1. On December 30, 1865, Colorado's territorial legislature passed a law establishing the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, making it the first school west of the Mississippi River to offer degrees in mining engineering.

2. In 1903, the Colorado & Southern Railway began operations between Estes Park and the town of Loveland, providing tourists with easier access to Rocky Mountain National Park.

3. On December 30, 1916, Denver's Overland Park Ballroom hosted a famous dance called the "Last Waltz." It was a farewell to the ballroom, which was being sold to make way for an apartment building.

4. In 1924, the first ski lift in Colorado was installed at the Berthoud Pass Ski Area, near Winter Park. The lift was powered by a Ford Model-T engine and could transport up to six skiers at a time.

5. On December 30, 1949, the first passenger jet service in Colorado began between Denver and Chicago. United Airlines flew a four-engine Douglas DC-6 on this route, reducing travel time by nearly three hours.