1. Battle of Julesburg: On August 17, 1864, a group of 1,000 Cheyenne and Sioux warriors launched a surprise attack on a Union Pacific Railroad construction party at Julesburg, Colorado. The battle ended in a Union victory, but not before several men were killed and the town was nearly destroyed.
2. The Great Flood of 1933: The Big Thompson River in Colorado experienced a devastating flood on August 17, 1933. The flood destroyed bridges, homes, and businesses, and caused the deaths of over 140 people.
3. Colorado becomes a state: On August 1, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant signed a proclamation making Colorado the 38th state in the Union. This was just over two weeks after the state's official birthday on August 1, and marked the end of Colorado's territorial status.
4. The First Train to Aspen: On August 17, 1887, the first train arrived in the mining town of Aspen, Colorado. The line was built by the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, and helped to connect Aspen to the rest of the state.
5. First U.S. airplane hijacking: On August 17, 1961, a man named Luis Monge hijacked a Frontier Airlines flight from Denver to Mexico City. This was the first successful airplane hijacking in U.S. history. Monge was later arrested and sentenced to life in prison.
5 Fun Facts About August 17 In Colorado History
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