1. In 1859, the city of Denver was incorporated on March 11. The new city was named after James W. Denver, the governor of the Kansas Territory at the time.

2. On March 11, 1872, the state of Colorado established the Colorado School of Mines in Golden. The school is still in operation today and is one of the leading engineering and science schools in the country.

3. In 1936, the first ski lift in Colorado was installed at Pioneer Ski Area in Steamboat Springs on March 11. The lift was a simple rope tow powered by an old Ford V8 engine, but it was the beginning of the state's world-renowned ski industry.

4. On March 11, 1978, the Winter Park Express, a passenger train that ran from Denver to Winter Park ski resort, made its first run. The train was a popular way for skiers to access the mountain until it was discontinued in 2009.

5. In 2011, a magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck central Colorado on March 11. The earthquake was classified as "light" and there were no reported injuries or major damage, but it was a reminder that Colorado is not immune to seismic activity.