Zebulon Pike: Explorer
When: 1779 – 1813 Where: Born in New Jersey, explored Pikes Peak and Arkansas River Valley,…
Colorado Histories
William Palmer: Engineer, Soldier, Founder of Colorado Springs
When: 1838 – 1909 Where: Delaware, Pennsylvania, a “trek west,” Denver and Colorado Springs Why Important: A…
Teresita Sandoval: Colorado Pioneer
When: 1811 – 1894 Where: Born in Taos, New Mexico, she moved to Mora, New Mexico…
Richens “Uncle Dick” Wootton: Frontiersman
When: 1816 – 1893 Where: Raised in Virginia and settled in Denver, Colorado Why Important: Wootton was…
Owl Woman: Cheyenne Trader
When: 1800s – 1847 Where: Born and lived in southeastern Colorado Why Important: Owl Woman married…
Mary Hauck Elitch Long, Founder of Elitch’s Zoological Gardens
When: 1865 – 1936 Where: Born in Philadelphia, moved to California, then Durango, Colorado and finally…
Kit Carson: Mountain Man and Hero
When: 1809–1868 Where: Born in Kentucky, died at Fort Lyon, Colorado. Why Important: Kit Carson…
Justina Ford: Denver’s First Female African American Doctor
When: 1871 – 1952 Where: Born in Knoxville, Illinois, moved to Chicago and then to Denver…
Juana Suaso Simpson: A Frontier Life
When: 1827 – 1916 Where: Born in New Mexico and settled in Trinidad, Colorado. Why Important: Simpson did…
Josephine Roche: Police Woman and Labor Advocate
When: 1886 – 1976 Where: Born in Nebraska and educated in New York, she moved to…
Helen Hunt Jackson: Author and Indian Advocate
When: 1830 -1885 Where: Born in Massachusetts, moved to Colorado Springs Why Important: Author and Indian Advocate…
Felipe Baca: Rancher and Town Founder
When: 1828 – 1874 Where: Born in Taos, New Mexico, and founded Trinidad, Colorado Why Important: Colorado…
Federico Peña: Mayor of Denver
When: 1947 – Present Where: Born in Laredo, Texas, moved to Denver Why Important: First Hispanic mayor,…
Emily Griffith: Educator
When: 1868 – 1947 Where: Born in Cincinnati, moved to Denver in 1894 Why Important: She believed…
Ellis Meredith, Suffragist and Activist
When: 1865 – 1955 Where: Born in Montana, moved to Denver Why Important: Prominent journalist, suffragist,…
Dr. Florence Rena Sabin: Doctor and Medical Reformer
When: 1871 – 1953 Where: Central City and Denver Why Important: Dr. Sabin was the first female…
Chipeta: Admired and Respected Indian Leader
When: 1843 -1924 Where: Born in the Kiowa Apache tribe and raised by the Ute tribe…
Chin Lin Sou: A Pioneer in More Ways Than One
When: 1836 – 1894 Where: Born in China, settled in Denver Why Important: Chin Lin Sou…
Barney Ford: From Slavery to Success
When: 1822 – 1902 Where: Born in Virginia. Lived in South Carolina, Chicago, and Central America,…
Alferd Packer: Notorious Cannibal
When: 1842 – 1907 Where: Lake City, Cañon City, and Littleton, Colorado Why Important: Cannibal Biography Like…