1. Colorado became a state on January 9, 1877. After a long fight for statehood that began in the late 1850s, Colorado was finally admitted to the Union as the 38th state. The state's motto, "Nil Sine Numine" ("Nothing Without Providence"), was officially adopted on the same day.

2. On January 9, 1915, the world's first ski movie, "The Crest of the Sierra," was shown in Denver. Produced by the Selig Polyscope Company, the film featured shots of skiers racing down the snowy slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California.

3. The Colorado Railroad Museum, located in Golden, Colorado, opened its doors to the public on January 9, 1959. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of railroads in Colorado and the American West, and features a collection of historic locomotives, cars, and artifacts.

4. On January 9, 1987, convicted murderer Gary Davis became the first person in Colorado to be executed by lethal injection. Davis had been convicted of murdering a police officer in Colorado Springs in 1984.

5. In 2015, the Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-16 in an AFC Divisional Playoff game on January 9. The game was notable for a key interception by Broncos linebacker Von Miller, which helped secure the win for the team. The Broncos would go on to win the Super Bowl that year.