colorado’s 150th anniversary, open now until September.
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38 Star Flag, 1876. History Colorado, 73.68.16
